Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The science of drugs: their composition, actions, uses, and effects on the body. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical agent used to treat or prevent disease or relieve symptoms. |
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Term
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Definition
| How a medication affects the body (mechanism of action, therapeutic effects, side effects). |
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Term
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Definition
| How the body affects a medication (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion). |
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Term
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Definition
| The time from administration until a drug begins to produce a therapeutic effect. |
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Term
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Definition
| The length of time a drug continues to produce a therapeutic effect. |
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Term
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Definition
| A drug that binds to a receptor and stimulates a response. |
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Term
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Definition
| A drug that blocks or inhibits the action of another substance. |
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Term
| Six 'Rights' of Medication Administration |
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Definition
| Right patient, Right medication, Right dose, Right route, Right time, Right documentation. |
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Term
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Definition
| A condition that makes a particular medication inadvisable or harmful. |
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Term
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Definition
| An undesired effect caused by a medication. |
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Term
| Standing orders vs online medical direction |
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Definition
| Standing orders = preapproved protocols; Online = direct contact with medical control. |
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Term
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Definition
| Taken by mouth; slower onset; must be alert with intact gag reflex. |
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Term
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Definition
| Placed under the tongue; rapid absorption (e.g., nitroglycerin). |
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Term
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Definition
| Inhaled into lungs (oxygen, MDI, nebulizer). Fast onset. |
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Term
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Definition
| Injected into muscle (e.g., epinephrine auto-injector). |
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Term
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Definition
| Sprayed into nostril; absorbed rapidly (e.g., naloxone). |
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Term
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Definition
| Hypoxia, suspected hypoxia, shock, respiratory distress. |
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Term
| Oxygen - contraindications |
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Definition
| No major contraindications; caution with COPD chronic retainers. |
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Term
| Oxygen - delivery devices |
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Definition
| Nasal cannula 1–6 L/min, NRB 10–15 L/min, BVM 15 L/min, pocket mask with O2 6–10 L/min. |
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Term
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Definition
| Suspected myocardial infarction/ischemia (chest pain). |
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Term
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Definition
| Typically 162–325 mg chewable tablets. |
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Term
| Aspirin - contraindications |
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Definition
| Allergy, GI bleeding, recent GI surgery. |
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Term
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Definition
| GI upset, bleeding, allergic reaction. |
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Term
| Nitroglycerin - indication |
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Definition
| Chest pain of cardiac origin (prescribed to patient). |
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Term
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Definition
| 0.3–0.4 mg SL tablet/spray, repeat per protocol if BP adequate. |
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Term
| Nitroglycerin - contraindications |
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Definition
| Systolic BP <90–100, ED drug use in past 24–48 hrs, head injury. |
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Term
| Nitroglycerin - side effects |
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Definition
| Headache, hypotension, dizziness, tachycardia. |
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Term
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Definition
| Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). |
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Term
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Definition
| Adult 0.3 mg IM auto-injector; child 0.15 mg IM. |
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Term
| Epinephrine - contraindications |
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Definition
| None in life-threatening anaphylaxis. |
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Term
| Epinephrine - side effects |
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Definition
| Tachycardia, anxiety, headache, dizziness, chest pain. |
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Term
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Definition
| Suspected opioid overdose with respiratory depression. |
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Term
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Definition
| 2–4 mg IN (1 mg per nostril), or per local protocol. |
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Term
| Naloxone - contraindications |
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Definition
| Hypersensitivity to drug. |
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Term
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Definition
| Withdrawal, agitation, nausea, vomiting. |
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Term
| Albuterol (MDI) - indication |
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Definition
| Asthma, difficulty breathing with wheezing, COPD (prescribed inhaler). |
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Term
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Definition
| 1–2 puffs (90–180 mcg), or nebulizer 2.5 mg in 3 mL saline (assisted use). |
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Term
| Albuterol - contraindications |
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Definition
| Allergy, unable to follow instructions, not prescribed to patient (without med control). |
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Term
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Definition
| Tachycardia, anxiety, tremor, dizziness. |
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Term
| Oral glucose - indication |
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Definition
| Low blood sugar in alert patient able to swallow. |
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Term
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Definition
| Typically 15–24 g gel, buccal or oral. |
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Term
| Oral glucose - contraindications |
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Definition
| Unconscious, unable to swallow, cannot protect airway. |
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Term
| Oral glucose - side effects |
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Definition
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Term
| Activated charcoal - indication |
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Definition
| Most oral poisonings if advised by medical control. |
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Term
| Activated charcoal - dose |
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Definition
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Term
| Activated charcoal - contraindications |
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Definition
| Altered LOC, ingestion of acids/alkalis/petroleum products. |
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Term
| Activated charcoal - side effects |
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Definition
| Nausea, vomiting, black stools. |
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Term
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Definition
| After giving med, record drug, dose, route, time, patient response. |
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Term
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Definition
| Authorizes meds outside standing orders or clarifies treatment. |
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Term
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Definition
| Assist: help patient with prescribed med. Administer: give approved med per protocols. |
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Term
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Definition
| Patient may refuse medication; document refusal, ensure informed decision, involve med control if unsure. |
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Term
| Pediatric dosing consideration |
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Definition
| Often weight-based; use Broselow tape or medical control guidance. |
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Term
| Common EMT-administered meds list |
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Definition
| Oxygen, aspirin, nitroglycerin (assist), MDI/albuterol (assist), epinephrine auto-injector, oral glucose, activated charcoal, naloxone (per state). |
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