Pharmacology-Paramedic Medicines

Alpha-1 receptors

Constrict the vessels of the heart

Alpha-2 receptors

Constrict the airway in the lungs

Beta-1 receptors

Dilates the vessels of the heart

Beta-2 receptors

Dilate the airway in the lungss

Epinephrine drug class

Sympathomimetic

Diphenhydramine a.k.a. Benadryl drug class

Antihistamine, H1 blocker

Albuterol drug class

Beta-2 agonist

Dextrose(D10,D25, D50) drug class

Carbohydrate

Glucagon drug class

Hormone

naloxone a.k.a. Narcan drug class

Opioid antagonist

Ondansetron a.k.a. Zofran drug class

Antimetic (5-HT3 antagonist)

Atropine drug class

Anticholinergic

midazolam aka Versed drug class

Most rapid onset -Benzodiazepine

Morphine drug class

Opioid analgesic

Lorazepam, a.k.a. Ativan drug class

Long acting benzodiazepine

Diazepam a.k.a. Valium drug class

Benzodiazepine- duration is long, onset slower than Midazolam.

Ketamine drug class

Dissociative anesthetic

Fentanyl drug class

Opioid analgesic

Nitroglycerin drug class

Nitrate

Amiodarone drug class

Antiarrhythmic class III

Coumadin a.k.a. warfarin drug class

Anticoagulant

Oxygen drug class

Medical gas

Lidocaine drug class

Antiarrhythmic class 1b and numbing agent

Magnesium sulfate drug class

Electrolyte and anticonvulsant

Sodium bicarbonate drug class

Alkalinizing agent

Calcium chloride drug class

Electrolyte

Norepinephrine a.k.a. levophed drug class

Vasopressor and alpha and beta agonist

Dopamine drug class

Vasopressor, and inotrope

Hydrocortisone a.k.a. Hydrocort drug class

Corticosteroid

Methylprednisolone a.k.a. Solu-Medrol drug class

Corticosteroid

Dexamethasone drug class

Corticosteroid

Ibuprofen drug class

NSAID

Acetaminophen a.k.a. Tylenol drug class

Analgesic and antipyretic

Lactated Ringer’s (LR) drug class

Isotonic crystalloid solution

Ketorolac a.k.a. Toradol drug class

NSAID

Tranexamic Acid aka TXA drug class

Antifibrinolytic

Calcium gluconate drug class

Electrolyte and a beta blocker antidote and a magnesium overdose antidote.

Metoprolol a.k.a. lopressor drug class

Beta blocker( beta-1 selective)

Diltiazem aka Cardizem drug class

Calcium channel blocker( non-dihydropyridine) class IV antidysrhythmic

Verapamil drug class

Calcium channel blocker, class IV antidysrhythmic

Procainamide drug class

Antiarrhythmic class 1a

Adenosine drug class

Antiarrhythmic miscellaneous class 5

Olanzapine a.k.a. Zyprexa drug class

Atypical anti antipsychotic

Haloperidol drug class

Typical antipsychotic

Droperidol drug class

Antipsychotic and antiemetic

Ziprasidone a.k.a. Geodon drug class

Atypical antipsychotic

Isopropyl alcohol (Inhaled) drug class

Aromatic alcohol

Metoclopramide a.k.a. Raglan drug class

Antiemetic and prokinetic

Famotidine aka Pepcid drug class

H2 receptor antagonist

Etomidate drug class

Non-barbiturate hypnotic

Succinylcholine drug class

Depolarizing neuromuscular blocker

Rocuronium drug class

Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker

Vecuronium bromide drug class

Non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker

Acetylcysteine aka Mucomyst and Acetadote

Acetaminophen antidote

Activated charcoal a.k.a. Actidose-aqua) drug class

Oral poisoning or overdose within one hour of ingestion antidote

Pralidoxime (2-PAM) drug class

Cholinesterase reactivator

Levalbuterol, a.k.a. Xopenex drug class

short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs)

Ipratropium bromide, a.k.a. Atrovent drug class

Anticholinergic and bronchodilator

Lisinopril drug class

ACE inhibitor

Atropine for nerve agent exposure, a.k.a. Atropen

Anticholinergic

Furosemide aka Lasix drug class

Loop diuretic

Aspirin a.k.a. ASA drug class

Antiplatelet and NSAID

Terbutaline sulfate drug class

Beta-2 agonist

Normal saline a.k.a. 0.9% NaCl drug class

Isotonic crystalloid solution

Hypertonic saline a.k.a. 3% NaCl drug class

Hypertonic crystalloid solution

Epinephrine mnemonic

“Every Part Included”

“Elevates Pressure Instantly”

EPI

E –Enhance’s heart rate (Beta-1)

P-Pumps increases blood pressure (alpha-1 vasoconstriction)

I- Inflates lungs (Beta-2 bronchodilation)

Diphenhydramine(Benadryl) mnemonic

DIPHEN

D – drowsiness

I– itch relief

P – prevents histamine

H – hypersensitivity reaction

E – emergency use

N – nausea control

Albuterol mnemonic

BREATH

B – beta-2 agonist

R – relaxes bronchioles

E – eases breathing

A – acute asthma relief

T – tachycardia

H – hand tremors

Dextrose (D10, D25, D50) mnemonic

3-D’s of dextrose

D – delivers glucose

D – dives in rapidly

D – defense against hypoglycemia

Glucagon mnemonic

GLUCO

G – gets

L – liver to release

U – underutilized

C – carbohydrate

O – out as glucose

Naloxone(Narcan) mnemonic

NARCAN- “wakes the dead, but may cause withdrawal!”

Narcotic Antagonist Rapidly Counters All Narcotics

NAIL

N – neutralize opioids

A– act fast

I – interrupts overdose

L – life-saving

Ondansetron(Zofran) mnemonic

ONE

O– offset nausea

N– neutralizes vomiting

E – eases discomfort

Atropine mnemonic

ATRO- A Trick To Raise Output

“ heart beats loud, bad stuff out, atropine, no doubt!”

ATRO

A –anticholinergic

T – treatment for bradycardia

R – reduces secretions

O– organophosphate antidote

Midazolam(Versed) mnemonic

MID

M – makes calm

I – induces sleep

D – depressed central nervous system, use caution in respiratory issues

Morphine mnemonic

The 4P’s of morphine

P – pain relief

P – pulmonary edema relief

P – pupil constriction

P – potential respiratory depression

Lorazepam(Ativan) mnemonic

LORA

L – lowers anxiety

O – out for seizures

R – respiratory risk

A – always monitor LOC

Mnemonic to remember sedatives and anticonvulsants

LMD- Let Me Dream

L-Lorazepam(Ativan) Long-acting

M-Midazolam(Versed) Most rapid onset

D-Dizaepam(Valuim) Duration long, onset slower than Midazolam.

Diazepam(Valium) mnemonic

DAZEP

D – drowsiness

A – anxiety

Z – Zen

E – eases

P – panic attacks

Ketamine mnemonic

“Keeps Everything Together And Mind INtact(sort of)”

C – conscious altered dissociative

A – anesthesia, and analgesic(strong)

T – trance, dreamlike state

KETAMINE

K – keeps airway reflexes

E – emergence reaction

T – tricky and head injury. It increases ICP.

A – analgesic, sedative

MINE– dissociative state

Fentanyl mnemonic

“FENT- Fast, Effective, Not Too long”

F– fast onset

E – effective analgesic

N – not long acting

T – titrated easily

The 4F’s of fentanyl

F – fast onset

F – fine potent analgesic

F – full strong, opioid effect

F – fatal risk of overdose-100 times more potent than morphine.

Nitroglycerin mnemonic

NG

N– nourishes the heart

G – gives dilation

Amiodarone mnemonic

“Ani-OH-no!” For arrhythmias

“Amnio affects all – lungs, liver, thyroid, and heart”

“amnio sticks around – long half-life”

PQRS

P – prolongs action potential

Q – quick arrhythmic control

R – regulates rhythm

S – slows conduction

Coumadin(warfarin) mnemonic

COWS BLEED- “prevents clots by thinning the blood”

C – check INR

O – oral anticoagulant

W – watch for bleeding

S – soft toothbrush, safety

B– bleeding precautions

L – liver metabolizes

E – eat constant vitamin K

E – educate patient

D – dose carefully

Oxygen mnemonic

“ hypoxemic patients need oxygen”

“ oxygen STARTS life”

STARTS

S – supports saturation

T – treats tissue hypoxia

A – aids aerobic metabolism

R – reduces respiratory distress

T – temporary until definitive care

S – spares organs from hypoxic injury

Lidocaine mnemonic

LI DO CA INE

LI– Limits Irregularities

DO– Directly On nerves

CA– Cardiac Arrhythmias (Ventricular)

I – Increased defibrillation threshold

N – numbing effect

E – expect central nervous system signs if toxic

Magnesium sulfate mnemonic

MAG

M – muscle relaxant

A – anti-seizure(eclampsia)

G – good for Torsades

Sodium bicarbonate mnemonic

NTACID

N– neutralizes

T – toxins

A – adjusts

C – circulating

I – ac(I)dic

D – dynamics

Calcium chloride mnemonic

“ calcium CALMS”

CALMS

C – calms

A – arrhythmia

L – lifts calcium

M – i(M)proves

S – stabilize the heart

Norepinephrine(Levophed) mnemonic

NORA

N – narrowing of the vessels

O – optimizing blood pressure

R – raising the heart rate

A – activating adrenergic receptors

Dopamine mnemonic

DOPA

D – dilate renal vessels

O – output-cardiac

P – pressure increase

A – attention and contraindication for adrenal gland tumor

Hydrocortisone(Hydrocort) mnemonic

A CRISIS

A – allergy

C – crisis-adrenal

R – rheumatologic disorders

I – IBS/IBD

S – shock-septic

I – inflammation-severe

S – Steven-Johnson’s-skin conditions

Methylprednisolone(Solu-Medrol) mnemonic

DOLL

D– decreases inflammation

O – offsets allergies

L – lowers immunity

L – limits swelling

Dexamethasone mnemonic

D EX

D– decreases

EX –EXtreme inflammation

Ibuprofen mnemonic

IBUPRO

I – inflammation

B – blocker

U – used for

P – pain

R – relief

O – often

Acetaminophen(Tylenol) mnemonic

AEA

A – antipyretic

E – easy on liver

A – Analgesic

Lactated Ringer’s(LR) mnemonic

HACK

H – hydrates

A – alkalizes(metabolize to bicarb)

C – contains electrolytes

K – K(potassium) included

For 2nd and 3rd-degree burns take 4 mL* kg * %TBSA=the first 24 hours / by 2= the first eight hours

Ketorolac(Toradol) mnemonic

KETORALAC

K – kills pain

E – effective moderate sedation

T – think NSAID

O – only five days max

R – risk bleeding

O – organ- kidney caution

L – lowers prostaglandins

A – alternative to opioids

C – contraindications-GI/ renal issues

Tranexamic Acid(TXA) mnemonic

TRANS

T – thrombosis is

R – reduced

A – and

N – neutralizes

S – severe bleeding

Calcium gluconate mnemonic

GLUCONATE

G – gradual infusion

L – large vein

U – use a pump

C – continuous ECG

O – observed symptoms

N – no sodium bicarbonate with it

A – assess IV site regularly

T – therapeutic effect

E – elemental calcium

MetoprololLopressor) mnemonic

METO

M – manages blood pressure

E – ease heart

T – treats angina and arrhythmia

O – optimize heart