lOMoAR cPSD| 36357603
MEDICATION FOR COMMON COLD
Antihistamines, Decongestants, Antitussives, and Expectorants (Chapter 36)
• Common cold:
o Mostly viral infection (rhinovirus or influenza virus)
o Mucus produced from inflammatory response to invading organism
o Mucus drips down pharynx: sore throat, coughing, upset stomach
o Irritation of nasal mucosa triggers sneeze reflex
o Mucosal irritation causes release of inflammatory/vasoactive substances → dilate small
blood vessels in nasal sinuses and cause nasal congestion
o 2008, cough and cold products contraindicated in children < 2 yrs
▪ Over sedation, seizures, tachycardia, and sometimes death
▪ Not effective
• Treatment:
o Manage symptoms, not eliminating causative pathogen
o Empiric therapy (difficult to identify viral vs bacterial)
▪ Antihistamines
▪ Nasal decongestants
▪ Antitussives
▪ Expectorants
▪ Supplements and Herbal Products
• Vitamin C
• Echinacea
o Reduces symptoms of the common cold and recovery time
o AE:
▪ Dermatitis
▪ GI disturbance
▪ Dizziness
▪ Headache
• Goldsenseal
• Antihistamines
o MOA: compete with histamine for specific receptor sites (cannot push histamine “off” if
already bound → should be given BEFORE histamine binds to receptors)
▪ Antihistaminic
▪ Anticholinergic
• Drying effect that reduces secretions
, lOMoAR cPSD| 36357603
o Dry mouth
o Constipation
o Changes in vision
▪ Sedative
• Drowsiness
o Avoid driving/operating heavy machinery
o Avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants
o CI:
▪
Known drug allergy
▪
Narrow-angle glaucoma
▪
Cardiac disease, hypertension
▪
Kidney disease
▪
Bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia
▪
Sole drug therapy during acute asthmatic attacks
• Albuterol or epinephrine
▪ Peptic ulcer disease
▪ Seizure disorders
▪ Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
▪ Pregnancy
o Histamine
▪ Mast cells release histamine →
▪ Vasodilation
▪ Increased GI, salivary, lacrimal, and respiratory secretions
▪ Increase capillary permeability
▪ Major inflammatory mediator in many allergic disorders
• Allergic rhinitis
• Allergic reactions
• Motion sickness
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sleep disorders
• Angioedema
• Drug fevers
• Insect bite reactions
• Urticaria
• *Anaphylaxis:
o Excessive release of histamine
▪ Constriction of smooth muscle (stomach and lungs)
▪ Increase body secretions
▪ Vasodilation and increase capillary permeability → fluid
moves from blood vessels into tissue → drop in blood
pressure and edema
o Two histamine receptors:
▪ H1 (histamine 1)
▪ H2 (histamine 2)
MEDICATION FOR COMMON COLD
Antihistamines, Decongestants, Antitussives, and Expectorants (Chapter 36)
• Common cold:
o Mostly viral infection (rhinovirus or influenza virus)
o Mucus produced from inflammatory response to invading organism
o Mucus drips down pharynx: sore throat, coughing, upset stomach
o Irritation of nasal mucosa triggers sneeze reflex
o Mucosal irritation causes release of inflammatory/vasoactive substances → dilate small
blood vessels in nasal sinuses and cause nasal congestion
o 2008, cough and cold products contraindicated in children < 2 yrs
▪ Over sedation, seizures, tachycardia, and sometimes death
▪ Not effective
• Treatment:
o Manage symptoms, not eliminating causative pathogen
o Empiric therapy (difficult to identify viral vs bacterial)
▪ Antihistamines
▪ Nasal decongestants
▪ Antitussives
▪ Expectorants
▪ Supplements and Herbal Products
• Vitamin C
• Echinacea
o Reduces symptoms of the common cold and recovery time
o AE:
▪ Dermatitis
▪ GI disturbance
▪ Dizziness
▪ Headache
• Goldsenseal
• Antihistamines
o MOA: compete with histamine for specific receptor sites (cannot push histamine “off” if
already bound → should be given BEFORE histamine binds to receptors)
▪ Antihistaminic
▪ Anticholinergic
• Drying effect that reduces secretions
, lOMoAR cPSD| 36357603
o Dry mouth
o Constipation
o Changes in vision
▪ Sedative
• Drowsiness
o Avoid driving/operating heavy machinery
o Avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants
o CI:
▪
Known drug allergy
▪
Narrow-angle glaucoma
▪
Cardiac disease, hypertension
▪
Kidney disease
▪
Bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia
▪
Sole drug therapy during acute asthmatic attacks
• Albuterol or epinephrine
▪ Peptic ulcer disease
▪ Seizure disorders
▪ Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
▪ Pregnancy
o Histamine
▪ Mast cells release histamine →
▪ Vasodilation
▪ Increased GI, salivary, lacrimal, and respiratory secretions
▪ Increase capillary permeability
▪ Major inflammatory mediator in many allergic disorders
• Allergic rhinitis
• Allergic reactions
• Motion sickness
• Parkinson’s disease
• Sleep disorders
• Angioedema
• Drug fevers
• Insect bite reactions
• Urticaria
• *Anaphylaxis:
o Excessive release of histamine
▪ Constriction of smooth muscle (stomach and lungs)
▪ Increase body secretions
▪ Vasodilation and increase capillary permeability → fluid
moves from blood vessels into tissue → drop in blood
pressure and edema
o Two histamine receptors:
▪ H1 (histamine 1)
▪ H2 (histamine 2)
