Pharmacology Respiratory Drugs
Drugs for upper respiratory disorder: 1. antihistamines
2. decongestants
3. corticosteroids
4. antitussives
5. expectorants and myolytics
How do antihistamines work? Block the action of histamine at the H1 receptor
(H1 receptor release histamine are allergic response)
What are antihistamines used for? 1. Cold symptoms - decrease nasopharyngeal secretions
2. Allergic rhinitis - decrease nasal itching and tickling that cause sneezing
3. Anaphylaxis
4. Drug allergies
5. Blood/blood product transfusion reaction
6. Dermatologic conditions
7. Motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and sedation
Prototype of antihistamine: diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
First-generation antihistamine (diphenhydramine, Dry mouth and drowsiness
Benadryl) cause:
What is a second-generation antihistamines? Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Ioratadine (Claritin)
( Dont cause as much sedation as first-generation)
Benadryl does not make children excited. T/F False, it can make small children excitable
Benadryl can cause an allergic reaction. T/F True, especially in IM or IV
Benadryl is not used for nausea or motion sickness. T/F False, Benadryl is also used for nausea and motion sickness.
Astelin (nasal spray) has no systemic effects. True
What is nursing care for antihistamines? 1. Caution if driving vehicle or performing tasks due to drowsiness
2. Avoid alcohol and CNS depressants
3. Watch for confusion (not common), hypotension, dizziness, drowsiness, urinary
retention, blurred vision
4. Excitability in children
What is the mechanism of action of nasal and systemic stimulate adrenergic receptors to cause vascular constriction of the capillaries in the
decongestants? nasal mucosa
What is the results of a decongestant? Shrink nasal mucous membrane and reduce fluid secretions.
, Pharmacology Respiratory Drugs
What are the administration routes of decongestants? 1. Nasal spray
2. drops
3. tablets
4. capsule
5. liquid form
What is the major effect of frequent use of decongestant Rebound nasal congestion
spray or drops?
What is the prototype of a nasal decongestant? oxymetazoline (Afrin)
What are other decongestants? 1. ephedrine (Ephedrine)
2. Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)
3. pseudophedrine (Sudafed)
Systemic decongestants relieve congestion longer than True
nasal decongestants. T/F
Systemic decongestants act more rapidly and cause less False, nasal decongestants
side effects. T/F
What are side effects of decongestants? Nervousness, use caution with hypertension, cardia disease, hyperthyroidism, and
diabetes.
What is the prototype of intranasal corticosteroids? fluticasone (Flonase)
What is the mechanism of action of corticosteroids? anti-inflammatory action
What are the other intranasal corticosteroids? 1. mometasone (Nasonex)
2. budesonide (Rhinocort)
Intranasal corticosteroids have the same systemic effects False, the do not have the systemic effects of other steroids.
of steroid taken by other routes. T/F
What is the mechanism of action of antitussives? Act on the cough control center in the medulla to suppress the cough reflex
Prototype of antitussives? dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM)
Do not combine narcotic with antitussives. T/F False, antitussives are mixed with narcotics (codeine) for cough suppression.
What are the side effects of antitussives? Nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness
Drugs for upper respiratory disorder: 1. antihistamines
2. decongestants
3. corticosteroids
4. antitussives
5. expectorants and myolytics
How do antihistamines work? Block the action of histamine at the H1 receptor
(H1 receptor release histamine are allergic response)
What are antihistamines used for? 1. Cold symptoms - decrease nasopharyngeal secretions
2. Allergic rhinitis - decrease nasal itching and tickling that cause sneezing
3. Anaphylaxis
4. Drug allergies
5. Blood/blood product transfusion reaction
6. Dermatologic conditions
7. Motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, and sedation
Prototype of antihistamine: diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
First-generation antihistamine (diphenhydramine, Dry mouth and drowsiness
Benadryl) cause:
What is a second-generation antihistamines? Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Ioratadine (Claritin)
( Dont cause as much sedation as first-generation)
Benadryl does not make children excited. T/F False, it can make small children excitable
Benadryl can cause an allergic reaction. T/F True, especially in IM or IV
Benadryl is not used for nausea or motion sickness. T/F False, Benadryl is also used for nausea and motion sickness.
Astelin (nasal spray) has no systemic effects. True
What is nursing care for antihistamines? 1. Caution if driving vehicle or performing tasks due to drowsiness
2. Avoid alcohol and CNS depressants
3. Watch for confusion (not common), hypotension, dizziness, drowsiness, urinary
retention, blurred vision
4. Excitability in children
What is the mechanism of action of nasal and systemic stimulate adrenergic receptors to cause vascular constriction of the capillaries in the
decongestants? nasal mucosa
What is the results of a decongestant? Shrink nasal mucous membrane and reduce fluid secretions.
, Pharmacology Respiratory Drugs
What are the administration routes of decongestants? 1. Nasal spray
2. drops
3. tablets
4. capsule
5. liquid form
What is the major effect of frequent use of decongestant Rebound nasal congestion
spray or drops?
What is the prototype of a nasal decongestant? oxymetazoline (Afrin)
What are other decongestants? 1. ephedrine (Ephedrine)
2. Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine)
3. pseudophedrine (Sudafed)
Systemic decongestants relieve congestion longer than True
nasal decongestants. T/F
Systemic decongestants act more rapidly and cause less False, nasal decongestants
side effects. T/F
What are side effects of decongestants? Nervousness, use caution with hypertension, cardia disease, hyperthyroidism, and
diabetes.
What is the prototype of intranasal corticosteroids? fluticasone (Flonase)
What is the mechanism of action of corticosteroids? anti-inflammatory action
What are the other intranasal corticosteroids? 1. mometasone (Nasonex)
2. budesonide (Rhinocort)
Intranasal corticosteroids have the same systemic effects False, the do not have the systemic effects of other steroids.
of steroid taken by other routes. T/F
What is the mechanism of action of antitussives? Act on the cough control center in the medulla to suppress the cough reflex
Prototype of antitussives? dextromethorphan (Robitussin DM)
Do not combine narcotic with antitussives. T/F False, antitussives are mixed with narcotics (codeine) for cough suppression.
What are the side effects of antitussives? Nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness
