| Term | Definition |
|---|
| antihistamines | also called H1 blockers, or H1 antagonists; these are agents designed to relieve respiratory symptoms and treat allergic conditions |
| antihistamine groups | grouped according to generation; first and second generation |
| first generation antihistamines | agents that have great anticholinergic effects and cause sedation and drowsiness |
| second generation antihistamines | agents that have fewer anticholinergic effects and that is why they cause less sedation |
| antihistamine method of action | these agents selectively block the effects of histamine at the histamine 1 receptor site in the target tissue by competing with histamine for receptor, decreasing celluar response |
| clinical indications for antihistamine use | rhinitis, allergic sinusitis, uncomplicated urticaria and angioedema |
| antihistamine pharmacodynamics | CNS; drowsiness and sedation, fatigue, and dizziness |
| anticholinergic effects of antihistamines | drying of the respiratory mucus membrane, GI upset, nausea, arrhythmias, dysuria, urinary retention |
| nursing implications of antihistamines | administer drug on empty stomach to increase absorption, provide oral care, safety measures for drowsiness |
| antitussives | agents that supress the cough reflex on the medulla oblongata |
| two groups of antitussives | narcotic and non-narcotic |
| examples of narcotic antitussives | benzonatate, codeine, hydrocodone |
| examples of non-narcotic antitussives | butamirate citrate, dextromethorphan |
| contraindications of antitussives | patients with asthma, emphysema or COPD because an accumulation of secretions may occur |
| antitussive pharmacodynamics | CNS; drowsiness, dizziness and sedation -GIT; nausea, constipation, GI upset, dry mouth |
| mucolytics | agents that breakdown mucous in order to help repiratory patients in coughing up thick, tenacious secretions |
| examples of mucolytics | acetylcysteine and dornase alfa |
| mucolytic pharmacodynamics | acetylcysteine affects the mucoproteins in the respiratory secretions by splitting apart disulfide bonds that are responsible for holding mucous material together |
| indications for use of mucolytics | COPD, cystic fibrosis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, atelectasis |
| mucolytic implementation | administered as a nebulizer treatment- not to be combined with any other treatment |
| bronchodilators | used to facilitate respiration by dilating the airways by relaxing bronchial smooth muscle bands to dialte the bronchi and bronchioles that are narrowed as a result of the disease process |
| two classes of bronchodilators | xanthine derivatives and beta-agonists |
| beta-adrenergic agonists | a large group of drugs used during acute phase asthma attack to reduce airway constriction and restore airway function to normal |
| decongestants | agensts used for their ability to shrink engorged nasal mucus membranes and relieve nasal stuffiness |
| three groups of decongestants | adrenegics, anticholinergics and corticosteroids |
| expectorants | agents that aid in the expectoration (coughing up and spitting out) of excessive mucus |
| example of expectorant | guaifenesin |
| two actions of an expectorant | reflex stimulation (loosening and thinning of secretions) and direct stimulation (stimulates the secretory glands in the repiratory tract) |
Combine with other sets
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