PharmacologyPharmacology

EMT Responsibilities:EMT Responsibilities:• You will be responsible for administering You will be responsible for administering

certain medications.certain medications.• You will also be responsible for assisting You will also be responsible for assisting

patients with self-administration of their patients with self-administration of their own medications.own medications.

• Not understanding how medications work Not understanding how medications work places you and the patient in danger.places you and the patient in danger.

DefinitionsDefinitions• PharmacologyPharmacology

• DoseDose• ActionAction

• IndicationIndication• ContraindicationsContraindications

• Side effectsSide effects

Medication NamesMedication Names• Trade nameTrade name• Generic nameGeneric name• Prescription drugsPrescription drugs• Over-the-counter (OTC) drugsOver-the-counter (OTC) drugs

Administration RoutesAdministration Routes• Intravenous (IV) injectionIntravenous (IV) injection• Oral (PO)Oral (PO)• Sublingual (SL)Sublingual (SL)• Intramuscular (IM)Intramuscular (IM)• Intraosseous (IO) Intraosseous (IO)

Administration RoutesAdministration Routes• Subcutaneous (SQ)Subcutaneous (SQ)• TranscutaneousTranscutaneous• InhalationInhalation• Rectal (PR)Rectal (PR)

Dosage FormsDosage Forms• TabletsTablets• CapsulesCapsules• SolutionsSolutions• SuspensionsSuspensions• Metered-dose Metered-dose

inhalersinhalers

• Topical Topical medicationsmedications

• Transcutaneous Transcutaneous medicationsmedications

• GelsGels• Gases Gases

Steps for AdministrationSteps for Administration• Obtain order from medical controlObtain order from medical control• Verify the proper medication and prescriptionVerify the proper medication and prescription• Verify the form, dose, and route of Verify the form, dose, and route of

administrationadministration• Check the expiration date and condition of Check the expiration date and condition of

medication.medication.• Reassess vital signs every 5 minutes.Reassess vital signs every 5 minutes.• Document times and changes.Document times and changes.

EMT MedicationsEMT Medications

OxygenOxygenEpi pensEpi pens

Oral GlucoseOral GlucoseActivated charcoalActivated charcoal

Syrup of IpecacSyrup of Ipecac

OxygenOxygen• Nasal cannulaNasal cannula• Non-rebreatherNon-rebreather maskmask• BVMBVM• Blow byBlow by

Epi PensEpi Pens• Administered for Administered for

anaphylaxis only!anaphylaxis only!• Patient > 66 lbs.Patient > 66 lbs.• Patient < 66 lbs.Patient < 66 lbs.• Medical controlMedical control

Oral GlucoseOral Glucose• Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia

confirmed by confirmed by glucometry.glucometry.

• Patient must be Patient must be awake and able to awake and able to swallow.swallow.

Activated CharcoalActivated Charcoal• Prevents stomach Prevents stomach

from absorbing from absorbing poisons.poisons.

• Contact medical Contact medical control for use.control for use.

• Dose: 1gm/kgDose: 1gm/kg

Syrup of IpecacSyrup of Ipecac• Rarely used to Rarely used to

induce vomiting induce vomiting in OD.in OD.

• Contact medical Contact medical control or medics control or medics before use.before use.

Assisting with MedicationsAssisting with Medications

NitroglycerinNitroglycerinAspirinAspirin

Metered dose inhalers/nebulizersMetered dose inhalers/nebulizersOther prescribed medicationsOther prescribed medications

NitroglycerinNitroglycerin• Chest pain similar to Chest pain similar to

angina or cardiac pain.angina or cardiac pain.• BP > 100 mmHg.BP > 100 mmHg.• No more than 3 doses No more than 3 doses

5minute apart.5minute apart.• Check expiration date.Check expiration date.• Patient sitting or lying Patient sitting or lying

down.down.• Must be patient’s RxMust be patient’s Rx

AspirinAspirin• Administered only at patient’s

request with associated cardiac chest discomfort.

• Dose: 325mg• Should be chewed or swallowed

with small amount of water.

Metered Dose InhalersMetered Dose Inhalers• Must be patient’s Must be patient’s

own Rx.own Rx.• Patient must be Patient must be

able to self able to self administer.administer.

• Do not exceed Do not exceed prescribed dose.prescribed dose.

Patient MedicationsPatient Medications• Can clue you in to patient medical Can clue you in to patient medical

conditions and history.conditions and history.• Helpful when patient has altered Helpful when patient has altered

mental state.mental state.• Include OTC medications, dietary Include OTC medications, dietary

supplements, natural remedies.supplements, natural remedies.• Allergies to medications?Allergies to medications?

Prescription LabelsPrescription Labels

Cardiac MedicationsCardiac Medications• Beta blockers• Calcium channel

blockers• NTG• ASA• Ace Inhibitors• Diuretics

• AntihypertensivesAntihypertensives• Hyperlipidemia agentsHyperlipidemia agents• Digitalis (Digoxin)Digitalis (Digoxin)• WarfarinWarfarin• PotassiumPotassium• PlavixPlavix• AmiodoroneAmiodorone

Respiratory MedicationsRespiratory Medications AlbuterolAlbuterol AtroventAtrovent TerbutalineTerbutaline PrednisonePrednisone FlonaseFlonase NasonexNasonex

Combivent Flovent Advair Singular Zyrtec Allegra

Neurological MedicationsNeurological Medications Neurontin Valium Clonazepam Tegretol Aricept Lamictal Luminal

Dilantin Topamax Imitrex Zomig Maxalt Depakote Cogentin

Anxiety & Depression Anxiety & Depression Alprazolam (Xanax) Valium Zoloft Luvox Paxil Ambien Effexor Prozac

Trazadone Wellbutrin Effexor Amitriptyline Lexapro Respiradol Zyprexa Celexa

AnalgesicsAnalgesics Hydrocodone Oxycodone Morphine Ibuprofen Celebrex Bextra Naproxen

Oxycontin Darvocet ASA Tylenol Soma Flexeril Stadol

Endocrine MedsEndocrine Meds Levothyroxine Premarin Glipizide Glucophage Avandia Actos

Insulin Glyburide Metformin Glucovance Amaryl BCP

GI & NauseaGI & Nausea Prilosec Prevacid Nexium Protonix Aciphex Rantidine Omeprazole

Phengren Compazine Meclizine Tagamet Pepcid Donnatal Maalox