This document summarizes information about three drug prescriptions: Cipro, Ventolin, and Afrin. Cipro is an antibiotic that treats various bacterial infections and is available through affordable prescription programs. Ventolin is a bronchodilator used to treat bronchospasms and exercise-induced asthma through inhalation. Afrin is a decongestant nasal spray, available over-the-counter, that treats allergies, colds, and sinusitis by narrowing blood vessels in the nose. Each drug description includes brand and chemical names, uses, administration methods, potential side effects.
2. 1. CIPRO
• Brand name: Cipro
• Chemical name: Ciprofloxacin hydrochloride
• Antibioitcmedication
– Anti: against
– Bio: life
– Tic: pertaining to
– Antibiotics are drugs which kill living bacteria or
preventing their growth
3. 1. Cipro
• Administration:
• Must be PRESCRIBED by a physician
• Oral: in the form of a liquid or a tablet
• Injection: medical professionals can inject a patient
with Cipro during their office visit to allow it into the
blood sooner
4. 1. Cipro
What type of illness will Cipro be prescribed for?
• Urinary tract infections
• Skin infections
• Infectious diarrhea
• Anthrax
– Cipro can be used to treat a wide variety of other
bacterial infections.
– Due to its versatility, Walmart stocks Cipro in their $4
prescription program making it affordable to obtain.
5. 1. Cipro
What does Cipro not help to cure?
• Syphilis
– Cipro may lesson the symptoms, but cannot kill
the bacteria which causes syphilis
• Viral illnesses (cold, flu, etc.)
– Viral illnesses are not caused by living
bacter, therefore they cannot be killed by
antibiotics
6. 1. Cipro
Potential side effects:
• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Pain in extremities
• Restlessness
• Dizziness
• Intestinal perforation
• ETC.
8. 2. Ventolin
When is Ventolin used?
• Bronchospasm
• Exercise-induced bronchospasm
– Bronchospasms: constrictions of the muscles of
the walls of the bronchioles, making it hard to
breathe
– Many causes: infection
(pneumonia), asthma, emphysema, allergies
9. 2. Ventolin
How does Ventolin help bronchospasms?
• Relaxes muscles in the bronchioles
• Allows air to reach the lungs with ease
10. 2. Ventolin
Administration:
• Must be prescribed by a physician (only to
patients 4 years of age and older)
• Depends on indication
• Given through an inhaler (aerosol droplets)
– Bronchospasm- 2 inhalations every 4 to 6 hours; 1
inhalation every 4 hours may be enough
– Exercised-induced bronchospasm- 2 inhalations
15 to 30 minutes before exercise
11. 2. Ventolin
Potential side effects:
• Allergic reaction (hives, swelling of the
airway, difficulty breathing)
• Heart complications
• Dizziness
• ETC
12. 3. Afrin
• Brand name: Afrin
• Generic Name: oxymetazoline nasal
• Nasal decongestant
– Narrows the blood vessels in the nose to reduce
congestion and swelling
13. 3. Afrin
When is Afrin used?
• Allergies
• Common cold
• Sinusitis
• Hay fever
14. 3. Afrin
Administration:
• Over the counter medication– no need for a
prescription from a physician
• Nasal spray that can be used on one or both
nostrils
– Use exactly as the label describes—not
longer, shorter, lower doses, or higher doses
• Make sure to rinse and wipe top after each use to
avoid recontamination with the allergen/virus
• Never share this medication! This can lead to
spreading of disease.
15. 3. Afrin
Potential side effects:
• Minor (temporary)
– Burning and lack of moisture in the nose
– Runny nose and/or sneezing
• Major
– Dizziness
– Nausea
– Headache
– Emotional changes
– Insomnia
– Allergic reaction (hives, difficult breathing &
swallowing, numbness of tongue or lips)