Question

3A. A patient you are caring for has just unintentionally eaten peanut butter and is complaining of tingling and swelling in the back of the throat. What medication will you administer? What receptors does it work on? (Pharm book)

3B. Put this drug into categories as discussed in class. (MOA, indications, contraindications, adverse effects, drug to drug interactions, and special administration considerations. (Pharm book).

Answer 1

3A. Peanut allergy may cause anaphylatic shock.

The medications used is Epinephrine

Epinephrine is the medication of choice for the first-aid treatment of anaphylaxis. Through its action on alpha-1 receptors it causes vasoconstrictor effects, it prevents or decreases upper airway mucosal edema (laryngeal edema), hypotension, and shock.

3B. Mode of action

Through its action on alpha-1 receptors, epinephrine induces increased vascular smooth muscle contraction, pupillary dilator muscle contraction, and intestinal sphincter muscle contraction.

Indications

• Hypotension Associated with Septic Shock
• Anaphylaxis

Side effects

• breathing problems;
• fast or pounding heartbeats;
• pale skin, sweating;
• nausea and vomiting;
• dizziness;
• weakness or tremors;
• throbbing headache; or.
• feeling nervous, anxious, or fearful.

Contraindications

• hypersensitivity to sympathomimetic drugs
• closed-angle glaucoma
• anesthesia with halothane
• catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Special administration Considerations

Anaphylaxis

• With severe persistent anaphylaxis, repeat injections with an additional autoinjector may be necessary
• More than two sequential doses of epinephrine should only be administered under direct medical supervision