General Pharmacology

1
General Pharmacology
2
Definitions

• Medication - drug or other substance used as a
  remedy for illness
• Drug - chemical substance used to treat or
  prevent a disease or condition
• Pharmacology - study of drugs

3
Medications on EMS Unit

• Oxygen
• Oral glucose
• Activated charcoal

4
Prescribed Medications

• Metered dose inhaler - (Respiratory)
• Nitroglycerine - (Cardiac)
• Epinephrine - (Allergic Reaction)
• NOTE
• All medications must be administered using
  protocols or direct contact with medical control.
• Vitals should be taken before and after
  administration of drugs

5
Medication Names

• Chemical name - drugs chemical structure
• Generic name - name assigned before it is
  officially listed in U.S. Pharmacopoeia
• Trade name - brand name
• Official name - generic name followed by the
  initials U.S.P. or N.F.

6
Example/Nitroglycerine

• Chemical name 1,2,3,-propanetriol trinitrate
• Generic name nitroglycerine tablets
• Trade names Nitrostat
• Official name nitroglycerine tablets, U.S.P.

7
Routes of Administration

• Sublingual
• Oral
• Inhalation
• Injection

8
Sublingual

• Under patients tongue
• Quick absorption through blood vessels
• Patient must be alert
• Medications administered
• Nitroglycerine tablets
• Nitroglycerine spray

9
Oral

• Swallowed and absorbed through the stomach or
  intestinal tract
• Slower rate of absorption
• Patient must be responsive
• Patient may vomit
• Medications administered
• Activated charcoal
• Oral glucose

10
Inhalation

• Gas or aerosol
• Deposited directly to target site
• Patient must be spontaneously breathing
• Medications administered
• Oxygen
• Metered dose inhaler
• Liquid /vaporized fixed dose nebulizer

11
Injection

• Injected into a muscle mass
• Rapid absorption rate
• Requires use of a needle
• Medications administered
• Epinephrine auto injector

12
Medication Forms

• Compressed powders or tablets - Nitro
• Liquids for injection - Epinephrine
• Gel - Oral glucose
• Suspension - Activated charcoal
• Fine powder for inhalation - Metered dose inhaler
• Gas - Oxygen
• Spray - Nitro spray
• Liquid/vaporized fixed dose nebulizers

13
Essential Medication Information

• Indications
• Contraindications
• Dose
• Administration
• Actions (desired effect)
• Side effects

14
Medical Direction/Protocol

• Every medication requires an order from medical
  direction
• On - line (direct contact)
• Off - line (protocol)
• Verify by restating the drug to be administered,
  the dose, and the route

15
The 5 Rights

• Right drug
• Right patient
• Right date
• Right route
• Right time

16
Documentation

• Drug given
• Dose given
• Route of administration
• Time given
• Report changes in patients condition
• Report who ordered the medication

17
Reassessment

• Mental status
• Airway
• Breathing rate quality
• Pulse rate quality
• Skin
• Blood Pressure
• Change or relief of chief complaint or signs
  symptoms
• Medication side effects
• Improvements or deterioration after medication
  administration