Part 1: Part 1: The Role of MedicineThe Role of Medicine

Part 2: Part 2: Using Medicine WiselyUsing Medicine Wisely

Laura CopelandLaura CopelandChelsey LindbloomChelsey LindbloomRick LigonRick LigonGabrielle MarrahGabrielle MarrahAlicia McMahonAlicia McMahon

Audience Demographic

s

• For this presentation the audience are senior citizens, 50 years of age or over.

Part 1: The Role of

Medicine

• A substance that when taken internally or applied to the body, helps treat, prevent, or cure a disease, disorder, or other medical problem.

Medication

Medication Medication ClassificationClassification

• A medication is classified according to its effects on the body

• There are 4 broad classifications

– Prevent Disease– Fight Pathogens– Treat Cardiovascular

Disease– Relieve Pain

• Considered by many to be the most effective way of preventing infectious diseases

• Prevent diseases before they even occur

• Two types…

Prevent DiseasePrevent Disease

Two important vaccines:

• Flu/Influenza

– Flu Season is annually from October to March

– The vaccine changes every season

– You can get your vaccine at your doctor’s office, a clinic, the Health Department, or Publix

Type 1: Vaccines

• Pneumonia

– Prevents bacteria from causing pneumonia

– Lasts 5 years

– You can get the vaccine at your Dr. office, a clinic, the Health Department, or Publix

Vaccines Cont…

Type 2: Antitoxins

• Contain antibodies from blood extracts

• Proven to act more quickly than vaccines

• When injected, neutralize the effect of toxins

Fight Pathogens

• Called Antibiotics

– By Prescription

– Can be taken by mouth, on the skin, injection, or intravenously

– Take entire prescribed course even if you are feeling better!

• Medicine that helps the heart regulate blood pressure

• Five main types:

– Clot-dissolving medicines

– Beta Blockers

– Vasodilators

– Diuretics

– Antiarrhythmics

Cardiovascular Medicines

Pain relievers range from narcotics such as codeine to mild pain relievers such as aspirin.

Which pain relievers work best?

Relieve Pain

Positive Negative

Aspirin: anti-inflammatory limited amount of relief reduces blood clotting can irritate stomach

can prevent heart attack, stroke easy to take too much

Acetaminophen: well tolerated by the stomach not an anti-inflammatory

good for burns, bruises, sprains no anticoagulant effects

good for bruises and sprains common for allergies to exist

few people are intolerant can irritate stomach

anti-inflammatory (anticoagulant) recommended intake with food

650 mg

1000 mg

400 mg

Ibuprofen

Medication Medication and Your Bodyand Your Body • Everyone reacts

differently to medications

• You can have a different reaction to any medication at any time no matter how long you have been

taking it

• factors that contribute to the body’s interaction with a medicine include:

– Body weight

– Body chemistry

– Other medications being taken

– Individual metabolism

– Eating different foods

Common Terms

• Side Effect – Reaction to a medicine other

than the one intended

• Tolerance– A condition in which the body

becomes used to the effect of a medicine

• Withdrawal– The process that occurs when a

person stops using a medicine/substance to which he/she has a physiological dependence

Drug Interaction

• Additive Interaction– Occurs when medicines work

together in a positive way• Antagonistic Effect

– Interaction of 2 or more medicines

– One cancels or reduces the strength of the other

• Synergistic Effect– Interaction of 2 or more

medicines– One increases the strength

of the other

Drug Interaction Activity!

• Every participant will receive a handful of skittles

• Each color skittle represents a specific brand and dosage of drug

•We will learn about the dangers of mixing drugs together or with alcohol

What The What The Colors RepresentColors Represent• RedRed

– HeartHeart• PinkPink

– Blood PressureBlood Pressure• PurplePurple

– MemoryMemory• BlueBlue

– RespiratoryRespiratory• YellowYellow

– UrinaryUrinary• GreenGreen

– AntibioticsAntibiotics• OrangeOrange

– PainPain

MIX YOUR DRUGS!MIX YOUR DRUGS!

Organizational ToolsOrganizational Tools

Part 2: Part 2: Using Medicine Using Medicine

WiselyWisely

A Government agency

known as the Food and

Drug Administration

(FDA) Deems the Drugs

to be safe and effective

for the public to use.

How do drugs reach the store?

Prescription Medications

• Generally stronger and have more potential harm

• Can only be used with written approval of licensed physician

• Only licensed Pharmacists can give them

Over-The-Counter Over-The-Counter MedicationsMedications

• Over the counter (OTC) medicines can be used without a prescription

• Generally weaker and safer to use than prescription medicines

• Still have the potential of being harmful

““HOW DO I USE IT?”HOW DO I USE IT?”

Proper Use of Medication:Know what active ingredients you are takingFollow the prescribed or recommended amountKnow how often you should be taking it

All medication should have a “directions” section.

Why finish?Why finish?Reasons to finish your

prescribed course of medicine:

• You will feel better before the illness is gone

• You will build resistance to the medicine if not taken properly

• The dosage and length is how the drug designed to fight the disease.

• Because, really… the doctor knows best

Don’t Forget To Take Your Medications

Percentage of Americans Who Use Medication(s)

49%

30%

21%

PrescriptionMedication(s)

Non-PrescriptionMedication(s)

No Medication(s)

Brand Name vs. Generic Name Brand Name vs. Generic Name MedicationMedication

A

B 2

C 3

1

Misuse and Misuse and AbuseAbuse

Common examples include:Mixing medicineSharing your Rx medicineTaking too much or too littleTaking someone else’s medicineTaking the medicine for too long or for too short

Review

1. Medications are classified according to what?

a. Their effects on the body

b. Their costc. Availabilityd. Ease of Use

Review2. Which of the

following are the two examples of important vaccines from the presentation?

a. Influenza & Rubellab. Rubella & Pneumoniac. Pneumonia &

Influenzad. Flu & Acetaminophen

Review

3. Which of the following has no anticoagulant effects?

a. Aspirinb. Ibuprofenc. Tylenold. Advil

Review 4. Which of the following are not examples of how someone could misuse medications?

a. Mixing medicineb. Taking too much or

too littlec. Taking some over the

counter medications for a headache

d. Taking someone else’s medicine