Medication and Cell Receptors
Quick notes and definitions…
Cells have receptors- like a door into the cell. They are receptive to medications, or willing to receive medications. Medications work by either opening or closing the door.
⇨ Agonists stimulate a cells receptors; they open the door
⇨ Antagonists (“blockers”) are anti, or opposite of agonists; they close the door
⇨ Indications are reasons to give a medicine, or intervention- you should give it because it will help!
⇨ Contraindications are reasons not to — you should NOT give it because a reason exists that may cause harm to the patient!
After giving a medication or other interventions, you should monitor your patient for intended, unintended and untoward effects of your treatment. Did it do what you intended it to? Did it have an effect that you didn’t intend? Are the effects actually harming your patient?
Reference:
Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, Tenth Edition- Section 2, Chapter 7 Published by Jones & Bartlett Learning www.jblearning.com. Copyright 2011 by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
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