Question

Advair

-What is the difference between albuterol and Advair?

-What physical assessments should be done prior to administering this medication?

-What assessments should be done to ascertain whether a patient is developing signs and symptoms of toxicity?

Answer 1

Advair

-It contains two medications fluticasone and salmeterol.

-It is a brochodilator

-It prevents symptoms of wheezing and shortness of breath caused by Asthma and COPD

-It cannot be used as a rescue inhaler

-Inhalation powder

Albeterol

-It is adrenergic brochodilator

-It is used exercise-induced barnchospasm

-It can be used as a rescue inhaler

-Inhalation solution

Physical assessment before and after administering medication

-Vital Signs: Temperature, pulse, respiration (No. of breaths per minute) and BP

-Inspection:-Head to foot examination: Look for skin bluish discolouration due to lack of oxygen in asthma/COPD patients,

-Percussion – Any fluid accumulation in the lungs

-Auscultation – For wheezing sounds, or any abnormal heart function ( S3 and S4 sounds)

Signs and symptoms of toxicity of bronchodilators

Mild symptoms can include chills and nausea.

Severe symptoms can include coma, and even death.

If you overdose, there are a number of different symptoms you might experience, including:

• difficulty breathing, including shallow, rapid, or no breathing
• decrease in urine output
• vision changes such as blurry vision or dilated pupils
• burning in the throat
• high blood pressure that leads to low blood pressure
• rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• fever or chills
• tremors or convulsions
• coma
• changes in mental status, including irritability or nervousness
• changes in skin color (blue)
• nausea or vomiting