Ruphina Nnebedum – Respiratory System – Pharmacotherapy for Respiratory Disorders – Advanced Pharmacology week 4 response 2
Type of document Essay
1 Page
Subject area
Pharmacology Academic Level Master
Style APA
Number of references 4
Order description:
Please respond to rhupona post by Provide alternative recommendations for drug treatments use these readings and resources as some of the references please
Learning Resources
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of this week’s assigned Learning Resources. To access select media resources, please use the media player below.
Required Readings
Arcangelo, V. P., Peterson, A. M., Wilbur, V., & Reinhold, J. A. (Eds.). (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Chapter 18, “Otitis Media and Otitis Externa” (pp. 243-252)
This chapter compares the causes and pathophysiology of two common ear infections—otitis media and otitis externa. It also identifies types of drugs used to treat these ear infections.
Chapter 24, “Upper Respiratory Infections” (pp. 259-374)
This chapter explores the causes, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria of two upper respiratory infections—the common cold and sinusitis—as well as drug therapy for both infections. It also covers monitoring patient response and patient education of drug therapy for these infections.
Chapter 25, “Asthma” (pp. 377-392)
This chapter examines the causes, pathophysiology, pharmacogenomics, and diagnostic criteria of asthma. It also outlines suggested drug therapy plans for asthmatic patients.
Chapter 26, “Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease” (pp. 395-406)
This chapter explains the causes and pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It also examines the process of selecting, administering, and managing drug therapy for COPD patients.
Chapter 27, “Bronchitis and Pneumonia” (pp. 407-424)
This chapter begins by examining the causes, pathophysiology, and diagnostic criteria of acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, and community-acquired pneumonia. It then explores the process of selecting, administering, and managing drug therapy for patients with bronchitis and pneumonia.
Drugs.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.drugs.com/
This website presents a comprehensive review of prescription and over-the-counter drugs including information on common uses and potential side effects. It also provides updates relating to new drugs on the market, support from health professionals, and a drug-drug interactions checker.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2007). Expert panel report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of asthma. Retrieved from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/asthma/asthgdln.htm
This website presents guidelines for diagnosing and managing asthma and outlines treatment recommendations for specific age groups.
This is rhupinas post
Ruphina Nnebedum
WEEK 4 DISCUSSION POST- Nnebedum
COLLAPSE
NURS 6521N-19: Advanced Pharmacology
Ruphina Nnebedum
INITIAL POST
Ruphina Nnebedum – Respiratory System – Pharmacotherapy for Respiratory Disorders
It is of the utmost essence for healthcare providers to be able to recognize and distinguish the different signs and symptoms of respiratory issues, so they can be able to recommend and/or give the best possible treatment regimen. A minor presentation with a cough and/or congestion, or short of breath could lead to or even be the beginning of a more severe respiratory problem. Even minor coughs and colds could lead to possibilities of complication that can progress to acute or chronic conditions (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). Knowing the individual patient’s factor is a must when considering the drug therapy options to prevent any complications of treatment. The challenge for practitioners in diagnosing common colds is the difficulty in confirming the cause whether bacterial and viral pathogens as both shares common signs and symptoms (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017).
Description of Common Cold (also known as Acute Infectious Rhinitis)
The Common cold is one of the most common illnesses all over the world (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2014). It is an upper respiratory infection that thirty to forty percent caused by rhinovirus during fall and spring and ten to fifteen percent caused by coronavirus during the winter time (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). The common cold is self-limiting with a short length of the infection process (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). The recovery time for most people is seven to ten days but people with a weak immune system, asthma, or other respiratory illness may progress to a critical condition (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The virus causes an acute inflammatory reaction that can also trigger asthma attacks as well as sinus infections and ear infections (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The vasoactive mediators are released during acute inflammatory reaction caused by the virus, results in the increase of the parasympathetic stimuli that causes the symptoms of congestion, rhinorrhea, coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, body aches, scratchy throat, headaches, and low-grade fever (below 102 degrees Fahrenheit) (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The virus is transmitted by airborne from sneezing and coughing and direct contact from the “donor’s nose to a donor’s hand” (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). The symptoms start one to two days after the viral infection and peak within two to four days (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). There is no benefit for diagnostic tests when diagnosing for common colds unless a complication is suspected (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017) The symptoms usually resolved in a week or two without treatments (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017).
Types of Drugs for Treatment of Common Colds
There doesn’t seem to be an exact cure for common colds (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). The target of treatment is to lessen the discomforts caused by the symptoms, prevention of complications, and the spread of the virus to others (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). Commonly, mistreatments of the common cold are due to the practitioner’s difficulty in confirming the causative agent (bacterial or viral) or the patient’s presumption and belief that upper respiratory infection needs to be treated with antibiotics demanding medication prescription (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). “Antibiotics do not work against viruses as well as not a cure for colds” (Center for Disease Control & Prevention, 2016, p. 1). Prescribing unnecessary antibiotics will cause the patient to get resistant to antibiotics in the future (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The first line of treatment are the nonpharmacological alternatives such as rest, increase oral fluid intake as an alternative for decongestants and expectorants, chicken soup, and hot shower (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). Saline gargles for a sore throat, clean humidifier or cool mist vaporizer for the cough and the use of honey (not recommended for children less than one-year-old) as well as menthol rubs to soothe throat discomforts and open airways (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). The use of Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, or Naproxen can help relieve pain and fever (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016). Aspirin should not be given to a child or adult with fever or symptoms of viral infection as this causes Reye’s syndrome in children and teenagers (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Anticholinergic nasal sprays, saline nose drops for children, and saline nasal spray for adults to relieve congestions (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). Recommend oral decongestants only if necessary (contraindicated for patients with diabetes, hypertension, prostate problem, thyroid problem, and heart conditions) as this medication interacts with other medicines (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). Oral Decongestants relieve nasal obstruction after three days of the nasal saline treatment without relief (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). Decongestant acts by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal lining (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). Over-the-counter medications such as expectorants and antitussives can be recommended to relieve a cough and congestion (Arcangelo, Peterson, Wilbur & Reinhold, 2017). Expectorants such as Mucinex acts by thinning the mucus thus reducing chest congestion (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). The antitussives such as dextromethorphan are cough suppressants that work by blocking the cough reflex to relieve a cough (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013).
Patient Factor: Age
The patient’s age plays a significant impact on the effects of medication. The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the child and elderly with response to the drugs differ than that of adults (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). That is why, OTC medicines are specially made just for children or for adults, which means adult medications cannot be administered to children (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). Over-the-counter cough medications have concerning effects for elderly and people with health problems as these drugs are often combined with decongestants, antihistamine and pain relievers. (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). OTC cough medication combination causes sleepiness, confusion, irritability, and dizziness that will potentiate falls on elderly patients (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). Children four years and under and elderly are more sensitive to the effects of OTC cough medication combinations as it causes unusual excitability, restlessness, nervousness, nightmares, increase blood pressure, increase the heart rate as well as potential life-threatening side effects (Mayo Clinic, 2016).
Measures to Prevent or Reduce Negative Side Effects
The patient factors should be considered before recommending any kind of medications as the presence of other medical condition affects the use of the OTC cough medications (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Patient’s home medications must be reviewed as well as the drug-to-drug interactions before initiating any drug therapy. Patients taking OTC need to be educated that alcohol, smoking and caffeine intake interacts with this type of medications causing increase blood pressure, increase heart rate, palpitations (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Alcohol adds to the effect of this drug causing CNS depression as well as stomach discomforts (Mayo Clinic, 2016). Decongestants should not be prescribed for more than three days due to the body’s tendency for dependency and should not be given to children four years and under (FamilyDoctor.Org, 2013). Patient education is necessary to enforce patients to take the recommended dosage as prescribed as well as to notify health care provider if planning to take another OTC medication. If the OTC medication causes stomach discomforts then it has to be taken with food unless contraindicated (Mayo Clinic, 2016).
References
Arcangelo, V.P., Peterson, A.M., Wilbur, V. & Reinhold, J.A. (Eds.). (2017). Pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice: A practical approach (4th ed.). Ambler, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2016). Common Colds: Protect Yourself and
Others. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov
Family Doctor.Org. (2013). Decongestants: OTC Relief for Congestion. Retrieved from
Mayo Clinic. (2016). Antihistamine, Decongestants, And Analgesic Combination (Oral Route).
Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (2014). Common Cold. Retrieved from
