is the study of drugs and their interactions with the body.

A drug is defined as a substance which can be taken by , injected into a , , or cavity of the body. As well as via the lungs and applied onto the skin. In order for a drug to be approved by the it must be proven to , , or a disease or condition.

Drug sources are placed into categories. which includes to treat bradycardias and organophosphate overdoses as well as the drug which is used as an analgesic. drug source includes insulin, epinephrine (adrenaline), hormones, and blood clotting factors. include the most abundant intracellular cation and the most common extracellular cation . includes penicillin discovered in 1928 and other immunizations. sources are made in a laboratory which include which is used to treat V-fib and PVC's and the drug which puts you to sleep in the operating room.

There are categories of drug names. The is the most detailed description of the drug and states the molecular structure along with chemical composition. The name is nonproprietary name. name is assigned to foster brand loyalty amount its customers or is a catchy name to allow customers to remember it or associate with it. The name is the acknowledge name by the FDA and listed with the letters which stands for the United States Pharmacopeia.

Two main books in which a paramedic student should understand. The is a published book which lists drugs, drug source, compounds and interactions. A is a publication which suggests to doctors how to use the drug.

History of drug oversight.

The focused on mislabeling and establishing the USP listings as well as protecting the public from adulterated drugs. The (names after Lavern and ?) prohibited false therapeutic claims in advertising and labeling. In 1914 Indiana Jones was popular in the which banned opiates and cocaine in the United States for non-medical use. The FDA was created in 1938 under the which gives regulatory oversight to new drugs and testing to ensure safety. In 1952 the placed drugs into two categories; over the counter and prescription. In 1962 the Kefauver Harris Amendment required drug manufacturers to list side affects which is why a commercials list a disclaimer about possible reactions. In Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act also know as the of 1970 placed addictive drugs into categories or . Schedule I is highly abusive and has approved medical use. Examples of Schedule I are heroin, marijuana, LSD. Schedule II is highly additive but has approved medical use. Examples of Schedule II are , demoral and other pain killers. Schedule III are abusive but not as addictive. Examples of Schedule III are Lortab, Tussionex, and hydrocodone with Tylenol. Schedule IV drugs are your tranquilizers which includes valium and other . Schedule V would include cough medication with small amounts of codeine or opium. In 1973 the was created to enforce drug laws.

General Properties of Drugs

  effects describes what the drug will do. The drug explains how it causes the effects in the body. effects are untoward effects that come with the drug. Example is that Benadryl makes you tired. An adverse reaction to an untoward effect is categorized as being to it which may include systemic hives and difficulty breathing. Dose has many meanings; the dose is to total amount which may be given. The dose is the amount to be given per dose. is when to use the drug and has two categories; label which is what the drug has been studied and approved for and label which includes uses not involved in the study. Contraindicated means when not to use it. There are two categories; contraindications are when giving the drug is a case by case decision related to positive versus negative risks. contraindication is when you absolutely do not give it. For example the absolute contraindication for is 90 mmHg and the relative contraindication is 100 mmHg.

is how the body handles a drug over a period of time. This includes phases; , , , and . Pharmacokinetics is most commonly affected by pH levels, drug , and flow.

routes of absorption are through the path. routes of absorption are through sites outside the track. Most drug absorption in the enteral route takes place in the .

Intravenous (IV) injection is the and most reliably route of administration since it is totally not affected by first bypass. which stands for "by mouth" is the route and takes about 20-30 minutes for most pills to start to work but substances like glucose, Tylenol and alcohol absorb much faster. Sublingual is considered a enteral route since absorption takes place through the mucus membranes of the sublingual tissue. Most sublingual drugs are related. injection is when the needle enters the body at a 90 degree angle to the skin and administered into the middle of the muscle which allows for up to 2 mL (small muscles) to mL (larger muscles) to be given. injection is when the needle is placed at a 45 degree angle to the skin and typically does not exceed mL. SubQ is slower absorption than IM. is just as fast as IV and is given into the marrow. is when drugs are absorbed through the skin. is the second fastest route of absorption. stands for "per rectum" and is affected by contents as well as 50% first by-pass.

Drug forms

are compressed powders like Nitro and . Capsules are used to hide or protect the drug from high pH levels. An IV bag of 0.9% Sodium Chloride is termed a since it is a mixture of one or more substances. A is a mixture of particle distributed throughout a liquid by shaking; examples are MDI albuterol and charcoal. is a miniature spray container used to direct drugs through the mouth into the lungs. drugs are meant to stay on the top of the skin like Neosporin and sun lotions. drugs are designed to be absorbed into circulation through the skin like birth control patches and motion sickness patches. is via inhalation which include O2 and laughing gas known as . A is a solid material like vitamins or antibiotics that are cut/molded into a manageable size to swallow.

Drugs accumulate are storage sites by binding to specific tissues. Two types of drug reservoirs are; protein binding and tissue binding in the and . For example is an antibiotic which stores in the teeth and turned them yellow. The term drugs are those drugs circulating and available to be active. When the amount of free drugs decrease the drug reservoirs release their drugs into circulation. The barrier lines the CNS which allow , , (valium), and anesthetics to pass but keeps out antibiotics and infection.

is a process by which the drug is chemically converted to a meaning broken down. Biotransformation can break a substance down for elimination or can activate the substance to make it active or potent. This usually takes place in the but can also happen in the lungs and other organs.

is the elimination of toxic or inactive metabolites which primarily takes place in the but can also be accomplished in the intestines, lungs, sweat glands, mammary glands. Nothing can replace the kidneys to maintain homeostasis within the body. For those who have renal failure dialysis is needed. is the excretion by artificial process through a machine which requires numerous treatments throughout the week. dialysis uses the peritoneal membrane which surrounds the GI abdominal cavity. This way is less effective than hemodialysis.

Factors that influence actions of drugs are; , body mass (weight), and temperature along with many others.

  is the study of how a drug acts on a living organism. Some terms to know are; which causes a reaction, which blocks an action, which stimulates a reaction and which blocks a reaction.

range is the concentration that provides the highest probability of response. Biological is the time needed to metabolize or eliminate half of the total amount of drug in the body. A drug is considered gone from the body after half-lives. Therapeutic measures safety of a drug. The minimum levels are determined when 50% of lab animals demonstrate effects of the drugs. The lethal dose is determined when 50% of lab animals die.

is when two or more agents/drugs working together to produce a result not obtained by and on agent independently. is when one drug makes another drug more effective.

The following is not on exam 2. See if you can figure it out. By the end of the course you should get it.
Also class/categories of drugs are listed in detail at the end of the pharmacology outline.


Highlighted GREEN = medic must know
Highlighted YELLOW = medic should know
Highlighted RED = wouldn't hurt a medic to know

Generic/Trade Name Class
Activated Charcoal
Adenosine
Albuterol

Amiodarone
 
Atropine
Calcium Chloride
Dexamethasone

D50%
Diazepam
Digoxin
Diphenhydramine
Dobutamine
Dopamine
Epinephrine 1:1000
Epinephrine 1:10000
Furosemide
Glucagon
Ipecac
Labetalol

Lidocaine
Levalbuterol
Magnesium Sulfate
Mannitol
Meperidine
Metaproterenol
Methylprednisolone
Morphine
Naloxone
Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin Spray
Nitropaste
Nitrous Oxide
Norepinephrine
Oxytocin
Procainamide
Promethazine
Propranolol
Racemic Epinephrine
Sodium Bicarbinate
Succinylcholine
Terbutaline
Thiamine
Verapamil

 


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