NREMT EMT 7: Medical Quizzes and Glossary - Common Medication Classifications, Analgesics, Antiemetics, Bronchodilators, Vasoactive Medications, etc.

What This Is: Medication Classifications

Medication classifications are groups of medications used to treat specific conditions or symptoms. Think of it like a toolbox – you wouldn't use a hammer to fix a leaky faucet, and you wouldn't use a medication for one condition to treat another. Knowing the different types of medications and their uses can help you make informed decisions in an emergency.

Key Steps / Core Facts:

• Analgesics (Pain Relievers): Medications that reduce pain, like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Example: A patient with a headache might take an analgesic to relieve pain. (Mnemonics: "ACE" for Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen, and Codeine)
• Antiemetics (Nausea and Vomiting Medications): Medications that prevent or treat nausea and vomiting, like ondansetron (Zofran). Example: A patient with chemotherapy might take an antiemetic to prevent nausea. (Mnemonics: "ON" for Ondansetron, Naloxone)
• Bronchodilators (Asthma and COPD Medications): Medications that open airways, like albuterol (Ventolin). Example: A patient with asthma might take a bronchodilator to relieve wheezing. (Mnemonics: "ABCD" for Albuterol, Beclomethasone, Cromolyn)
• Vasoactive Medications (Blood Pressure Medications): Medications that affect blood vessel constriction or dilation, like epinephrine (Adrenaline). Example: A patient with anaphylaxis might receive a vasoactive medication to increase blood pressure. (Mnemonics: "EPI" for Epinephrine, Phenylephrine)
• Antihistamines (Allergy Medications): Medications that treat allergic reactions, like diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Example: A patient with hives might take an antihistamine to relieve itching. (Mnemonics: "DIP" for Diphenhydramine, Promethazine)
• Sedatives and Hypnotics (Sleep and Anxiety Medications): Medications that induce sleep or reduce anxiety, like benzodiazepines (Xanax). Example: A patient with insomnia might take a sedative to fall asleep. (Mnemonics: "BEN" for Benzodiazepines, Eszopiclone)
• Antibiotics (Infection Medications): Medications that treat bacterial infections, like amoxicillin (Amoxil). Example: A patient with a bacterial infection might take an antibiotic to clear the infection. (Mnemonics: "ABC" for Amoxicillin, Cephalexin)
• Cardiovascular Medications (Heart Medications): Medications that treat heart conditions, like beta blockers (Lopressor). Example: A patient with hypertension might take a cardiovascular medication to lower blood pressure. (Mnemonics: "BETA" for Beta Blockers, ACE inhibitors)
• Neurological Medications (Brain and Nervous System Medications): Medications that treat neurological conditions, like anticonvulsants (Tegretol). Example: A patient with seizures might take a neurological medication to prevent seizures. (Mnemonics: "ANT" for Anticonvulsants, Naloxone)

What Laypeople Can Do:

• If someone is experiencing severe allergic reactions, call 911 and administer epinephrine (EpiPen) if available.
• If someone is experiencing severe pain, try to keep them calm and comfortable until medical help arrives.
• If someone is experiencing difficulty breathing, try to keep them upright and provide oxygen if available.
• If someone is experiencing a seizure, try to keep them safe and turn them onto their side to prevent injury.
• If someone is experiencing a heart attack or stroke, call 911 immediately and try to keep them calm until medical help arrives.

Common Mistakes:

• Mistake: Misusing medications or taking them without a prescription.
• Fix: Always follow the instructions of a medical professional and never take medications without a prescription.
• Mistake: Not recognizing the signs of an allergic reaction or heart attack.
• Fix: Be aware of the signs and symptoms of common medical conditions and seek medical help immediately if you suspect someone is experiencing a medical emergency.
• Mistake: Not keeping medications out of reach of children and pets.
• Fix: Always store medications in a safe and secure location to prevent accidental ingestion.

Quick Practice Scenarios:

1. A patient is experiencing severe pain from a headache. What should you do first?

Call 911 and try to keep the patient calm and comfortable until medical help arrives.

1. A patient is experiencing difficulty breathing due to asthma. What should you do first?

Administer a bronchodilator (e.g., albuterol) if available and try to keep the patient upright.

1. A patient is experiencing a seizure. What should you do first?

Try to keep the patient safe and turn them onto their side to prevent injury.

Last-Minute Exam Cram:

• Normal blood pressure range: 90-120/60-80 mmHg
• Normal heart rate range: 60-100 beats per minute
• Normal respiratory rate range: 12-20 breaths per minute
• Normal body temperature range: 97.7-99.5°F (36.5-37.5°C)
• Normal oxygen saturation range: 95-100%
• Normal blood glucose range: 70-110 mg/dL
• Normal creatinine clearance range: 60-120 mL/min
• Normal hemoglobin A1c range: 4-6%
• Normal white blood cell count range: 4,500-11,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal international normalized ratio (INR) range: 0.9-1.1
• Normal partial thromboplastin time (PTT) range: 25-35 seconds
• Normal activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) range: 25-35 seconds
• Normal prothrombin time (PT) range: 10-14 seconds
• Normal fibrinogen level range: 200-400 mg/dL
• Normal D-dimer level range: 0-500 ng/mL
• Normal troponin level range: 0-10 ng/mL
• Normal creatine kinase (CK) level range: 0-200 U/L
• Normal lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level range: 0-200 U/L
• Normal aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level range: 0-40 U/L
• Normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level range: 0-40 U/L
• Normal alkaline phosphatase (ALP) level range: 0-120 U/L
• Normal gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) level range: 0-60 U/L
• Normal total bilirubin level range: 0-1.2 mg/dL
• Normal direct bilirubin level range: 0-0.3 mg/dL
• Normal indirect bilirubin level range: 0-1.2 mg/dL
• Normal total protein level range: 6-8 g/dL
• Normal albumin level range: 3.5-5.5 g/dL
• Normal globulin level range: 2.5-4.5 g/dL
• Normal cholesterol level range: 150-200 mg/dL
• Normal triglyceride level range: 50-150 mg/dL
• Normal high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level range: 40-60 mg/dL
• Normal low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level range: 70-100 mg/dL
• Normal very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) level range: 10-20 mg/dL
• Normal apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) level range: 120-180 mg/dL
• Normal apolipoprotein B (ApoB) level range: 60-100 mg/dL
• Normal lipoprotein(a) level range: 0-100 mg/dL
• Normal homocysteine level range: 5-15 ?mol/L
• Normal C-reactive protein (CRP) level range: 0-10 mg/L
• Normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) range: 0-20 mm/h
• Normal white blood cell differential count range: 45-70% neutrophils, 20-40% lymphocytes, 5-10% monocytes, 5-10% eosinophils, 1-5% basophils
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal mean platelet volume (MPV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal reticulocyte count range: 0.5-2.5%
• Normal hemoglobin level range: 13.5-17.5 g/dL
• Normal hematocrit level range: 40-54%
• Normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV) range: 80-100 fL
• Normal mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) range: 27-31 pg/cell
• Normal mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) range: 32-36 g/dL
• Normal red blood cell distribution width (RDW) range: 11-14%
• Normal plateletcrit (PCT) range: 0.2-0.4%
• Normal reticulocyte percentage (RET) range: 0.5-2.5%
• Normal platelet large cell ratio (PLCR) range: 0.2-0.4%
• Normal platelet small cell ratio (PSR) range: 0.2-0.4%
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-20 fL
• Normal platelet mean volume (PMV) range: 7-11 fL
• Normal platelet standard deviation (PSD) range: 1-2 fL
• Normal platelet coefficient of variation (PCV) range: 10-20%
• Normal platelet skewness (PSK) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet kurtosis (PKT) range: 0-1
• Normal platelet count range: 150,000-450,000 cells/?L
• Normal platelet distribution width (PDW) range: 10-