NHA CCMA Pharmacology (Drug schedules, side effects and Routes of administration)

Schedule 1

Highest potential for addiction and abuse. Not accepted for medical use. (Ex. Cocaine, LSD)

Schedule 2

Highest potential for addiction and abuse. Accepted for medical use in the US. (Ex.Codeine)

Schedule 3

Moderate to lower potential for addiction and abuse. (Ex. Anabolic steroids)

Schedule 4

Lower potential for addiction and abuse then schedule 3 drugs. (Ex. Diazepem)

Schedule 5

Low potential for addiction and abuse. (Ex. Low strength codine combined with other drugs to form a cough suppressant.)

Adverse Effect

Requires the patient to discontinue the medication

Anaphylactic shock

Life threatening reaction to a food, drug or insect bite. Symptoms include respiratory distress edema (swelling) in mouth and throat

Drug Tolerance

This is a decrease in effectiveness of a drug as the body gets used to having the drug in the system.

Habituation

A dependence on a drug. occurs with narcotics or laxatives.

Parenteral

Medications that are given outside the alimentary canal such as injections. Requires the skin to be punctured by a needle with a syringed attached.

Nonparenteral

Medications that include any medications that are given via alimentary canal such as oral medications

Sublingual

Drugs that are held under the tongue where they are absorbed through the tissues and into the bloodstream for distribution to the body.

Intraarticular

Injection into the joint

Intradermal (ID) (Wheal)

A shallow injection within the top layer of the skin. Used for testing allergies

intramuscular (IM)

An injection given directly into the muscle of the buttocks or upperarm.

intrathecal

Injection into the meninges space surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

subcutaneous (SC)

An injection under the skin and fat layers. The middle of the upper outer arm is usually used.

Ear drops

Placed directly into the ear canal for relieving pain or treating infection

Eye drops

Placement into the eye to control eye pressure in glacoma

Inhalation

inhaled through the nose or mouth

Oral

Taken by mouth and swallowed by the patient

Rectal

Placed directly into the rectal cavity in the form of suppositories or solution

Sublingual

placed under the tongue or under the lip, between the cheek and gum (buccal)

Topical

Applied directly to the skin or mucous membranes in ointment, cream or lotion form.

Vaginal

Inserted or spread vaginally to treat yeast infections or other irrations