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8.4: Oral Medications

  • Page ID
    84413

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    Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin, ASA)

    Classes: Platelet inhibitor (In the pre-hospital setting aspirin is only given for its platelet inhibitor properties.)

    Mechanism of Action: Inhibits platelet aggregation for the life of the platelet (7-10 days) 

    Onset: 5-30 minutes

    Indications: Suspected acute coronary syndrome

    Contraindications: Active GI bleeding, allergy, children

    Dosage: 324 mg PO (4 baby chewable aspirin)

    Route: Oral – instruct patient to chew tablets until fully dissolved

    Note: Aspirin given at the onset of an acute MI reduces mortality. Aspirin is the most effective treatment paramedics/EMTs can offer. Don’t forget to give aspirin to patients with cardiac chest pain!

    Acetylsalicylic Acid Skill Verification Table

    ASA Administration

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    5 (instructor)

    Initials

     

     

     

     

     

    Glucose, Oral administration

    Class: Carbohydrate

    Mechanism of Action: Increases blood glucose in a hypoglycemic patient.

    Onset: 5–30 minutes

    Indications: Hypoglycemia in conscious, cooperative patient

    Contraindications: Patients who cannot protect their airway.

    Dosage:  1 tube PO (15-24 g). May repeat as needed.

    Route: Oral – instruct patient to suck on glucose goo until fully dissolved in the mouth

    Photo of insta-glucose tube.
    Equipment images by Jamie Kennel and Carmen Curtz, licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
    Glucose, Oral Administration Skill Verification Table

    Oral Glucose Administration

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    5 (instructor)

    Initials

     

     

     

     

     

    Activated Charcoal

    Class: Adsorbent

    Mechanism of Action: Adsorbs toxin molecules to the outside surface of charcoal. The combined complex is then excreted from the body.

    Indications: Selected ingestions. In most protocols, activated charcoal may be given for aspirin and acetaminophen ingestions < 2 hours. For all other ingestions, OLMC or poison center consultation is usually required.

    Contraindications: Altered Mental Status (AMS)

    Side Effects: Abdominal cramping, constipation

    Dosage: 1 g/kg, max 50g, PO, supplied in bottles of 25-50 g in slurry with water or sorbitol

    Route: Oral – instruct the patient to swallow as much of the dose as possible. Placing a straw at the back of the tongue will help with the taste.

    Activated Charcoal Skill Verification Table

    Activated Charcoal Administration

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    5 (instructor)

    Initials

     

     

     

     

     

    The original copy of this book resides at openoregon.pressbooks.pub/emslabmanual. If you are reading this work at an alternate web address, it may contain content that has not been vetted by the original authors and physician reviewers.

     


    This page titled 8.4: Oral Medications is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Chris Hamper, Carmen Curtz, Holly A. Edwins, and Jamie Kennel (OpenOregon) via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.