© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Medication Therapy Buffy Ryan, RN 51-1

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Preparations Combinations of drugs with various ingredients 51-2

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Liquid and Semisolid Preparations Given by mouth Rubbed on the skin Dropped into eyes, ears, other parts of body Oral liquids allow rapid absorption of the drug Easier to swallow 51-3

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Soluble Able to be dissolved in liquids May be mixed with water, alcohol, or both Solutions-the drug is completely dissolved Suspension-the drug cannot completely dissolve and tiny particles are suspended throughout the liquid 51-4

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Medication Forms and Abbreviations ClassificationFormAbbreviationExample LiquidSolution Syrup Fluidextract Spirits Elixir Fluid soln syr fld ext sp elix fl Normal saline Cough syrup Ipecac Peppermint Donnatol IV solutions SemiliquidTincturetinct, trIodine SolidCapsule Tablet cap tab Librium Lanoxin SemisolidSuppository Ointment supp oint Dulcolax Petroleum jelly 51-5

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Solutions Tincture – drug dissolved in solution of alcohol Fluidextract-Alcohol extracts from plants, very concentrated Elixir – solution of a drug, alcohol, & water; usually sweetened & flavored Spirit – drug combined with alcohol (evaporates easily, keep top on tight & stored in dark place) Syrup – drug mixed with solution of sugar, water & flavoring 51-6

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Suspensions Emulsion – drug is mixed in solution of fats or oils & water (must be shaken prior to administering) Magmas-heavy particles mixed with water that form a milky liquid Liniments-liquid suspension for external application Lotion – drug suspended in water base. Pat onto skin; external only Aerosol-fine spray delivered by an oral inhaler 51-7

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Solid and Semisolid Preparations Ointment – drug mixed with lanolin or petroleum jelly. Usually for skin but can be sterile for eye. Paste-thicker and absorbed more slowly than ointment. Used for skin protection. Powder-fine, dry particles of drugs. May be dissolved in liquid or used as is. Internal and external uses. Tablet – powdered drug pressed into a disc. May be scored with an indentation so they can be broken. Capsule – gelatin capsule that is water soluble. Contains one dose of medication which may be powder, oil, or liquid. 51-8

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Solid and Semisolid Perparations Chewable tablet – powdered drug that has been flavored & pressed into disc Sublingual tablet – designed to dissolve under the tongue Enteric – coated tablet or capsule – prevents drug from being destroyed by gastric juices (prevents stomach irritation). Sustained release capsule or tablet-contain several doses of a drug. Coatings dissolve at different rates Caplet – oblong tablet with smooth coating for easier swallowing 51-9

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Solid and Semisolid Preparations Troche & Lozenge – candy-like base, dissolve on the tongue Suppository – drug mixed with firm base, like cocoa butter, that will melt at body temp. Transdermal patch – patch that will adhere to skin and deliver medication through skin 51-10

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Routes of Medication Administration RouteMeaningAbbreviation BuccalInside the cheekBuc IntradermalInto the skinID IntramuscularInto the muscleIM IntravenousInto the veinIV OralBy mouthPO or po RectalBy rectumR SubcutaneousUnder skin into fatty layer Subcut, SQ, subq SublingualUnder the tongueSL, subling, subl TopicalOn the skinNo abbreviation VaginalBy vaginavag 51-11

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Techniques for Administering Drugs Oral –Slower absorption through GI tract Buccal or sublingual –Buccal – placed between the cheek and gum –Sublingual – placed under the tongue –Faster absorption; bypasses GI tract GAVAGE – administration of medications through a gastrostomy tube (G-tube or NG tube)

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Techniques for Administering Drugs Parenteral –Administration of substance by injection or intravenously –Fast absorption; bypasses GI tract –Safety risks Rapid administration Rapid action

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Techniques for Administering Drugs Methods of injection –Intradermal (ID) Into upper layer of skin Used for skin tests –Subcutaneous (sub-q) Provides slow, sustained release and longer duration of action Rotate sites Smaller gauge & shorter needle –Intramuscular (IM) More rapid absorption Less irritation of tissue Larger amount of drug Z-track method (used for irritating drugs) –Intravenous (IV) Directly into the vascular system Peripheral or central IV sites

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Techniques for Administering Drugs Inhalation – administered through the mouth or nose Topical –Direct application of a drug on the skin –Transdermal – use of a medication patch that will release medication slowly and evenly Urethral – instill liquid drugs directly into the bladder Vaginal and rectal Eye or ear – creams, ointments, drops, or irrigations (eye meds must be labeled “sterile-for ophthalmic use only)

© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind. ~Rudyard Kipling