[Note: if you have not officially enrolled in this course and want to get CEU credit, please enroll here: http://www.ceu.org/enroll.html. Without this enrollment, the credits cannot be sent to your state board for licensure.]
Introduction

Pulmonary pharmacology involves the therapeutic use of drugs that affect the lungs and are delivered by a variety of modalities. RCPs need to have a general knowledge of the drugs (agents) most commonly used to treat respiratory problems, an in-depth knowledge of airway pharmacology and the equipment utilized for delivery of the medications.

The care of patients with pulmonary diseases involves utilizing a wide spectrum of drugs to provide everything from emergency interventions for acutely and critically ill persons, to administering maintenance support for a relatively stable patient.

RCPs are primarily involved in administering drugs that are specifically designed to treat the so-called pathological triad of pulmonary disease: bronchospasm, airway inflammation, and retained secretions. However, since the respiratory system cannot be disassociated from cardiac and vascular systems, respiratory care pharmacology necessarily involves a relatively broad scope of drug classes.

The front line arsenal for treating pulmonary diseases consists of bronchodilators, antimuscarinics, corticosteroids, mucokinetics, mucolytics, and decongestants. There are also a variety of other agents available for treating pulmonary ailments, including: oxygen, antibiotics, local anesthetics, respiratory stimulants, and muscle relaxants. Because of the inter-connectedness of the body systems, additional groups of drugs that may be administered to patients with respiratory diseases include: anti-infectives, CNS drugs, antiarrhythmic agents, anticoagulants, antihypertensives, and diuretics.

While this course presents a comprehensive review of the wide spectrum of the drugs used in pulmonary medicine, it begins with a detailed review of the various modalities available for their delivery to patients suffering from respiratory diseases. The course includes detailed discussions of aerosol therapy, nebulizers, and humidifiers. Therapeutic procedures and medication functions are also examined in this valuable continuing education unit.