drugs affecting the respiratory system

What do glucocorticoids do for allergic rhinitis?

prevent the fires

What do antihistamines do for allergic rhinits?

stop the spread

What do sympathomimetics do for allergic rhinitis?

put the fire out

What drugs are the first choice and the most effective for treatment and prevention of rhinitis?

intranasal glucocorticoids

What drugs treat sneezing and runny nose in rhinitis rather than congestion (vasodilation problem)?

oral antihistamines

What drug is a mast cell stabilizer that is good for long term use and good for people (and children) with predictable seasonal allergies?

intranasal cromolyn sodium

What drug used for allergic rhinitis has the lowest occurrence of adverse effects?

cromolyn sodium

What drugs for allergic rhinitis stimulate fight or flight and are better for reducing nasal congestion rather than sneezing and runny nose?

sympathomimetics

What drugs for allergic rhinitis should you monitor BP (HTN), headache, dizziness, anxiety, restlessness, and rebound congestion?

sympathomimetics

What drug is a respiratory modifier that is great for wet lungs?

ipratropium bromide

What respiratory modifier crosses the BBB and can cause neuropsychiatric changes?

montelukast

What respiratory modifier drug is an injectable that prevents allergy triggers by making antibodies against inflammatory mediators?

omalizumab

What respiratory modifier can cause headaches and joint pain due to sudden influx of antibodies, also has rare occurrence of anaphylaxis?

omalizumab

What respiratory modifier drug blocks the inflammatory response in the airway itself and helps to prevent asthma attacks?

montelukast

What drug for a cough cannot be chewed because it can anesthetize the lungs and cause laryngospasm?

tessalon (benzonatate)

What cough medication should not be combined with CNS depressants or antidepressants due to the risk of serotonin syndrome?

dextromethorphan

What expectorant drug should be used cautiously for patients with chronic respiratory conditions due to an airway risk?

guaifenesin

What two antimycobacterial drugs are first line for TB?

rifampin and isoniazid

What drug for TB cough causes orangey red urine?

rifampin

What drug for TB cough can cause peripheral neuropathy?

isoniazid

What is important about the TB cough drugss?

hard on liver, do not give to liver disease patients

What drug can narrow the therapeutic index for drugs like warfarin and phenytoin?

rifampin and isoniazid

What can be used in cold treatment to offset effect of antihistamine?

caffeine

Who needs special teaching regarding high sugar cold syrups and also that sympathomimetics raise BGs?

diabetics

What respiratory drugs can be used as rescue drugs but carry significant cardiac side effect profiles?

nebulized meds

What drugs are considered the most effective antiasthmatic drugs?

glucocorticoids

What respiratory drugs can cause dysphonia, adrenal suppression, slowed growth in children, bone loss, risk of cataracts, and risk of glaucoma?

glucocorticoids

Why can abruptly stoping glucocorticoids for asthma be fatal?

adrenal suppression - body cannot respond to blood pressure changes and cannot release glucose

Who cannot use DPIs?

people who cannot take a deep breath, and kids

What drugs promote smooth muscle constriction and can reduce edema and secretions in asthma?

leukotriene modifiers

What respiratory drugs can cause adverse neuropsychiatric effects including depression, suicidal thinking, and suicidal behavior?

leukotriene modifiers

What drugs for asthma relieve symptoms but do not reduce inflammation?

beta adrenergic agonists

What asthma drug can cause tachycardia, angina, and tremor?

inhaled beta adrenergic agonists

What asthma drugs can cause angina pectoris, tachydysrhythmias and tremor?

oral beta adrenergic agonists

What asthma drug is contraindicated for kids due to growth suppression?

glucocorticoid/LABA combos

What is a narrow therapeutic index asthma drug used for patients who do not tolerate inhalers?

theophylline

What does severe theophylline toxicity look like?

severe dysrhythmias and convulsions, eventually cardiorespiratory collapse

What is the treatment for theophylline toxicity?

activated charcoal, treat dysrhythmias, diazepam for seizures

What drugs interact with theophylline (CNS stimulant)?

• caffeine

• tobacco and marijuana (smoking lowers levels)

• cimetidine

• fluoroquinolones (floxacins) (increases levels - toxicity)

What anticholinergic drug can cause glaucoma and cardiovascular events?

ipratropium