The last resort: Amiodarone This medication is on the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines, and according to FDA, the most important medications needed for the basic treatment of arrhythmia. This medicine is used in patients who have already been treated with other medicines that did not work that’s why I call this drug: the last resort. This pharmaceutical drug is used to treat certain types of serious, possibly fatal, irregular heartbeat, persistent ventricular fibrillation/tachycardia. This drug is essential to restore normal heart rhythm and maintain a regular, steady heartbeat. Amiodarone is known as an anti-arrhythmic drug. It works by blocking certain electrical signals in the heart that can cause irregular heartbeat. (AFB, 2015). Amiodarone (Cordarone) is a complex antiarrhythmic agent with multiple electrophysiological effects, unusual pharmacokinetics, and numerous …show more content…
Your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). Check with your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy. You may need to carry a medical identification card or bracelet showing that you are taking this medication. (FDA,2011). Amiodarone increases the sensitivity of the skin to sunlight because too much sun exposure could cause a serious sunburn. Skin may continue to be sensitive to sunlight for several months even after treatment is stopped. Applying thick sunscreen must be applied when going outdoors with protective clothing and hats. Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds. After taking amiodarone for quite some time, it may cause a blue-gray color to appear on the skin, especially in areas exposed to the sun, such as face, neck,
Ace Inhibitors are used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF). Most of the drugs that are Ace Inhibitors have the common ending –pril. It inhibits an enzyme; that decreases the tension of blood vessels and the blood volume, thus lowering blood pressure. Lotensin (benzapril) comes in tablets and is used for oral administration. It is one of the ace inhibitors that are indicated for treating hypertension. There is warning while using Lotensin when pregnant, it indicates to stop using immediately when pregnancy is detected. Vasotec (enalpril) comes in tablets and injection. It is indicated for the treatment of hypertension and is effective alone or in combination with other Ace Inhibitors agents, especially thiazide-type diuretics. There is a warning for fetal toxicity; when pregnancy is detected; stop using.
Racemic albuterol is a β2- adrenergic agonist that is a 50:50 mixture of two isomers, (R) albuterol and (S) albuterol. These two isomers are mirror images of each other, and rotate light in opposite directions. (R) Albuterol is an active isomer and in this combination acts an active bronchodilator. The other half of the mixture, (S) albuterol, does not actually possess any bronchodilator activity and was until recently considered an “inactive” distomer or physiologically inert. The “R” stands for rectus or right, while the “S” is for sinister or left. Racemic albuterol was synthesized for maximal airway smooth muscle dilation while minimizing the α- and β1-receptor mediated effects on the cardiovascular system.
It occurs because of repetitive electrical activity. This can occur in a patient with early or late heart failure, because there is damage to the heart tissue and the heart beats faster to try to supply the body with blood. Recommended treatment is elective cardioversion. Drugs used include an antidysrhythmic such as Mexitil or Sotalol (Ignatavicius &Workman, p. 728-729).
Epilepsy is a serious global problem that affects approximately 1% of people worldwide (1). Epilepsy is a chronic condition of the central nervous system (CNS) characterized by epileptic seizures, which can affect physical and mental functions (2). Epileptic seizures are unprovoked reoccurring episodes of abnormal, excessive, or hypersynchronis neuronal activity in the CNS (2). The treatment options of epilepsy include medications called antiepileptic drugs (AED) and surgeries based on individuals’ specific diagnosis and background (1). The AED Keppra®, S-enantiomer of α-ethyl-2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide, or Levetiracetam (LEV) is Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved for the treatment and prevention of epileptic seizures (3).
(14) Connolly SJ, Ezekowitz MD, Yusuf S, Eikelboom J, Oldgren J, Parekh A, Pogue J, Reilly PA, Themeles E, Varrone J, Wang S, Alings M, Xavier D, Zhu J, Diaz R, Lewis BS, Darius H, Diener HC, Joyner CD.. (2009). Dabigatran versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation.. New England Journal Of Medicine. 361 (12), 1139-51.
There are various treatments for acute coronary syndrome to prevent the occurrence of an acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the current research of the pharmacological treatments of this condition and to evaluate the relevance of this research in relation to the practise of paramedics.
The second part of this lab was a computer simulation program to illustrate a frog’s electrocardiogram using various drugs in an isolated setting. The computer program entitled “Effects of Drugs on the Frog Heart” allowed experimental conditions to be set for specific drugs. The different drugs used were calcium, digitalis, pilocarpine, atropine, potassium, epinephrine, caffeine, and nicotine. Each of these drugs caused a different electrocardiogram and beats per minute reading. The calcium-magnesium ration affects “the permeability of the cell membrane”(Fox). When calcium is placed directly on the heart it results in three physiological functions. The force of the heart increases while the cardiac rate decreases. It also causes the appearance of “ectopic pacemakers in the ventricles, producing abnormal rhythms” (Fox). Digitalis’ affect on the heart is very similar to that of calcium. It inhibits the sodium-potassium pump activated by ATP that promotes the uptake of extracellular calcium by the heart. This in return strengthens myocardial contraction (Springhouse). Pilocarpine on the other hand
These effect will appear a few hours after usage and disappear in hours or days: Physical effects like, numbness, muscle weakness and trembling, rapid reflexes, increased blood pressure, heart rate, and temperatures, impaired motor skills and coordination, dilated pupils, nausea and sometimes seizers.
In today days Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia that is often seen in clinical practice. There are 700,000 strokes in the USA each year and 15% of it caused by Atrial Fibrillation. For a long period of time warfarin was the only oral anticoagulant available in the US for patients with atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke events. Recently a new oral anticoagulants, including apixaban, dabigatran, and rivaroxaban have been developed and became available in the US for the stoke prevention and systemic embolism for patients with atrial fibrillation. Now, when all three new anticoagulants are available as an alternative to warfarin for the same indication, they make the health care providers question which agent is the best and for which patients. New agents have practical advantages over warfarin that has many limitations such as need for monitoring, regular dose adjustment, food and drug interaction and side effects. The major goal of the health care providers is to prescribe the safest and the most effective alternative drug and dose to each individual patient with AF. However, the approval for clinical use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicine Agency differ for anticoagulants and their dosages, and for the individual indication (Harenberg & Kraemer, 2012). Thus, more research needs to be done regarding the monitoring tools for new anticoagulant agents, and extend the use of these agents to other patient population.
This condition can be treated various ways depending on “the type and frequency of arrhythmias, associated symptoms…, and the presence of structural heart disease” (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). Some patients may not need treatment at all, since they show not symptoms, since sometimes this condition can be naturally eliminated over the first year of life, but may still be required to have regular schedule appointments with the physician so the patients can be monitored. If symptoms are prevalent, the different treatment methods include a pacemaker, defibrillator, surgery, and medicine.
Acid is produced naturally in your stomach to help you digest food and to kill bacteria. This acid irritates the stomach lining so our body produces a natural mucus barrier which protects it. Sometimes this barrier may be damaged thus allowing the acid to damage the stomach causing inflammation, ulcers and other conditions. Other times, there may be a problem with the muscular band at the top of the stomach that keeps the stomach tightly closed and this allows the acid to escape and irritate the oesophagus. This is called 'acid reflux' and can cause heartburn and/or oesophagitis. Proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole stop cells in the lining of the stomach from producing too much acid. This can help prevent ulcers from forming or assist the healing process. By decreasing the amount of acid, they can also help to reduce acid reflux related symptoms such as heartburn.
Exparel has many side effects. These include, but are not limited to, bloating or swelling, blurred vision, confusion, dizziness or light-headedness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, fever, paleness of the skin, rapid weight gain, sweating, tingling sensations, troubled breathing with exertion, unusual bleeding or bruising, unusual tiredness or weakness, unusual weight loss or gain ("Exparel Side Effects in Detail," n.d.). It also has less common side effects such as, chest pain, fainting, shortness of breath, slow or irregular heartbeat, chills, headache, hives, rash, etc. ("Exparel Side Effects in Detail," n.d.). All of these side effects are significant, because it could affect a patients experience or pain levels experienced. For example if a patient experienced chest pain due to the Exparel, they might require more narcotics, and thus nullify the point of using
Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter (slows ventricular rate). Increases cardiac output and slowing of the heart rate
It is prescribed after many types of injury, illness, or disease, including amputations, arthritis, cancer, cardiac disease, neurological problems, orthopedic injuries, spinal cord injuries, stroke, and traumatic brain injuries. The Institute of Medicine has estimated that as many as 14% of all Americans may be disabled at any given time. (n.d.)
...cations. Many people will find that amount of sunlight they receive has little or no impact on the state of their psoriasis, but in the cases where the light therapy has worked, it seems to reduce the appearance of the lesions greatly. Obviously, the risk of the UV light therapy is the possible threat of skin cancer.