Drug Fact Sheet

Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin)

 

 

 

Classification:

Bronchodilator

Indication:

Relief of bronchospasm. Lung problems including asthma and bronchitis.

Dose:

Adults: 2-6mg

Children (6-14yr): 2mg

Children (2-6yr): 0.1mg per kg (weight)

Side Effects:

Apprehension, restlessness, dizziness, palpitations, increase in blood pressure, dysrhythmias and increased hypoxemia.

Use in Pregnancy:

Insufficient data present on use with pregnant women, benefits could outweigh the risks.

Contraindications:

Use cautiously in people with cardiac disease, high blood pressure, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, glaucoma, and elderly patients. Excessive use may lead to tolerance and paradoxical bronchospasm.

Drug interactions:

Adrenergic agents, MAO inhibitors and beta-adrenergic blockers.

Monitoring:

Monitor lung functions and blood pressure. Monitor for further deterioration of lung function (shortness of breath, increased wheezing). Monitor for heart related conditions (chest pain, sweating and palpitations.)

 

 

 

Temple JC. (2001). Albuterol. [Online]. Available: http://www.templejc.edu/ems/drugs/albuterol.htm

 

Deglin, J. & Vallerand, A. (1997). Davis's Drug Guide For Nurses. (5th ed.). Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company.

 

Illegal Drug Fact Sheet

Ecstasy or MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)

 

          Ecstasy/MDMA is a stimulant that combines the properties of methamphetamine or "speed" with mind altering or hallucinogenic properties. Ecstasy is considered a designer drug since it is an illicit variation of other drugs. Ecstasy is a close derivative of methamphetamine.

          The drug is found among teenagers and young adults who attend nightclubs and raves. Street names for ecstasy include Adam, X-TC, Clarity, Essence, Stacy, Lover's Speed, and Eve. Ecstasy is usually in powder or pill form and is usually taken orally. Price ranges from $7-$30 per pill.

An ecstasy high can last from 6-24 hours, with the average "trip" lasting about 3-4 hours.

Ecstasy can be detected up to four days in the urine.

 

 

Emotional effects.

¨       Euphoria

¨       Feelings of well-being

¨       Enhanced mental or emotional clarity

¨       Anxiety

¨       Paranoia

Heavier Doses

¨       Hallucinations

¨       Sensations of lightness and floating

¨       Depression

¨       Paranoid thinking

¨       Violent, irrational behavior

 

Physical effects.

¨       Reduction or Loss of appetite

¨       Nausea

¨       Vomiting

¨       Blurred vision

¨       Increased heart rate and blood pressure

 

¨       Muscle tension

¨       Faintness

¨       Chills

¨       Sweating

¨       Tremors

¨       Insomnia

¨       Convulsions

¨       Loss of control over voluntary body movements

 

      Individuals who are pregnant, have a heart condition, Epilepsy or have high blood pressure are at high risk for adverse reactions.

     

      In addition, users are at a high risk for heat exhaustion and dehydration. Deaths have occurred because the users didn't drink enough water and became overheated.

 

 

 

 

Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. (1997). Ecstasy: Just the Facts. [Online]. Available: http://www.tcada.state.tx.us/research/facts/ecstacy.html

 

 

 

Illegal Drug Fact Sheet

GHB (Gammahydroxybutyrate or

Gamma hydroxybutyric acid)

 

          GHB is a fast acting central nervous system depressant. It is a colorless and odorless liquid with a salty taste, but it is also used in powder and capsule forms. Street names include Liquid ecstasy, Grievous Bodily Harm, Georgia Home Boy, Liquid X, GBH, Soap, Scoop, Easy Lay, Salty Water, G-Riffick, Cherry Meth, Natures Quaalude, Zonked, Organic Quaalude and Somatomax. A low to moderate dose is considered between 5ml and 15 ml or 1-2 grams.

 

 

At first one may experience euphoria and relaxation/calmness.

 

Adverse effects. (Can occur 15 minutes to an hour after ingestion).

Physical Effects:

¨       Nausea

¨       Drowsiness

¨       Respiratory distress

¨       Dizziness

¨       Seizures

¨       Amnesia

Poisonings and deaths from GHB have been well documented.

 

GHB intensifies feeling of intoxication and may result in enhanced sexual feelings. It produces similar feelings to alcohol and its effects may be exacerbated when combined with alcohol. It can effect all people differently.

 

GHB has been marketed as a health food product due to its hypnotic effects and also to promote weight loss and muscle development. It has been sold over the counter as a dietary supplement. GHB promotes slow-wave sleep, which is the time when muscle growth hormones are released, but it has not been linked to an increase in body mass.

 

 

 

GHB is sometimes characterized as a date rape drug. It is colorless and odorless and can easily be placed in someone's drink. It does produce amnesia and can increase sexual feelings. It can make a person less inhibited.

 

Possession of GHB is not illegal but the production and sale of it is.

 

The medical uses of GHB are as follows. It has been studied for its ability to induce short-term coma and possible surgical anesthesia. It can be used as a sleep-inducing aid to treat people who suffer from narcolepsy. Other roles may include treatment of alcohol and opiate dependence, protection against hemorrhagic shock and improving liver function. It has not been approved for sale as a medical product in the US.

 

 

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information. (1999). GHB: Gammahydroxybutyrate. [Online]. Available: http://www.health.org/nongovpubs/ghbqa/index.htm