M10 While Task
The following videos provide discussions on drugs used for handling medical
emergencies; also the prevention, recognition and management of various
emergencies.
Categories of Emergency Drugs
A. Injectable Drug
Primary or Essential
1. Epinephrine
Epinephrine injection is in a class of medications called alpha- and beta- adrenergic
agonists. In emergency medical treatment, it is used treat life- threatening allergic
reactions caused by insect bites or stings, foods, medications, latex, and other causes.
2. Antihistamine injection
Antihistamine injections or allergy shots are used to treat variety of conditions like
severe allergic reactions, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and motion sickness.
3. Anticonvulsant
Intravenous and intramuscular anti-seizure drugs (ASDs) are essential in the treatment
of clinical seizure emergencies as well as in replacement therapy when oral
administration is not possible.
4. Anti narcotic
Naloxone (anti-narcotic drug) injection is used to treat a narcotic overdose in an
emergency situation.
Secondary or Non Essential
1. Analgesic
Pain comprises almost 80% of the causes for referral to the emergency department.The
primary basis for pain relief is the administration of systemic analgesic agents such as
narcotics or nonsteroidal anti- inflammatory drugs in an emergency.
2. Vasopressor
Vasopressor injection is used in emergency settings to raise blood pressure in adults
who are in shock.
3. Corticosteroid
In an emergency, hydrocortisone injections are used to treat severe asthma, allergic
reactions, severe shock due to injury or infection, or failure of the adrenal glands.
4. Anti hypoglycemic agents
Anti hypoglycaemic agents like Glucagon, is an essential tool for rapid response in
treating severe hypoglycemia in Type I and Type II diabetes mellitus patients.
Drugs for Advanced Cardiac Life Support
1. Sodium bicarbonate
Sodium Bicarbonate administration is only recommended for cardiac arrest related to
hypokalemia or overdose of tricyclic antidepressants.
2. Atropine
The action of this drug is to block the effect of the vagus nerve on the heart. This nerve
normally slows heart rate and, during cardiac arrest, is a common cause of asytole.
3. Lidocaine
IV Lidocaine is given to treat specific cardiac arrythmias, again mainly ventricular
fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. It reduces the electrical activity of cardiac tissue
and so is able to slow down a very fast heart rate.
B. Non Injectable Drugs
1. Oxygen
Oxygen is the most commonly used drug in emergency medicine and when used
judiciously in the treatment of hypoxaemia, it undoubtedly saves life.
A person who is having a heart attack is given oxygen, which helps heart tissue damage to
be less.
2. Vasodilating Agents like Nitroglycerin
Vasodilators like nitroglycerin improve hemodynamics in patients with advanced heart
failure.
3. Respiratory stimulant
Ammonia Inhalants (or smelling salts) are used for stimulating consciousness. It can be
used to help arouse consciousness for an unconscious or semi-conscious victim or to
restore mental alertness during competition.
4. Anti Hypoglycemic Agents
Hypoglycemia is a medical emergency, and it is important for patients with diabetes and
their close contacts to recognize symptoms of hypoglycemia and proceed with proper
treatment. In the conscious patient, the most practical treatment is the oral
administration of a rapid-acting carbohydrate like Oral Glucose.
Oral glucose
5. Bronchodilating Agents
Bronchodilators are indicated for individuals that have lower than optimal airflow through
the lungs.Various respiratory conditions may require bronchodilators, including asthma
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
MODULE 7: DRUGS ACTING ON CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacologic actions of sedative- Hypnotic drugs
- Drugs acting on central nervous system
1. Sedative-anxiolytics
2. Antidepressants
3. Antipsychotic drugs
4. Antimanic drugs
5. Anticonvusants
1.SEDATIVE ANXIOLYTICS
- Sedative anxiolytics are drugs used to slow down the activity of the brain
- Treatment for : Insomia, Epileptic patient, Surgery sedation , Antianxiety treatment .
- example of sedative-anxiolytics : Benzodiazepines
- Caution: it can stop some medications from working properly, can lead to : addiction, withdrawal,
overdose
2.ANTIDEPRESSANTS
- relieve symptom of
- depression, social anxiety disorder, mild chronic depression
- correcting the chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain
TYPES OF ANTIDEPRESSANTS
- Serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
3. ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS
Antipsychotics work by blocking the effect of dopamine
- This helps reduce psychotic symptoms for many people
TWO GENERATIONS OF ANTIPSYCHOTICS
- FIRST GENERATION: Chlorpromazine, Flupentixol, haloperidol, pericyazine
- SECOND GENERATION: Amisulpride, clozapine, lurasidone, risperidone.
4. ANTIMANIC AGENTS
- WORKS BY: preventing an abnormal electrical impulse by stabilizing the sodium channel in
neurons and reducing their electrical conductivity
- Regulating the chemical balance or electrical activity in the brain
- EX: Abilify, aristada, aripirazole.
- Used to control: - Schizophrenia, Bipolar disorder, depression, autism, tourette syndrome,
epilepsy, trigeminal neurralgia
5. ANTICONVULSANTS
- works by: reducing the abnormal electrical activity the brain that is causing the seizures.
- Preventing the spread of the seizure within the brain
- Ex: Carbaazepine, oxcabazepine, lamotrigine, phenytoin, valproic acid.