Chapter 15 General Pharmacology

U.S. DOT Objectives Directory U.S. DOT Objectives are covered and/or supported by the PowerPoint™ Slide Program and Notes for Emergency Care, 11th Ed. Please see the Chapter 15 correlation below. *KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE 4-1.1 Identify which medications will be carried on the unit. Slides 6-7 4-1.2 State the medications carried on the unit by the generic name. Slides 6-7 , 10-11 4-1.3 Identify the medications which the EMT-Basic may assist the patient with administering. Slides 8 , 10-11 , 18-23 4-1.4 State the medications the EMT-Basic can assist the patient with by the generic name. Slides 8 , 10-11 , 18-23 4-1.5 Discuss the forms in which the medications may be found. Slides 12-16 4-1.6 Explain the rationale for the administration of medications. Slides 24-33 (cont.)

U.S. DOT Objectives are covered and/or supported by the PowerPoint™ Slide Program and Notes for Emergency Care, 11th Ed. Please see the Chapter 15 correlation below.

*KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE

4-1.1 Identify which medications will be carried on the unit. Slides 6-7

4-1.2 State the medications carried on the unit by the generic name. Slides 6-7 , 10-11

4-1.3 Identify the medications which the EMT-Basic may assist the patient with administering. Slides 8 , 10-11 , 18-23

4-1.4 State the medications the EMT-Basic can assist the patient with by the generic name. Slides 8 , 10-11 , 18-23

4-1.5 Discuss the forms in which the medications may be found. Slides 12-16

4-1.6 Explain the rationale for the administration of medications. Slides 24-33

U.S. DOT Objectives Directory *SKILLS 4-1.7 Demonstrate general steps for assisting patient with self-administration of medications. 4-1.8 Read the labels and inspect each type of medication.

*SKILLS

4-1.7 Demonstrate general steps for assisting patient with self-administration of medications.

4-1.8 Read the labels and inspect each type of medication.

Pharmacology

Pharmacology The study of drugs, their sources, characteristics, and effects

Medications on the Ambulance

Medications EMTs Can Administer Activated charcoal Oral glucose Oxygen

Activated charcoal

Oral glucose

Oxygen

Medications EMTs Can Assist With Prescribed inhaler Nitroglycerin Epinephrine

Prescribed inhaler

Nitroglycerin

Epinephrine

What the EMT Needs to Know About Medications

Medication Names All listed in U.S. Pharmacopoeia Generic name Chemical name Trade name

All listed in U.S. Pharmacopoeia

Generic name

Chemical name

Trade name

Three Types of Medication Names Generic name: epinephrine Chemical name: B- (3, 4 dihydroxyphenyl) -a-methylaminoethanol Trade name: EpiPen ®

Generic name: epinephrine

Chemical name: B- (3, 4 dihydroxyphenyl) -a-methylaminoethanol

Trade name: EpiPen ®

Forms of Medications

Suspensions

Gels or Paste

Routes of Administration Oral This route allows the medication to be absorbed across the membranes of the stomach and/or the intestinal tract.

Oral

This route allows the medication to be absorbed across the membranes of the stomach and/or the intestinal tract.

Gases

Routes of Administration Inhalation Upon inhalation, the medication is absorbed across the respiratory tract. The key when using this route is assuring that the patient has an adequate tidal volume so that he inhales the medication deep into the pulmonary tree.

Inhalation

Upon inhalation, the medication is absorbed across the respiratory tract.

The key when using this route is assuring that the patient has an adequate tidal volume so that he inhales the medication deep into the pulmonary tree.

Prescribed Medications

Nitroglycerin Tablets or Spray

Routes of Administration Sublingual The mucous membranes beneath the tongue are highly vascular and can absorb medication readily. When using this route, remind the patient not to chew or swallow the medication.

Sublingual

The mucous membranes beneath the tongue are highly vascular and can absorb medication readily.

When using this route, remind the patient not to chew or swallow the medication.

Epinephrine for Injection

Routes of Administration Injection Refers to the deposition of the medication into the tissues Since a needle is employed to inject the medication, the EMT must exercise extreme caution.

Injection

Refers to the deposition of the medication into the tissues

Since a needle is employed to inject the medication, the EMT must exercise extreme caution.

Prescribed Inhaler

What You Need to Know When Giving a Medication

Indication Specific sign, symptom, or circumstance that makes it appropriate to administer a drug

Contraindication Specific sign, symptom, or circumstance in which it would be inappropriate or harmful to administer a drug

Dose The dose refers to the amount of drug to be administered. Adult and pediatrics patients may have two different doses of the same drug.

The dose refers to the amount of drug to be administered.

Adult and pediatrics patients may have two different doses of the same drug.

Actions These are the effects of the drug on the body. Medications modify what certain cells or organs of the body do, in order to correct or prevent some abnormality; this is also known as the “mechanism of action.”

These are the effects of the drug on the body.

Medications modify what certain cells or organs of the body do, in order to correct or prevent some abnormality; this is also known as the “mechanism of action.”

Route This refers to the route in which the dose of the indicated medicine is to be given. The EMT will be using the inhalation, oral, sublingual, and injection routes.

This refers to the route in which the dose of the indicated medicine is to be given.

The EMT will be using the inhalation, oral, sublingual, and injection routes.

Side Effects Some medications, despite their ability to correct one abnormality, may cause a disturbance elsewhere in the body. The side effects generally are tolerated by the patient and are predictable if you understand the drug’s actions.

Some medications, despite their ability to correct one abnormality, may cause a disturbance elsewhere in the body.

The side effects generally are tolerated by the patient and are predictable if you understand the drug’s actions.

Proper Use of Medications in the Field

Medication Administration (cont.)

Medication Administration Patients must be reassessed after medication is administered. Repeat vital signs. Document patient’s response to medication.

Patients must be reassessed after medication is administered.

Repeat vital signs.

Document patient’s response to medication.

Name the drugs that are carried on the ambulance and may be administered by the EMT under certain circumstances. Name the drugs that the EMT may assist the patient in taking if they have been prescribed for him and with approval by medical direction. Review Questions (cont.)

Name the drugs that are carried on the ambulance and may be administered by the EMT under certain circumstances.

Name the drugs that the EMT may assist the patient in taking if they have been prescribed for him and with approval by medical direction.

Review Questions Medications may take the form of tablets. Name several other forms that medications may have. Name the four “rights” you must check before administering a medication. Name several routes by which medications may be administered.

Medications may take the form of tablets. Name several other forms that medications may have.

Name the four “rights” you must check before administering a medication.

Name several routes by which medications may be administered.

What additional patient history should you obtain? Should you let the patient take nitroglycerin? Why, or why not? Street Scenes (cont.)

What additional patient history should you obtain?

Should you let the patient take nitroglycerin? Why, or why not?

Are vital signs important if nitroglycerin is going to be taken by the patient? What information do you want to know about nitroglycerin? Street Scenes (cont.)

Are vital signs important if nitroglycerin is going to be taken by the patient?

What information do you want to know about nitroglycerin?

How should the nitroglycerin be administered? When should vital signs be taken again? Street Scenes

How should the nitroglycerin be administered?

When should vital signs be taken again?

Sample Documentation