Читать книгу Fundamentals of Pharmacology for Paramedics - Группа авторов - Страница 23

You attend a 49‐year‐old male patient complaining of left‐sided central chest pain. He is diaphoretic, pale and short of breath.

You ask him about his medical history. He reports he has a ‘high blood pressure problem’. You glance at his medication list and do not recognise any common antihypertensive medications.

Your check his observations and gain a detailed history, while preparing him for a 12‐lead ECG. The ECG suggests a lateral myocardial infarct. Your provisional diagnosis is acute coronary syndrome and you proceed with administering aspirin and a vasodilator.

En route he rapidly becomes hypotensive with a decreased level of consciousness. At hospital, you discover he has recently commenced on a vasodilator for aggressive management of his pulmonary hypertension. This medication was not on his medication list.

You may see medications that patients are taking for indications other than the listed indications. Vasodilators such as sildenafil (Viagra^®) and vardenafil (Levitra^®) are often prescribed to males for erectile dysfunction, but can also be used to treat pulmonary hypertension.

Patients may be unsure what they are taking medications for and it is imperative to gain a detailed history prior to administration of any medication to ensure contraindications are not encountered. Medications can be used for purposes other than their primary indication.