NUR 161 Pharmacology-Drugs for Upper
Respiratory System Questions and
Correct Answers
Antitussives ✅Block the cough reflex.
Decongestants ✅Decrease the blood flow to the upper respiratory tract and decrease
the overproduction of secretions.
Antihistamines ✅Block the release or action of histamine that increases secretions and
narrows airways.
Expectorants ✅Increase productive cough to clear airways.
Mucolytics ✅Increase or liquefy respiratory secretions to aid clearing of airways.
Antitussives Actions ✅Act directly on the medullary cough center of the brain to
depress the cough reflex.
Antitussives: Indications ✅Control nonproductive cough
antitussives pharmacokinetics ✅Rapidly absorbed, metabolized in the liver, and
excreted in the urine
Antitussive contraindications ✅- Patients who need to cough to maintain the airway.
- Head injury or impaired CNS
Antitussive cautions ✅Hypersensitivity or history of a narcotic addiction.
Antitussives: Adverse Effects ✅Drying effect on the mucous membranes
CNS adverse effects
GI upset
Topical Nasal Decongestants Actions ✅Sympathomimetic.
Affects sympathetic nervous system to cause vasoconstriction.
Causing less edema and inflammation of the nasal membrane.
Topical Nasal Decongestants Indications. ✅Relieve the discomfort of nasal congestion
that accompanies the common cold, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis
, Topical Nasal Decongestants Pharmacokinetics ✅Generally not absorbed
systemically.
Any portion of these topical decongestants that is absorbed is metabolized in the liver
and excreted in the urine.
Topical Nasal Decongestants Contraindications. ✅Lesion or erosion in the mucous
membranes
Topical Nasal Decongestants Caution ✅Any condition that might be exacerbated by
sympathetic activity
Topical Nasal Decongestants Adverse Effects ✅Local stinging and burning
Rebound congestion
Sympathomimetic effects
Topical Nasal Decongestants Drug-toDrug Interactions ✅Cyclopropane or halothane.
Oral Decongestants Actions ✅Shrink the nasal mucous membrane by stimulating the
alpha-adrenergic receptors in the nasal mucous membranes
Oral Decongestants Indications ✅Promotion of drainage in the sinuses and improving
air flow.
Oral Decongestants Pharmacokinetics ✅Well absorbed, widely distributed in the body.
Metabolized in the liver and primarily excreted in urine.
Oral Decongestants Contraindications ✅Any condition that might be exacerbated by
sympathetic activity
Pregnancy & lactation
Oral Decongestants Adverse Effects ✅Rebound congestion
Sympathetic effects
Oral Decongestants Drug-to-Drug Interactions ✅OTC products that contain
pseudoephedrine; taking concurrently can cause serious side effects.
Topical Nasal Steroid Decongestants Actions ✅Exact mechanism of action is not
known
Topical Nasal Steroid Decongestants Indications ✅Seasonal allergic rhinitis
Inflammation after the removal of nasal polyps
Topical Nasal Steroid Decongestants Pharmacokinetics ✅Generally not absorbed
systemically.
Respiratory System Questions and
Correct Answers
Antitussives ✅Block the cough reflex.
Decongestants ✅Decrease the blood flow to the upper respiratory tract and decrease
the overproduction of secretions.
Antihistamines ✅Block the release or action of histamine that increases secretions and
narrows airways.
Expectorants ✅Increase productive cough to clear airways.
Mucolytics ✅Increase or liquefy respiratory secretions to aid clearing of airways.
Antitussives Actions ✅Act directly on the medullary cough center of the brain to
depress the cough reflex.
Antitussives: Indications ✅Control nonproductive cough
antitussives pharmacokinetics ✅Rapidly absorbed, metabolized in the liver, and
excreted in the urine
Antitussive contraindications ✅- Patients who need to cough to maintain the airway.
- Head injury or impaired CNS
Antitussive cautions ✅Hypersensitivity or history of a narcotic addiction.
Antitussives: Adverse Effects ✅Drying effect on the mucous membranes
CNS adverse effects
GI upset
Topical Nasal Decongestants Actions ✅Sympathomimetic.
Affects sympathetic nervous system to cause vasoconstriction.
Causing less edema and inflammation of the nasal membrane.
Topical Nasal Decongestants Indications. ✅Relieve the discomfort of nasal congestion
that accompanies the common cold, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis
, Topical Nasal Decongestants Pharmacokinetics ✅Generally not absorbed
systemically.
Any portion of these topical decongestants that is absorbed is metabolized in the liver
and excreted in the urine.
Topical Nasal Decongestants Contraindications. ✅Lesion or erosion in the mucous
membranes
Topical Nasal Decongestants Caution ✅Any condition that might be exacerbated by
sympathetic activity
Topical Nasal Decongestants Adverse Effects ✅Local stinging and burning
Rebound congestion
Sympathomimetic effects
Topical Nasal Decongestants Drug-toDrug Interactions ✅Cyclopropane or halothane.
Oral Decongestants Actions ✅Shrink the nasal mucous membrane by stimulating the
alpha-adrenergic receptors in the nasal mucous membranes
Oral Decongestants Indications ✅Promotion of drainage in the sinuses and improving
air flow.
Oral Decongestants Pharmacokinetics ✅Well absorbed, widely distributed in the body.
Metabolized in the liver and primarily excreted in urine.
Oral Decongestants Contraindications ✅Any condition that might be exacerbated by
sympathetic activity
Pregnancy & lactation
Oral Decongestants Adverse Effects ✅Rebound congestion
Sympathetic effects
Oral Decongestants Drug-to-Drug Interactions ✅OTC products that contain
pseudoephedrine; taking concurrently can cause serious side effects.
Topical Nasal Steroid Decongestants Actions ✅Exact mechanism of action is not
known
Topical Nasal Steroid Decongestants Indications ✅Seasonal allergic rhinitis
Inflammation after the removal of nasal polyps
Topical Nasal Steroid Decongestants Pharmacokinetics ✅Generally not absorbed
systemically.
