Pharmacology

Pharmacology

Beta Blockers

• Reduce blood pressure.
• Used to treat hypertension and myocardial infarction.
• Examples: acebutolol, nadolol, and nebivolol.

Analgesics

• Relieve pain.
• Examples: acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
• Treat symptoms of conditions that cause pain, such as cancer.

Bronchodilators

• Aid in dilation of breathing tubes.
• Used to treat asthma and other similar conditions.
• Examples: albuterol and salmeterol.

Antacids

• Reduce the activity of acids in the stomach.
• Treat conditions such as Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).

Decongestants

• Reduce inflammation in the nasal cavity.
• Examples: pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine.
• Treat congestion caused by colds or allergies.

Antibiotics

• Combat bacterial growth and kill bacteria.
• Examples: penicillin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin.
• Treat infections in the body, such as cellulitis, impetigo, and strep throat.

Anticoagulants

• Reduce the formation of blood clots.
• Examples: aspirin, heparin, and warfarin.
• Treat conditions such as deep vein thrombosis and phlebitis.

Antidepressants

• Combat depression.
• Common forms: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), and tricyclic antidepressants.

Antidotes

• Counteract the effects of poison on the body.
• Used when too much of a substance has entered the body, resulting in harmful or fatal effects.

Antifungals

• Aid in destroying fungus.
• Examples: terbinafine and fluconazole.
• Treat fungal infections, such as Tinea Pedis (Athlete's Foot) or Tinea Capitis.

Antihistamines

• Reduce the effects of histamines on the body, including runny nose and itching.
• Used to treat allergic reactions.

Anti-inflammatory Agents

• Help to reduce inflammation.
• Examples: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen.
• Used to treat inflammation in conditions such as bronchitis and potentially Alzheimer's Disease.

Antipyretics

• Help to reduce fever.
• Examples: ibuprofen and aspirin.
• Used to treat symptoms of fever and other systemic infections.

Antivirals

• Aid in preventing virus reproduction.
• Examples: amantadine and rimantadine.
• Used to combat virus reproduction in conditions such as encephalitis.

Diuretics

• Increase the production of urine.
• Common forms: thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, and potassium-sparing diuretics.

Expectorants

• Help a person cough/spit mucous from the lungs.
• Common over-the-counter brand names include Robitussin.
• Used to treat chest congestion.

General Anesthetics

• Used to numb the entire body.
• Examples: propofol, ketamine, and etomidate.
• Primarily used when a patient is having surgery performed that requires them to be in an unconscious state.
• Can be administered via injection or inhalation.

Insulin

• Lowers the amount of sugar in the blood stream.
• Primarily used to treat diabetes.

Laxatives

• Also known as stool softeners, which help loosen and eliminate feces from the body.
• Common forms include mineral oil and milk of magnesia.
• Used to treat constipation.

Local Anesthetics

• Used to numb an isolated area of the body.
• Most commonly administered via needle injection into the area of incision.
• Examples include lidocaine and nitracaine.
• Primarily used before performing a surgical procedure.

Sedatives

• Used to calm and relax the body.
• Examples include diazepam and clonazepam.
• Typically used to calm a person before a painful or uncomfortable procedure is performed, such as a colonoscopy.

Statins

• Aid in lowering cholesterol levels in the blood stream.
• Examples include atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and lovastatin.
• Used to treat and/or prevent heart disease and its various symptoms, including hypertension and stroke.

Steroids

• Primarily used to combat inflammation in specific areas.
• Common forms include corticosteroids and anabolic steroids.
• Corticosteroids are useful in treating conditions such as asthma, arthritis, and lupus.

Thrombolytics

• Used to dissolve a blood clot that is already present in the body.
• Can prevent major complications in conditions such as stroke, myocardial infarction, and pulmonary embolism.
• Common forms include anistreplase, reteplase, and streptokinase.

Vaccines

• Used to prevent a contagious disease from developing in a person.
• Common vaccines include MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella), DTaP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis), influenza, and human papilloma virus.
• Vaccines are commonly administered via intramuscular needle injection.

Drug Actions and Adverse Reactions

• Drug actions occur when an administered medication interacts with its intended target on a molecular level.
• When the drugs interact with their target, it causes desired effects. For example, if a patient is administered a drug, it interacts with its intended receptors. This interaction then produces an effect in the body, such as reduced pain.
• Indication for use: If a medication is used for a certain disease or condition, it is considered indicated for use. A drug that is indicated for use of a specific condition will be known to help treat, cure, or prevent the condition.
• Adverse reactions may occur with medications. Adverse reactions are unintended or unexpected effects of the administration of medication that may be harmful to the patient.
• The severity of each adverse reaction is dependent on the patient and their overall health, the dosage of the medication, and the type of medication administered.
• Adverse reactions can range from mild to lethal. Any adverse reactions should be treated and documented to prevent further instances from occurring.
• Adverse reactions differ from side effects in that side effects are often temporary reactions that are commonly known to occur, and usually not life threatening.
• Allergic reactions to drugs may occur, and these reactions are caused by an immune response to the administered medication.
• Rash, fever, and hives are the most common signs and symptoms of a drug allergy. Drug allergies should be treated immediately, as they have the potential to be result in extreme reactions such as anaphylaxis. This can be fatal.

Contraindications

• Medications often are inadvisable for certain people to use. These circumstances result in contraindications for medications.
• An absolute contraindication occurs when it is completely inadvisable for a patient to utilize a certain type of medication, because it may harm the patient.
  • For example, for a patient with hemophilia, blood thinners such as aspirin would be an absolute contraindication, because the patient already has problems with blood clotting, and it could endanger the patient to receive blood thinning medication.
• A relative contraindication occurs when there is potential for a medication to be inadvisable for use by the patient, but may still be administered if it is necessary.
  • For example, if a pregnant patient develops some sort of bacterial infection, it may be inadvisable for the patient to use antibiotics due to the risk it poses to the fetus. However, if the infection results in septicemia, then antibiotics would be administered, because the benefits of taking the medication outweigh the risks.

Pharmacology for MBLEx Examination

For the MBLEx, focus on understanding how different drugs affect the body and their implications for massage therapy. Here’s a revised outline emphasizing key areas:

Key Categories for MBLEx

• Beta Blockers
  • How they affect heart rate and blood pressure during massage.
  • Implications for clients with hypertension.
• Analgesics
  • Understanding pain relief and management.
  • Common types like acetaminophen and NSAIDs.
• Bronchodilators
  • Impact on respiratory function.
  • Considerations for clients with asthma.
• Anticoagulants
  • Risks associated with massage due to increased bleeding potential.
  • Awareness of drugs like aspirin, heparin, and warfarin.
• Anti-inflammatory Agents
  • Benefits and risks of NSAIDs.
  • Managing inflammation in conditions like arthritis.

Important Considerations for Massage Therapists

1. Drug Actions and Adverse Reactions
   • • Understanding how medications interact with their intended targets.
   • • Recognizing potential adverse reactions and side effects.
   • • Knowing the difference between adverse reactions and common side effects.
   • • Awareness of allergic reactions and their symptoms (rash, fever, hives).
2. Contraindications
   • • Absolute vs. relative contraindications.
   • • When massage is completely inadvisable due to medication.
   • • Situations where massage may be possible but requires caution.

Specific Drug Classes and Massage Implications

• Muscle Relaxants: Review common muscle relaxants, their effects on muscle tone, and implications for massage techniques.
• Neuropathic Pain Medications: Understand how these medications alter pain perception and their impact on treatment approaches.
• Corticosteroids: Know their anti-inflammatory effects and precautions related to tissue fragility.

General Guidelines for MBLEx Prep

• Focus on common medications and their therapeutic effects relevant to massage.
• Understand the basic mechanisms of action for major drug categories.
• Know potential side effects and how they might affect massage sessions.
• Review contraindications and precautions associated with medications.