I need help on a VERY basic Pharm questions...

mvanz9999, RN · May 10, 2008

Ok...these are going to sound s-t-u-p-i-d...but these are tiny details that weren't very clear in our text.
1. Are Opiates and Narcotics the same thing? The book uses both of these terms in the chapter on opiates, but it's not clear (nor does it say) whether they are the same or not. I'm thinking they are...

Yay! Something I'm good at!

No they are not.

Opiates refer to drugs that are derived from compounds present in opium (morphine, codiene, etc).

Narcotic is an imprecise term related to analgesics, CNS depressants, or any drug capable of causing physical dependence, or legally, drugs like LSD or marijuana.

The key being that the term "narcotic" is imprecise.

2. Our chapter on Sedatives and Hypnotics starts off with Barbituates. Then it starts talking about Benzodiazepines.
Then it talks about Non-Benzodiazepines
In the back of the chapter, where it reviews the nursing process/patient teaching for these drugs, these are the ONLY two catagories that appear.
A. Barbituates
B. Non-Barbituates
So my question is...are Benzodiaepines and Non-Benzodiazepines BOTH non-Barbituates?
To those that answer...yup, I told you they were stupid questions.
I just need to be able to sort out in my head what drug goes with what so I can be sure to answer questions correct if they ask a question based on class/group.

For question two, I would say 'yes'. Benzodiazepines are not barbituates, so they would have to go into the non-barbituate category. Although that is a really dumb way of dividing it up (that being directed at the publisher, not you).

These are not dumb questions. What would be dumb is guessing.

Cheers!

watsonsd · May 11, 2008

Hi Hopefull,

Your questions aren't stupid -- this is what it's all about--asking why, looking for rationales etc.

Here's what you need to know:

1) Opioids are considered narcotics however, not all narcotics are opioids. Remember that Opioids relieve pain (analgesic effects). Not all narcotics provide pain relief some are stimulants (methamphetamine, cocaine etc.)

2) There are 3 types of sedative hyptonics:

a. Benzodiazepines-used to relieve anxiety (anxiolytic) or as a sedative-hypnotic.

b. Barbituates - induce sleep, relieve anxiety, stop seizure activity or provide anesthesia effect. The action of Barbituates is dose related--low dosages of barbituates have sedative effects while higher dosages of barbituates have hypnotic effects.

c. Nonbarbituates - sedative/hypnotic effects - common are Zolpidem (Ambien) and Eszopiclone (Lunesta)

Think of your drug classifications when categorizing these agents. Try not to use terms like "non-benzodiazepines." Stick to the real terms. Use your drug guide along with your pharmacology book to make a concept map for yourself so that you can really grasp the classifications. Concept maps can serve as a great tool for Pharmacology material.

Good Luck!

justme1972 · May 11, 2008

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!

You would think that the book would make these crystal clear, but it doesn't.

It just seemed to randomly use the terms "narcotics" and "opiate"s and I couldn't tell when I read through if the terms were being used interchangeably or not, because each time it was referring to different drugs, so I couldn't tell which was which.

With the barbs and benzies...the book wasn't clear b/c it said that benzies had similar effects, but didn't go into detail if they contained a barbituate or not..only that what they were used in Tx was different.

Now I know!

Some of our test questions just asked about the effects of barbs/non-barbs, so it was important for me to make this distinction.

THANKS AGAIN!

Noryn · May 11, 2008

Narcotic now does have different meanings. If you go by the pure root of the word it would mean something to the effect of inducing sleep and also at one time was used to specify opiates however many years ago drug enforcement agencies began using the term narcotics to mean illegal drugs.

But opiates, benzodiazepine and barbiturate indicates a class of drugs. Benzodiazepines do have similar effects as barbiturates. Valium, a benzo is used to treat seizures as phenobarbital, a barbiturate, treats seizures.

Nonbenzodiazepines hypnotics is a class of meds also and include ambien and lunesta.