Chapter 18: General Pharmacology
Topics
● Medications EMTs Can Administer
● EMTs Assisting with Prescribed Medications
● General Information about Medications
● Assisting with IV Therapy
Medications EMTs Can Administer
Medications on the Ambulance
● Aspirin
● Oral Glucose
● Oxygen
● Activated Charcoal
● Naloxone
Naloxone
● Naloxone
○ Antidote for a patient who is unconscious and in respiratory failure after taking a
narcotic
○ Does not work if patient has not had a narcotic
EMTs Assisting with Prescribed Medications
Prescribed Medications
● Inhaler
● Nitroglycerin
● Epinephrine
Bronchodilator Inhalers
● Used in patients with asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
● Enlarges constricted breathing tubes
● Side effects
○ Increased heart rate
○ Patient jitteriness
Nitroglycerin
● Taken by patients with history of chest pain of cardiac origin
● Helps dilate coronary vessels
● Contraindications
○ Low blood pressure or taking medications for erectile dysfunction (Viagra,
Levitra, Cialis, or similar)
● Side effects
○ Dropping blood pressure
Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
, ● Prescribed and used for patients with severe allergic reactions classified as anaphylaxis
● Vasoconstrictor
○ Relaxes smooth muscles and airway passages
● Side effects
○ Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Force Protection Medications
● Atropine auto-injector to treat responders in the event of an attack
General Information About Medications
Drug Names
● Each drug is listed by its generic name
● Each drug has at least three names:
○ Chemical name
○ Generic name
○ Trade (brand) name
■ One or more trade names given to the drug by manufacturers
What You Need to Know When Giving a Medication
● Indications
● Contraindications
● Side effects
● Untoward effects
● Form of the medication
○ Compressed powders or tablets
○ Liquids
○ Gels
○ Suspensions
○ Fine powder
○ Gases
○ Sublingual sprays
Medication Safety and Clinical Judgement
● Administering or assisting with medications is a serious responsibility
● Know the medication
● Use good judgment
Medical Authorization
● Off-line medical direction
○ Do not speak to physician
○ Use “standing orders”
● On-line medical direction
○ Speak directly to physician
○ Listen to order, then repeat order back
Topics
● Medications EMTs Can Administer
● EMTs Assisting with Prescribed Medications
● General Information about Medications
● Assisting with IV Therapy
Medications EMTs Can Administer
Medications on the Ambulance
● Aspirin
● Oral Glucose
● Oxygen
● Activated Charcoal
● Naloxone
Naloxone
● Naloxone
○ Antidote for a patient who is unconscious and in respiratory failure after taking a
narcotic
○ Does not work if patient has not had a narcotic
EMTs Assisting with Prescribed Medications
Prescribed Medications
● Inhaler
● Nitroglycerin
● Epinephrine
Bronchodilator Inhalers
● Used in patients with asthma, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis
● Enlarges constricted breathing tubes
● Side effects
○ Increased heart rate
○ Patient jitteriness
Nitroglycerin
● Taken by patients with history of chest pain of cardiac origin
● Helps dilate coronary vessels
● Contraindications
○ Low blood pressure or taking medications for erectile dysfunction (Viagra,
Levitra, Cialis, or similar)
● Side effects
○ Dropping blood pressure
Epinephrine Auto-Injectors
, ● Prescribed and used for patients with severe allergic reactions classified as anaphylaxis
● Vasoconstrictor
○ Relaxes smooth muscles and airway passages
● Side effects
○ Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Force Protection Medications
● Atropine auto-injector to treat responders in the event of an attack
General Information About Medications
Drug Names
● Each drug is listed by its generic name
● Each drug has at least three names:
○ Chemical name
○ Generic name
○ Trade (brand) name
■ One or more trade names given to the drug by manufacturers
What You Need to Know When Giving a Medication
● Indications
● Contraindications
● Side effects
● Untoward effects
● Form of the medication
○ Compressed powders or tablets
○ Liquids
○ Gels
○ Suspensions
○ Fine powder
○ Gases
○ Sublingual sprays
Medication Safety and Clinical Judgement
● Administering or assisting with medications is a serious responsibility
● Know the medication
● Use good judgment
Medical Authorization
● Off-line medical direction
○ Do not speak to physician
○ Use “standing orders”
● On-line medical direction
○ Speak directly to physician
○ Listen to order, then repeat order back
