Paramedic Pharmacology and Medication Administration

Vocabulary flashcards covering pharmacology fundamentals, receptor sites, drug classifications, commonly prescribed outpatient medications, and sample emergency drug profiles.

Adrenergic

Related to the sympathetic nervous system (think adrenaline).

Adverse effect

Unintended effect of a medication administration.

Agonist

Medication that stimulates a specific response.

Analgesic

Medication that reduces pain.

Antagonist

Medication that inhibits a specific action.

Bolus

Single dose of medication, given all at once.

Cholinergic

Related to the parasympathetic nervous system (think acetylcholine).

Contraindication

Circumstance when a medication should not be used.

Drug class

Categorization of medications that work in the same way or are used to treat the same condition.

Extrapyramidal side effects

Tremors, slurred speech, restlessness, muscle twitching, anxiety; any effect(s) caused by a medication other than the intended effect(s).

Hypersensitivity

Undesirable reactions produced by the normal immune system, including allergies and autoimmunity.

Indication

Circumstance when a medication should be considered.

Altered level of consciousness (ALOC)/overdose (OD) drugs

A drug category that includes activated charcoal, dextrose, glucagon, nalmefene, naloxone, and thiamine.

Analgesics (drug category)

A drug category that includes acetaminophen, fentanyl, ketorolac, morphine, and nitrous oxide.

Antidysrhythmics (drug category)

A drug category that includes adenosine, amiodarone, atropine, diltiazem, lidocaine, and verapamil.

Cardiac medications (drug category)

A drug category that includes aspirin, bumetanide, dopamine, epinephrine, furosemide, and nitroglycerin.

Electrolytes (drug category)

A drug category that includes calcium, magnesium sulfate, and sodium bicarbonate.

Hemorrhage/misc. (drug category)

A drug category that includes DuoDote, ondansetron, oxygen, oxytocin, phenylephrine, promethazine, and tranexamic acid.

Respiratory medications (drug category)

A drug category that includes albuterol, Atrovent, dexamethasone, diphenhydramine, and methylprednisolone.

Sedation/seizure/paralytic (drug category)

A drug category that includes diazepam, etomidate, ketamine, lorazepam, midazolam, olanzapine, and succinylcholine.

Drug Profile Information components

Standard components comprising drug name, drug class/mechanism of action, indications, contraindications, adverse effects, and dose.

Dosage considerations in renal or hepatic disease

Reduced dosages often apply to patients with renal or hepatic disease.

Alpha 1 receptors

Receptor sites that cause vasoconstriction when stimulated by medications.

Beta 1 receptors

Receptor sites that, when stimulated by medications, cause increased heart rate (chronotrope), increased cardiac force of contraction (inotrope), and increased myocardial conduction (dromotrope).

Beta 2 receptors

Receptors that cause bronchodilation when stimulated by medications.

Opioid receptors

Receptor sites that cause central nervous system (CNS) depression and analgesia when stimulated by medications.

Chronotrope

Refers to an effect that increases heart rate.

Inotrope

Refers to an effect that increases cardiac force of contraction.

Dromotrope

Refers to an effect that increases myocardial conduction.

Commonly prescribed antidepressants

A collection of medications including amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Asendin), aripiprazole (Abilify), bupropion (Wellbutrin), citalopram (Celexa), duloxetine (Cymbalta), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac), imipramine (Tofranil), isocarboxazid (Marplan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), quetiapine (Seroquel), selegiline (Emsam), sertraline (Zoloft), tranylcypromine (Parnate), trazodone (Dysyrel), and venlafaxine (Effexor).

Commonly prescribed beta-blockers

A group of medications including atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopressor), propranolol (Inderal), labetalol, and carvedilol.

Commonly prescribed anticoagulants

A group of medications including apixaban (Eliquis), dabigatran (Pradaxa), edoxaban (Savaysa), enoxaparin (Lovenox), heparin, rivaroxaban (Xarelto), and warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven).

Commonly prescribed erectile dysfunction (ED) medications

A group of medications including avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra).

Activated charcoal (Actidose-Aqua)

An adsorbent medication packaged in $15$, $25$, or $50\,\text{g}$ bottles that reduces systemic absorption of toxins from the GI tract; indicated for recently ingested toxins.

Activated charcoal contraindications

Ingestion of caustics or hydrocarbons, decreased LOC, and unstable airway.

Activated charcoal dosing and adverse reactions

Adverse reactions include nausea & vomiting and black stool. Dose: adult $1\text{--}2\,\text{g/kg}$ (usual dose $30\text{--}60\,\text{g}$); pediatric $0.5\text{--}1\,\text{g/kg}$. Caution is noted when using formulations that contain sorbitol.

Adenosine (Adenocard)

An antidysrhythmic, endogenous nucleoside packaged in a $6\,\text{mg}/2\,\text{mL}$ vial or prefilled syringe that slows conduction through the AV node, interrupts re-entry pathways, and slows sinus rate.

Adenosine indications and contraindications

Indicated for SVT (not A-flutter or A-fib) and monomorphic wide complex tachycardia of unknown origin unresponsive to amiodarone or lidocaine; contraindicated in sick sinus syndrome, 2nd-degree or 3rd-degree AV block, and A-fib and A-flutter.