SUMMARY OF DRUG TYPES

ANALGESICS

Reduce of pain without loss of

consciousness
Route: oral or parenteral
Fentanyl, Morphine, Codeine,
Meperidine, oxycodone, Naproxen,
Ibuprofen
ANTIPYRETIC

Reduces fever
Aspirin, acetaminophen
ANTIARRHYTHMIC

 Treat alterations in the rhythm of the heart

 Route: oral/ parenteral
 Beta Blockers (Metoprolol, Propranolol, Nadolol)
 Calcium Channel Blockers ( Verapamil, Diltiazem, Amlodipine,
Digoxin, Adenosine, Lidocaine
ANTIBIOTICS

 Treat fungal or bacterial infections

 Route: parenteral / oral
 Aminogylcosides: Cephalosporins
 Macrolides: Lincosamides, Penicillins, Sulfonamides,
Tetracyclines
ANTICOAGULANTS

Aid in hindering the coagulation of the blood

Keeps IV lines and catheters free of clots
Route: oral / injection
Warfarin, Heparin, Lepirudin
ANTICONVULSANT

Prevents / relieves convulsions

Carbamazepine, phenytoin
ADRENERGIC

 Vasopressor, stimulates sympathetic nervous system ,

increases BP, relaxes smooth muscle of respiratory system
 Epinephrine
 increase blood pressure
 constrict blood vessels
 open the airways leading to the lungs
 increase heart rate
 stop bleeding
ANTICHOLINERGIC

Depresses parasympathetic system

atropine, scopolamine, belladonna)
ANTI EMETICS

Prevent vomiting
Route: oral / rectal / injection
Metoclopramide (hydroxyzine, Prochlorperazine)
ANTI HYPERTENSIVES

Used in the treatment of high blood

pressure; usually accompanied by diuretic
Route: oral / parenteral
Metoprolol, Vasotec
ANTIPLATELET

Used to destroy blood platelets

Route: oral, parenteral
Aspirin, Tirofiban, Epoprostenol
CARDIAC STIMULANT

Increases cardiac output

Digitalis
CATHARTIC

Laxative, relieves constipation, prepare colon for

diagnostic tests
Bisacodyl, castor oil
EMETIC

Stimulates vomiting
Activated charcoal, ipecac
ANXIOLYTICS

Helps to reduce anxiety such as generalized

anxiety, phobias, panic disorders, post traumatic
stress disorder
Route: oral / parenteral
Benzodiazepines, Midazolam, Diazepam,
Clonazelam, Oxazepam, Barbituates, Lorazepam,
Thiopental, Phenobarbital
ANTIDEPRESSANT

Prevents/alleviates mental depression

Fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, nortriptyline
ANTIHISTAMINE

Relives allergic symptoms

Diphenhydramine hydrochloride (Benadryl)
ANTITUSSIVE

 Reduces coughing
 Dextromethorphan
HYPOGLYCEMIC

Lowers blood glucose

Insulin chlorpropamide , metformin,
TRANQUILIZER

Reduces anxiety
Diazepam, alprazolam
STIMULANT

Stimulates the central nervous system

Caffeine, amphetamines
BETA BLOCKERS

 Combine with and block beta receptors- used to

decrease the heart rate and force of contractions, and
lower high blood pressure
 Can be used to treat arrhythmias
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS

Used to treat some forms of angina pectoris, and

some cardiac arrhythmias
DIURETICS

 Increase the excretion of urine; also to treat congestive

heart failure
 Route: oral / parenteral
 Enalapril, Perindopril, Furosemide, Torasemide,
Bendroflumethiazide, Hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide
NARCOTICS

Dull the senses, relieve pain, induce

sleep,
Morphine, codeine, meperidine
SEDATIVES

Reduce excitement or nervousness,

produce a calming effect, also produce
sleep or loss of consciousness
THROMBOLYTICS

Used to eliminate or break up a thrombus

Route: oral/parenteral
Warfarin, Streptokinase, Alteplase,
Duteplase, Heparin,
VASOCONSTRICTORS

Cause narrowing of blood vessels

Route: Parenteral
Levophed
VASODILATORS

Cause widening or dilation of vessels

Route: oral / parenteral / transdermal
Nitroprusside, Ethanol, Nitroglycerine
HYDROXYZINE HYDROCHLORIDE

Relief of anxiety, tension and psychomotor

agitation experienced by a patient before a
diagnostic or interventional procedures
Controls nausea and vomiting
Contraindication: sensitivity to the agent
Dose: 25-100 mg intramuscularly
PROMETHAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE
 Phenothiazines
 Primary function: antihistaminic agent
 Antiemetic, Anticholinergic
 Side effects: sedation
 Duration: 4-6 hours
 Contraindication: when large amounts of other types of CNS depressants
have been administered
 Can intensify the effect of other drug
 Dose: 25-50 orally/intramuscularly
DIPHENHYRAMINE (BENADRYL)

PRIMARILY AN ANTIHISTAMINIC AGENT

ITS SEDATIVE EFFECTS MAKE IT USEFUL AS A
PREMEDICATION FOR ANGIOGRAPHIC
PROCEDURES
DOSE: 25-50 mg orally/intramuscularly
 ANALGESIC

 Administered to reduce pain

 Classified as: Narcotics (strong) nonnarcotic (mild)
 Narcotic Analgesics: derived from opium or synthetically
-relieve pain without loss of consciousness
-Naturally occurring opioids: morphine, codeine, hydromorphone
-Synthetic: Meperidine, fentanyl, propoxyphene
NARCOTIC ANALGESICS

 Primarily affect the CNS and GI

 Alter the patients’ alertness
 Antitussive
 Have the potential to cause physical dependence (if chronic use)
 Usually produce nausea and vomiting, depression of respiratory
system
 NALOXONE- reverse the effects of narcotic analgesics
 Contraindications: hypersensitivity of morphine,
AGENTS USED AS PREMEDICATION
ANALGESICS

MORPHINE SULFATE
naturally occurring opioid
2-20 mg intramuscular
onset of effect: 15-20 minutes
duration: 3-6 hours
respiratory and GI effects are moderate
 AGENTS USED AS PREMEDICATION
ANALGESICS
 MEPERIDINE (DEMEROL)
75-150 mg intramuscular
Onset of effect: 10-15 minutes and lasts 2-4 hours
moderate probability of causing respiratory depression and GI
distress
Diazepam (Valium) administered to off set its negative effects
 AGENTS USED AS PREMEDICATION
ANALGESICS

FENTANYL (SUBLIMAZE)
Fast acting analgesic
effects occurring within 5-15 minutes
0.05 – 0.1 mg
high risk of causing respiratory depression
 OTHER PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS

DIAZEPAM (VALIUM)
relieve the anxiety the patient experiences before the procedure
relief of painful acute musculoskeletal conditions
can be administered in conjunction with other analgesics such as
meperidine
 OTHER PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS

NALOXONE ( NARCAN)
Narcotic antagonist that prevents or reverses the
effects of the opioid narcotic analgesics
actions can be demonstrated within 2 minutes
0.4- 2 mg IV
 OTHER PHARMACOLOGICAL AGENTS

ATROPINE
reduce the effect of laryngospasm
bronchodilator and sometimes given as a preoperative
agent to reduce salivation and excessive secretions in
the respiratory tract
prevent cholinergic effects (prevent arrhythmias,
hypotension, and bradycardia)