TOPIC 5: Medication and Drug Supplies

• Tablets- a disk compressed drug in different dosage
• two types of tablets:

  1. Scored tablets
  2. Enteric coated tablets
• Scored tablets - are evenly divided in halves or quarters by score lines to enhance equal distribution of the drug.
• Enteric coated tablets - are drugs coated on the tab that resists the disintegration by gastric juices.
• Enteric coated tablets - dissolves further down the GI to the intestineal region and help avoid stomach upset.
• Enteric coated tablets cannot be chewed or crushed
• Capsules - are a gelatin type container that holds the drug, which is easer to swallow than non-coated tablets.
• Capsules can be opened so that the contents inside can be added ox mixed to beverages or soft foods.
• Timed-release sustained capsule - delivers the drug over an extended period of time, which decreases how much often the drug has to be given.
• Capsules must be swallowed as a whole, and not to be crushed or chewed.
• Capsule medications must be released at one time
• Lozenge - is a tablet with palatable flavoring that is indicated for its local effect on throat or mouth.
• Lozenges can only be dissolved in the mouth (not swallowed)
• Patients who are taking lozenges must not drink water for 15 minutes to avoid washing the medication down the throat.
• Suppository - is a drug suspended in a substance like cocoa butter that melts at body temperature. They are also available as vaginal drugs.
• Enema - are drugs suspended in a solution to be introduced into the rectum and colon via anus
• Liquid form of drugs:

  1. Syrup - sugar based liquid medication
  2. Suspension - water based liquid medication
  3. Emulsion - oil based liquid medication
  4. Elixir - alcohol based liquid medication
• Suspension - are drugs suspended in a sterile vehicle which must be shaken before use.
• Solution - are drugs dissolved in a sterile water or vehicle
• Powder - are dry particles of the drug that must be mixed with sterile or saline solution to make a solution, a process called "Reconstitution"
• Topical drug forms

  1. Ointment - used for topical that contains an oil base, essentially in preparation of water in oil.
  2. Cream - used topically in the skin that contains a water base.
  3. Liniment - a preparation for external use that is rubbed on the skin as a counterirritant.
• Inhalable drug forms - are rapidly absorbed into the respiratory system due to large surface area and vast blood supply of the pulmonary capillaries.
• Spray / Mist comes in

  1. Nebulizer
  2. Metered dose inhaler
  3. Dry powdered inhaler
• Nebulizer - is a liquid medication placed into a chamber for breathing treatments
• Asthma Inhalers - metered dose inhalers
• Dry powdered inhalers - are dry powdered medicine placed in a device and is inhaled forcefully.
• Needles: Length

  • Short - 3/8 inche
  • Medium - 1 - 1 1/2 inch
  • Long - 5 inches
• Guage - a number that represents the diameter of the needle lumen, that ranges from 16 (largest) to 27 (smallest)

  • higher gauge = smaller lumen
• Standard hypodermic syringes with a capacity of 2-3 ml
• Tuberculin syringes have a capacity of 1 ml
• Insulin syringe have a capacity equal to 100-units of U-100 insulin
• Vials - a glass container that is sealed at the top by a rubber stopper to enhance sterility of the contents.
• Multiple dose vial- contains large amount of solution that can be repeated in obtaining the medication.
• Unit-dose vial - contains small quantities of the solution that are removed during single use.