Types of Medications
Albuterol
What is a beta adrenergic agonist?
This class of medication is frequently used to breakdown the chemical structure of mucus molecules to thin mucus and ease expectoration
What are mucolytics?
This class of medication may cause dry mouth, headache, GI distress, anxiety, and cough
What are anticholinergics?
This class of medication has an unpleasant odor
This type of inhaler should never get wet
What is a powder dose inhaler?
What is a leukotriene receptor agonist?
This class of medication produces an anti-inflammatory effect to prevent acute asthma attacks
What is an inhaled corticosteroid?
This class of medication can cause growth retardation in children.
What are inhaled (or oral) corticosteroids?
For this class of medication, when more than one puff is ordered, you should wait 1-2 minutes between puffs for bronchodilation to occur. This allows the second puff to reach the distal airways.
What are beta adrenergic agonists?
Children and the elderly should use this when using a beta adrenergic agonist
What is a spacer or aerochamber?
Fluticasone
What is an inhaled corticosteroid?
This class of medication's onset is slow, with a 12 hour duration. They are usually combined with a steroid and are used for daily maintenance therapy.
What are long acting bronchodilators (LABA)?
Overuse of this medication may cause tachycardia, hypertension, or palpitations?
What are beta adrenergic agonists?
What are long acting bronchodilators?
For this class of medication, the nurse should monitor the patient's temperature frequently to assess for signs of infection
What are inhaled corticosteroids?
This class of medication's therapeutic serum drug concentration is 10-20 mcg/mL
What are methylxanthines?
Salmeterol
This class of medication prevents asthma attacks by preventing histamine release.
What are mast cell stabilizers?
When inhaled, this class of medication can cause hoarseness, sore throat, or oropharyngeal candida albicans infections
What are inhaled corticosteroids?
A nursing intervention to help decrease the GI irritation associated with methylxanthine use
What is giving a full glass of water and food with administration?
A nursing intervention for the patient with dry mouth from using an anticholinergic
What is providing hard candy?
Ipratropium
What is an anticholinergic?
This class of medication is administered orally. They modify or inhibit airway edema and contraction and are used for long term therapy for uncontrolled asthma.
What are leukotriene receptor agonists?
This class of medication can cause dizziness, nausea, stomatitis, bronchospasms, rhinorrhea, and burning in upper respiratory passages
What are mucolytics?
These medications should not be given in an acute asthma attack
What are inhaled corticosteroids?
What are long acting bronchodilators?
A patient education topic regarding inhaled corticosteroids
What is instructing the patient to rinse their mouth after taking the med to reduce fungal infection risk?
Dornase alfa
What is a mucolytic?
This class of medication promotes bronchodilation by inhibiting an enzyme which metabolizes AMP. They are used for long term oral prevention of asthma that is not responsive to Beta agonists?
What are methylxanthines?
This class of medication can cause stinging and burning of the nose or throat, and nasal congestion
What are mast cell stabilizers?
This class of medication should be used to prevent allergic asthmatic attacks, so it should not be used in acute attacks
What are mast cell stabilizers?
When taking this class of medication, the patient should be instructed to take the med as scheduled, without missing doses, to limit caffeine, to avoid taking OTC cough meds, and educated that the med should not be crushed
What are methylxanthines?
Dyphylline
What is a methylxanthine bronchodilator?
This class of medication acts by the blocking parasympathetic nervous system to cause bronchodilation
What are anticholinergics?
What are methyxanthines?
To decrease the throat irritation associated with mast cell stabilizer use, the nurse can instruct the patient to do this
What is gargling?
For the patient receiving a mucolytic, a nursing intervention following administration is this
What is proper coughing technique and oral care following expectoration?
Cromolyn Sodium
What is a mast cell stabilizer?
What are beta adrenergic agonists?
This medication can cause a bitter, unpleasant taste
What is nedocromil?
This population may require higher doses of methylxanthines to maintain serum level since they metabolize the drug rapidly
Who are adults who smoke?
When prescribed concurrently, this is the correct method to administer an inhaled corticosteroid and a bronchodilator
What is administering the inhaled corticosteroid after the bronchodilator