medications FYI

Medications FYI     Medications can be very confusing. I am adding this page to my web site in hopes that it may help one or two people.   WARNING: This page does not take precedence over your doctor or pharmacist orders. This page only covers what is called OTC's or over the counter medications. I am an EMT-B, and a Iowa Certified Medication Aid. I am just going to cover some of the basics of medications and precautions. For some this will be new stuff and for others a refresher topic.
    Now, junior is sick. The first thing to do is to take the temperature. There is 5 ways to do this. The first is the easiest way for kids under 4 years old and that is the reticule temp. Remember to subtract 1 degree from what the thermometer says. The second way is under the arm and then add 1 degree. The third way is by mouth. Make sure the person will not bite the thermometer. The fourth way is by ear or tympanic. The last way is by skin using a thermometer that just lays on the skin. I don't feel this is a very accurate method but it works as a general diagnostic tool to let you know if something is wrong.
    Drugs are made from four sources, animal, plant, mineral, and synthetic. The same drug can be known by three different names.
1. Official Name - is the name given a drug after it has been tested and conforms to standardization.
2. Generic- are universal names assigned to drugs to describe the drug's chemical structure.
3. Trade or Brand Name- These names are assigned to the drug by the manufacturer. An example , Anacin is a trade name -acetylsalicylic acid is the generic name.
    Some general rules for take drugs:
1. Follow the doctors orders and finish the prescription.
2. Check with the pharmacist before you crush a drug. ( No time release or coated drugs should be crushed.)
3. Avoid all booze.
4. Take at the prescribed times. If you miss a dose do not double up. Most of the time you just take the next dose and continue the treatment tell all pills are finished.
5. Check for special considerations such as: avoid sun, avoid driving, take with food. ect.
6. DO NOT GIVE YOUR PRESCRIPTION DRUG TO SOMEONE ELSE WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS. They may be allergic to the drug or it may mask the symptoms of something worse. Also you can go to jail for prescribing a drug without a license.
7. If you are taking more than 1 drug, take all your drugs that you are taking with you or write them down before you go to the doctors office or the pharmacy. This goes for OTC's also. Check with the pharmacist before you buy any drugs, hurbs ect and see if there might be a drug interaction.

TERMS
   Here are some terms that are used with drugs that you should know the meaning of:
Action- influence/effect of the drug
Side Effect - any effect of a drug other than the one for which it is given, e.g., dry mouth is sometimes a side effect of drugs whose action id to lower blood pressure.
Cumulative Effect - undesirable build-up of a drug in the body. This is usually caused because the body does not get rid of the drug before the next dose is given. This can be dangerous because high concentrations of drugs may be poisonous.
Toxic Effect - a poisonous effect of a drug often associated with an overdose.
Allergic Reaction - an allergic response to a drug.
Synergist - a drug that when given with another drug increases the usual effect of the other drug , not a desired effect.
Antagonist - a drug which when acting with another drug tends to make the effect of the drug less than it would be if it were acting alone.
Initial Dose - the beginning dosage of a drug.
Maintenance Dosage - the drug dosage given to keep the drug at an even blood level for a period of time.
Contraindication - a symptom or circumstance that renders a particular method of treatment or drug dangerous to give.
Habituation - emotional dependence of a drug resulting from repeated use. ( Remember "Mother's little helper")
Addiction- physical and emotional dependence on a drug.
Placebo - an inactive substance given.
Idiosyncrasy - and abnormal reaction to drugs, e.g., Phenobarbital can cause excitement not sedation in children.
Tolerance - a condition when an increased amount of a drug is required to produce the sane effect as when the drug was first taken.
Potentiate - when two drugs are given together, one increases the action of the other.
    There are 5 reasons why drugs are given:
1. Maintenance of health
2. Prevention of disease
3. Relief of symptoms
4. Cure of disease
5. Replacement therapy
Did you know that some meds contain alcohol? Yes, I know you did. But how much? Just to give you an idea check this out. Vodka contains 45% to 50%, wine 11% to 14%, Vicks' formula 44 cough mixture 10.0%, Nyquil Cough syrup 25.0%. If you want the complete list email me and I will send it to you. Just be careful if you are pregnant.
KIDS AND OVERDOSING
    I know you are a good parent. I know you want you child to be happy and healthy. So pay attention.
   Some medications treat more than one thing theses are called multi-symptoms medications. They are made for kids and adults. Check out the following rules for kids and medications so that you don't over or under dose your child.
1. Use a measuring device like a medication spoon or syringe. Note that 1 cm = 1 mm in the medical world. Sometimes you get a prescription that says give 5 mm by mouth and you get the syringe and all it has on it is cm. Table spoons from the kitchen do not work as well and can result in under dosing or overdosing a child.
2. DO NOT GIVE A CHILD AN ADULT MEDICATION !!! These meds are made for adults and a child's system can not handle the action of these meds. The other problem is giving a child the right dose. So stick with kids meds for kids.
3. With multi-symptom medication there is a problem with giving multiple medications. Say you have given you child Tylenol for a fever and then a multi-symptom medication. Now if you look at that medication you may have just given you child a double dose of Tylenol. How? If you read both labels you will see the chemical Acetaminophen, or APAP in both medications, and that is how you double up on your child.
4. Do not share the medication. Let us say for a moment that 10 year old Johnny who weighs 120 lb. is taking medication J for a hacking cough. Two nights later little Mary (6 years old 50 lb.) starts coughing. Parent gives Mary a dose of Johnny's medication to help Mary. Well you didn't. Now you have 2 problems.
   1. Medications for children are often prescribed by weight.
   2. Medications are prescribed for a specific length of time as that is how long it takes to cure the illness. Now Johnny will not have enough medication to cure his illness. Also Mary may be allergic to Johnny's medication. This could result in the death of Mary and jail time for the parent.
5. Take all medications with you when you go to see the doctor. They are human and can make mistakes like giving you a order for a medication that has a antagonist action on another medication. It is a simple mistake, but it can be a tragic one. You are the best insurance to prevent this from happening. Take ALL medications including victims and herbs you may be giving a child.
6. If in doubt use help lines that are in place like " Ask a nurse" or the emergency room ( as a last resort) or the family doctor/ pharmacist. You can buy books about prescription drugs at most book stores and it is a good idea to get one so you can read up on the drug you are about to give or take. It will tell you of what to expect in the way of adverse actions or drug contradictions.
    There are several ways to relive coughs. When buying a cough syrup keep the following in mind. Not all cough syrups are the same and you must match the symptoms with the right cough syrup.
1. Antihistamines - These drugs dry up mucous secretions thus reducing symptoms associated with runny nose and cough. Drink allot of water while taking these to combat drowsiness and dry mouth.
2. Antitussive - This group of drugs depresses the cough center in the brain, reducing the cough reflex. Codeine is especially effective. Some drug store let you sign for this and others require a doctors order. It will not be on the shelve and you must ask for it.
3. Decongestants - These drugs relieve congestion by shrinking mucous membranes. Side effects include insomnia and high blood pressure.
4. Expectorants - These drugs allow secretions in the bronchioles to be coughed up and out by liquefying the secretions. DO NOT MIX COUGH SYRUPS. In other words don't use both a expectorants and a antitussive.

So good luck this cold and flu season and may your hankie be dry.
Killer