Therapeutic Index - 3092 Words

The Inaba text describes the phenomenon of therapeutic index. Addiction to barbiturates can be critical in terms of lethality as measured by the therapeutic index. Describe how this phenomenon might lead to an accidental overdose. Why is this factor more critical with barbiturates than with other classes of depressant drugs? Barbiturates are nonselective central nervous system (CNS) depressants, capable of producing all degrees of depression from mild sedation and hypnosis to general anesthesia, deep coma and death. The extent of CNS depression varies with the route of administration, dose and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the particular barbiturate. Patient specific factors such as age, physical or emotional state and the†¦show more content†¦The drug is usually sold as a white powder, either in colorful capsules, tablets, and suppositories, or dissolved in liquid for injection. Oral ingestion is usually preferred over injection, since results occur quickly enough with the short-acting capsules. Some barb freaks prefer the surging rush that comes with mainlining, however, and ignore the possibilities of severe infection and abscess that may result if the vein is missed and the drug is injected under the skin. Gangrene can occur - if an artery is hit, and may necessitate amputation of the a ffected part. Barbiturates affect the central nervous system by depressing or inhibiting nerve signals in the brain, altering chemical balance and decreasing functions of some organ systems. Heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and neurological action are all depressed, and general relaxation of the skeletal muscles occurs. Effects of the drug increase according to dosage, as body functions decelerate: from anxiety relief to sedation to hypnosis to anesthesia to coma to death. Once ingested, the drug enters the bloodstream and is distributed throughout- the body, with the highest accumulation in fat deposits and organ tissues. Barbiturates are ultimately metabolized and eliminated through the kidneys and liver. Rate of effect depends on how quickly the drug = moves through the body and is metabolized. Laboratory tests can indicate the presence of barbiturates in the body. Dosage, type of barbiturate,Show MoreRelatedUsing The Hydrate Rather Than The Anhydrous Form Of Theophylline1177 Words   |  5 Pagesmanufactured as modified-release formulations? 10% Theophylline is a narrow therapeutic index drug with an optimum serum concentration range of 10 to 20 micrograms/mL. Above 20 micrograms/mL, toxicity is observed and thus it is crucial that the serum concentration is maintained within the above range. Modified release formulations are used to ensure that the serum concentration remains within the therapeutic range but below toxic levels. This is achieved by reducing the fluctuation in drugRead MoreGeneral Characteristics Of Antimicrobials And Therapeutic Index1434 Words   |  6 Pagescan be measured using the therapeutic index. The therapeutic index is the ratio of the highest dose of the drug that is not toxic to the patient to the amount of drug required to produce the desired effect. A high therapeutic index indicates a drug will be well-tolerated by most people, but a low therapeutic index means a patient being treated with the drug should be carefully monitored for adverse effects. Antimicrobials are designed to have as lar ge a therapeutic index as possible, often by exploitingRead MoreAssessment of Therapeutic Effects of Subcutaneous Corticosteroids in Patients with Migranous Chronic Daily Headaches1613 Words   |  6 PagesBackground and Objective: Neurologic literatrure about therapeutic effect of subcutaneous corticosteroids in patients with migrainous chronic daily headache is scare. Aim of this research is assessment of therapeutic effects of this management in the patients. Methods: Consecutive patients with migrainous chronic daily headache in our headache clinic enrolled a prospective before and after therapeutic study during 2010-2013. Fourty mg Metylprednisolone was divided in four subcutaneous injectionRead MoreFew Animal Studies Have Proved That Gabapentin Has A Potential1722 Words   |  7 Pagesstabilization property of gabapentin, it has been used off-label for a management of neuropathic pain such as traumatic neuroma and post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTTN) etc.[9]. Food and drug administration (FDA) has approved gabapentin as a therapeutic method of restless leg syndrome and postherpetic neuralgia[1]. Gabapentin is shown to not only have benefit on a treatment of postherpetic neuralgia, but also as a possible preventive method of postherpetic neuralgia when administered in additionRead MorePharmacological Intervention Assignment : Patient X2837 Words   |  12 Pagesmild tenderness upon deep palpation to the left lower quadrant, an d well-healed laparoscopic incisions. His vital signs are within normal limits and he rates his left lower quadrant pain as 1/10. He denies nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. His body mass index is normal at 23.67. Because of the history of his diverticulitis, he has been counseled on the likelihood that he will continue to have recurrent episodes unless he opts for sigmoid colectomy. Because of the significant interference these recurrentRead MoreSelf Medication Practices in a Rural Filipino Community21296 Words   |  86 PagesFamily Abstract Objectives: the purpose of the study was to assess the factors affecting prevalence of self- medication practices using commercial drugs of the Rural Filipino Family including its correlation and who among them experienced non therapeutic effect. Methods: This study was a descriptive cross- sectional question based study. The study was conducted in 3 rural, agricultural lands, municipality in three different provinces wherein 2 municipalities were accomplished around the RegionRead MoreEating Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa1653 Words   |  7 Pagesnormal growth process, because they fail to achieve ideal weight and height expectancy. Psychologist are able to determine if an individual meets anorexia weight cutoff requirement by measuring how thin their patients are by calculating body mass index (BMI) DSM-5 Anorexia Nervosa Diagnoses Criterion â€Å"Criterion (A) focuses on behaviors, like restricting calorie intake, and no longer includes the word â€Å"Refusal† in terms of weight maintenance since that implies intention on the part of the patientRead MorePhysiology Assignment : Client Report2047 Words   |  9 Pagesfrom your pre-test questionnaire that you were an asthmatic and required an inhaler, before the test we asked if you had completed any of the given tests before and that you felt comfortable to participate in them. Body Mass Index (BMI) BMI = 36.2 Body mass index is a formula created by Adolphe Quetelet which is used to estimate your weight relative to your height. The calculation used is Weight (KG) + Height (cm)  ². Why do we measure BMI? It is important to measure your BMI as in can indicateRead MoreThe Assessment And Care Of A Fabricated Patient2590 Words   |  11 PagesThis focuses on three important features – respect, compassion and sensitivity, (Royal College of Nursing (RCN), 2014) aiding the therapeutic relationship, (Cobb et al, 2012) which in turn will provide better care for the patient as they begin to entrust the nurse with their care and communicate more efficiently. Mrs Ford, a clinically obese female with a body mass index (BMI) of 30, has been admitted following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) with a left sided hemiparesis; making it difficult forRead MoreAntibiotics Are Antibiotics Used For?1198 Words   |  5 Pagessynthetic depending on how they are produced. Selective toxicity? A therapeutic dose of a drug is the amount needed to produce the desired effect of the drug – in the case of antibiotics it is a dose high enough to provide the treatment for the infection. A toxic dose is a dose which will produce toxic effects to the host. The therapeutic index is a ratio of the therapeutic dose to the toxic dose. At a high therapeutic index antibiotics will kill or inhibit pathogens without causing damage to