Recognize and Respond Quickly to Medication Red Flags

Are you uncomfortable dealing with the problems that can accompany your clients’ various medications? Alleviate your concerns with timely information on pain and cardiac medications, anti-inflammatories, muscle relaxers, anxiolytics (antianxiety drugs), Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s medications, and many others.  Investigate the side effects that can affect rehabilitation through altered coordination, balance, cognition and swallowing. Use case studies from a variety of populations to check your skills at recognizing warning signs, and implement appropriate resolutions.

Course Content

INTRODUCTION

• Definitions

• Drug class
• Mechanism of action
• Absorption
• Half-life
• Approved vs. off-label use

• The FDA’s role in development, safety monitoring & enforcing
• What’s in a name? Etiology of drug names
• Introduction to case studies of various diagnoses

PHYSIOLOGY

• Drug administration method review
• Pros and cons of each administration route
• Clearing meds from the system
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COMMON MEDICATIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS BY CATEGORY

• Pain medications

• Prescription and over the counter (OTC)

• Steroids
• Arthritis medications
• Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s medications
• Muscle relaxers
• Anti-Depressants
• Cardiovascular and blood pressure medications
• Respiratory medications
• Antibiotics
• Anti-Fungals and anti-virals
• Diabetes medications
• Anti-Seizure medications
• Dietary supplements and vitamins

APPLICATION TO REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

• Assessment of medication effects
• Physical examination red flags
• Identifying adverse effects experienced
• Working around side effects

COMPLETION OF CASE STUDIES

• Discussion of examination, red flag identifiers and resolution

• Orthopedic case
• Neurologic case
• Pediatric case
• Geriatric case
• Arthritis case
• Hypertension case
• Oncology case
• Fitness enthusiast case