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Chapter 23. Understanding Medicines. History of Medicines. All medicines were naturally occurring substances from animals, plants and minerals. Today, most medicines are produced artificially in laboratories. . Classification of Medicines. All medicines are classifieds as: Prevent Disease
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Chapter 23 Understanding Medicines
History of Medicines • All medicines were naturally occurring substances from animals, plants and minerals. Today, most medicines are produced artificially in laboratories.
Classification of Medicines • All medicines are classifieds as: • Prevent Disease • Fight Pathogens • Relieve Pain • Help the heart and regulate blood pressure
Meds that prevent disease - • The first line of defense in modern medicine is to prevent disease before they occur in the individual. There are (2) main types: • 1. Vaccines • 2. Antitoxins
Vaccines - • A preparation, containing weakened or dead pathogens that cause a particular disease, given to prevent one from contracting that disease. • Everyone went through a vaccination process before they were allowed to enter schools. • Vaccines stimulate your body to produce specific antibodies against certain pathogens.
Vaccines cont. - • Once the antibodies are produced, they give your body long lasting protection should your body encounter that pathogen again.
Antitoxins - • Extracts of blood fluids that contain antibodies and act more quickly than vaccines. They are produced by inoculating animals – such as horses, sheep or rabbits – with specific toxins that stimulate the animals immune system to produce antibodies against the toxins. When these antitoxins are injected into the human body, they neutralize the effect of toxins, such as those that cause tetanus and diptheria.
Medicines that fight pathogens • Unknown before 20th century. • Class of chemical agents that destroy disease causing microorganisms while leaving the patient unharmed. • The best known and earliest antibiotic was Penicillin discovered by British scientist Sir Alexander Fleming. • Depending on dosage, antibiotics either kill harmful bacteria or keep them from reproducing.
Cont. - • Each antibiotic has a different chemical composition and is effective against a particular range of bacteria. • NONE is effective against VIRAL INFECTIONS!! • In recent years, we have seen several strains of bacteria that are resistant to Penicillin. • The reason is because the bacteria takes on a new structure. These are called SUPERBACTERIA and are a major concern to the medical profession.
Cont. - • This has prompted a new generation of antibiotics. • Sulfa family of antibiotics is used to treat some urinary tract infections. • Quinolones are used to combat many hospital derived infections.
Cardiovascular Medicines • There are (5) main kinds of medicines that help the heart and regulate blood pressure. • 1. Beta Blockers – block the action of nerves that constrict blood vessels. Slows heartbeat and lowers blood pressure. • 2. Diuretics – increase urine production to reduce the amount of water and sodium in the body. This is vital after heart failure. • 3. Vasodilators – Dilates the veins and arteries to increase blood and oxygen flow.
Cardiovascular Meds Cont. - • 4. Antiarrhythmics – Used to treat any irregular rhythm of the heart. • 5. Clot-dissolving – lowers blood pressure and helps prevent blood clots.
Medicines that Relieve Pain • Pain Reliever – also known as Analgesics. • This class of meds ranges from narcotics to aspirin. • Aspirin is by far the most widely used non-prescription analgesic in the U.S. since 1899.
Aspirin • Acetylsalicylic Acid is the chemical found in aspirin that relieves pain and reduces fever. • Because it also is an anti-inflammatory medicine, many people use it to treat arthritis. • Aspirin can be dangerous because of the chemicals in it can irritate the stomach and can interfere with blood clotting. • Large doses can cause ringing in the ears.
Aspirin Cont. - • Children who take aspirin are at a high risk of developing Reye’s Syndrome, a potentially life-threatening illness of the brain and liver. • Some people who can not take aspirin take Acetaminophen or Ibuprophen. • Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory agent, Acetaminophen is not.
Medicine Problems • Side Effects – Reactions to medicines other than the one intended. • Additive Interaction – occurs when medicines work together in a positive way. • Synergistic Effect – interaction of two or more medicines that results in a greater effect than when the medicines are taken independentaly. • Antagonistic Effect – when the effect of the medicine is cancelled or reduced when taken with another medicine.
Other Medicine Problems - • Tolerance – a condition when the body becomes used to the effect of a medicine. • Withdrawal – process that occurs when a person stops using a medicine or other substance to which he or she has a physiological dependence.
