Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Pharmacology: the Study of Drugs - Coggle Diagram
Pharmacology: the Study of Drugs
Medication is a substance which is used to relieve pain, or prevent or treat disease
Medications work either by stimulating receptors or binding to receptors to block chemicals
Some medications have unintended side effects, such as nausea, rash, or heart palpitations.
Different types of medicines include: prescription, vitamins, recreational, and over-the-counter (OTC).
There are different methods of medication administration, such as: by mouth (PO), by rectum (PR), intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), subcutaneous (SC), inhalation, etc.
Transcutaneous (transdermal): absorbed through skin (nicotine patches).
Intranasal (IN): liquid medication aerosolized and administered into nostril (Narcan).
Sublingual (SL): under the tongue (nitroglycerine tablets) enter mucosa under tongue, absorbed within minutes. Protects medications from digestive tract, which can weaken effects of medication.
Intravenous (IV) injection: into the vein. Fastest way to deliver chemical substance.
Inhalation: medications inhaled into lungs are absorbed more rapidly into bloodstream.
Subcutaneous (SC) injection: under skin (insulin). Less blood vessels between skin and muscle, allowing medicine to be absorbed more slowly and last longer.
Intramuscular (IM) injection: into the muscle, may damaege muscle tissue.
Oral (PO): by mouth. enter bloodstream through digestive system. This process is noninvasive.
Per rectum (PR): suppository. Commonly used with children who regurgitate medicines.
Intraosseous (IO) injection: into the bone. Medications delivered directly into bone marrow by drilling into bone.
Medication comes in different forms: tablets and capsules, solutions and suspensions, gels, inhaler, topical, etc.
Use the "six rights" of medicine administration: right patient, right medication, right dose, right route, right time, right documentation. Always a good idea to consult partner for backup.
Right route: route must match order, no substitutions can be made.
Right time: check expiration date on medication.
Right dose: check forms to ensure correct dose.
Right documentation: document medication given and its effects on patient.
Right patient: applicable when working with more than one patient. Ensure prescription label matches patient.
Right medication: verify medication and prescription. Confirm medication order, ensure no contraindications.
EMTs and Administering Medications
Units can carry oxygen, oral glucose, activated charcoal, aspirin, and epinephrine.
Medicine administration must be peer-assisted, patient-assisted, or EMT-administered. This is determined by medical control and state/local protocols.
Patient-assisted: assist patient with administration of their own medication.
EMT-administered: EMT directly administers medication to patient (oxygen, activated charcoal, oral glucose, etc.).
Peer-assisted: administering medication to self or partner.
Activated charcoal: reduces amount of medication that can be absorbed, administered by mouth.
Aspirin: reduces pain, inflammation, fever. Excessive use can cause liver damage.
Nitroglycerin: used for cardiac patients, improves blood flow.
Pharmacology: science of drugs, including ingredients, preparation, uses, actions on body.
Action is the intended therapeutic effect that a medication is expected to have on the body.
Indications: reasons or conditions for which a particular medication is given.
Contraindications happen when you should not give a medication even if the patient's condition calls for it.
Generic medication name is simple and nonproprietary, while trade name is a brand name given by manufacturer.
Pharmacodynamics: the process by which medication works on the body.
Agonists are medications that stimulate receptors, while antagonists block receptors from other medications or chemicals.
Finding out patient's medications can provide valuable information for treating the patient and for the ED physician.
Enteral medications enter body through digestive system (pill or liquid), while parenteral medications enter body by nondigestive route (skin, mucous membranes).
Metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) and small volume nebulizers (SVNs) used to administer liquid medications turned into fine mist via air or oxygen.
