General Pharmacology CHAPTER 16

Pharmacology: The science that deals with the origins, ingredients, uses and actions of medical substances.

Drug: A substance that alters the body’s functions when absorbed.

Medication Information Types or Categories of Medications

The EMT who is familiar with the name, dose, route, effects, indications and contraindications of a drug, and has medical director approval, can assist a patient with their medication.

Medication Types or Categories  EMS unit medications  Activated charcoal  Oral glucose  Oxygen  Physician-prescribed patient medications  Nitroglycerin  Epinephrine auto-injector  Inhalers

Medications - Activated Charcoal

Medications - Oral Glucose

Medications - Oxygen

Medications - Inhaler

Medications - Nitroglycerin

Medications - Epinephrine

Assisting with Medications

Medication Names

Generic name: The name listed in the United States Pharmacopeia; a government publication listing all medications used in the United States.

Trade name: A copyrighted brand name assigned to a medicine by its manufacturer. The trade name is capitalized and followed by the ® symbol.

Generic and Trade Names of Selected Medications Generic NameTrade Name Oral glucoseInsta-glucose AlbuterolProventil Nitroglycerin Epinephrine Nitrostat Adrenalin

Medication Forms

Forms of Medication  Tablet  Gel  Gas  Aerosol  Liquid  Ointment  Paste  Cream  Powder  Syrup  Pill  Capsule

Drug Dynamics

Drug Actions  Systemic  Affecting the entire body  Local  Affecting a specific area of the body

Absorption: Uptake of a substance through some surface of the body.

Elimination: The removal of a substance from the body. Drugs are eliminated by way of the liver, kidney, bowels and lungs.

Medication Administration Indications and Contraindications

Indication: The intended use of a medication for treating a specific illness or condition.

Contraindication: A situation in which a medication should not be used due to the potential for harm it might cause a patient.

Dose: The prescribed or recommended amount of a medication that should be administered to a patient.

Five Rs of Drug Administration  Right patient  Right drug  Right time  Right dose  Right route

Administration Routes

Routes of Administration  Oral  Generally safe, easy, and economical  Medication is swallowed  Absorbed slowly into digestive tract  Patients must be alert to take medications  Sublingual  Place medication under the tongue  Absorbed rapidly into the capillaries  Digestive tract is bypassed

Routes of Administration continued  Inhalation  Fine mist or gas absorbed by the lung capillaries  Patients may need assistance with administration  Onset of action is generally rapid  Delivery of drug is usually an inhaler device

Routes of Administration continued  Subcutaneous  Drug is injected under skin into fat  Absorbed slowly by the surrounding bloodstream  Common route for epinephrine  Intravenous  Liquid injected directly into the bloodstream  Usually administered by ALS personnel  Onset of action is immediate

Routes of Administration continued  Intramuscular  Drug is injected deep into muscle tissue  Absorbed slowly through capillaries  Common route for epinephrine autoinjectors

 Topical  Applied and absorbed through the skin  Onset of action is very slow  Common medications administered are NTG patches and creams  Rectal  Drug is given through anus into rectum  Absorbed at rate similar to oral route  Not commonly done in the field Routes of Administration continued

If you receive an order to administer a medication, always repeat medication name, dose and route back to the physician for confirmation.

Medication Actions Actions

Mechanism of action: The desired effect of the drug on the body.

Side Effects

Side effects: Any action of a drug other than the desired one.

Common side effects of numerous medications include nausea and vomiting.

Documentation and Reassessment Strategies

Medication Documentation  Who ordered the medication - physician and time?  What medication was administered?  What time was the medication administered?  What was the dose given?

 What was the route?  Who administered the drug?  What were the vital signs before and after administration?  What was the patient’s response to the medication? Medication Documentation continued

SUMMARY Medication Information Medication Information Medication Administration Medication Administration Medication Actions Medication Actions  Medication Documentation