Institute for Continuing Education

Pulmonary Pharmacology: Delivery Devices and Medications

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:

• Identify and discuss the various types and classifications of the most commonly utilized respiratory medications.
• Identify and explain the functions of the various types of equipment utilized for delivery of medications in respiratory care.
• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of aerosolized medications.
• Explain the principles of humidification.
• Identify complications and side effects of some of at least two of the most common respiratory medications.
• Discuss at least one of the clinical practice guidelines for choosing and using equipment to deliver medications.
• Discuss the process by which the FDA approves new drugs.
• Compare and contrast Adrenergic Bronchodilators and Anticholinergic Bronchodilators.
• Explain the role of Xanthines in respiratory care.
• Identify and discuss the various types of corticosteroids used in respiratory care.

Course Information

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.

In this course you will be asked to complete a multiple choice final exam, and several case studies involving clinical scenarios. Unless you complete all of these, you cannot receive the full unit credit for this course.

The course includes detailed discussions of aerosol therapy, nebulizers, humidifiers, and a variety of medications used in the treatment of respiratory disorders and diseases. Therapeutic procedures and medication functions are also examined in this valuable continuing education unit. The resources drawn upon and synthesized for the following material can be found in the References sections.