Common Medications Flashcards
Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA): PO
Therapeutic Class
- Antipyretic
- Non-opioid analgesic
Pharmacological Class
- Salicytes
Common Indications
- Treatment of inflammatory disorders
- Mild to moderate pain
- Fever
- Prophylaxis of transient ischemic attacks and MIs
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor hepatic functionand for hepatoxicity
- Monitor lab values such as AST, ALT, and serum phosphate
- GI Bleeding
- Caution patietns to avoid concurrent use of alcohol to minimize GI upset
Acetaminiphen with Codeine: 30 mg PO
*High Alert
Therapeutic Class
- Opioid analgesic
Pharmacology Class
- Antipyretic
Common Indications
- Mild to moderate pain
- Fever
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor liver function
- Assess level of sedation
Acyclovir: IV
Therapeutic Class
- Antivirals
Pharmacology Class
- Purine anatologues
Common Indications
- Treatment of genital herpes and herpes simplex encephalitis
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess lesisions
- Monitor neurologic status in patients with herpes encephalitis
- Maintain adequate hydration
- Advise patient that no sexual contact should occur while lesions are present
Albuterol (Sulbutamol/ Ventolin): Nebulizer
Therpapeutic Class
- Bronchodilator
Pharmacology Class
- Adrenergic
Common Indications
- Treatment or prevention of bronchospasm
- in asthma or COPD
Nursing Responsibilities
- Assess lung sounds, pulse, and BP
- Observe for paradoxical bronchospasm (wheezing)
- Withhold medication
Amlodipine: PO
Therapeutic Class
- Antihypertensive
Pharmacology Class
- Calcium channel blockers
Common Indications
- Managment of hypertension, angina pectoris, and vasopastic angina
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor BP and pulse
- Monitor ins and outs
- Assess for signs of HF
- Caution patient to change position slowly to prevent orthostatic hypotension
Atrovastatin (Lipitor): PO
Therapeutic Class
- Lipid-lowering agent
Pharmacology Class
- HMG coa reductase inhibitor
Common Indications
- Managment of hypercholesterolemia
- Prevention of CAD in patients with increased LDL and decreased HDL
Nursing Respoinsibilites
- Obtain a diet history, especially regarding to fat consumption
- Check CPK levels if patient develops muscle tenderness during therapy
- If >10 times = discontinue
- Avoid grapefruit juice during therapy
Aspart (Novorapid)
*High Alert
Therapeutic Class
- Antidiabetic
Pharmacology Class
- Pancreatics
Common Indication
- Control of hyperglycemia in Type 1 and 2 DM
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess for symptoms of hypoglycemia
- Anxiety, restlessness, tingling at extremities, chills, confusion, excessive hunger, and headach
- Asess for symptoms of hyperglycemia
- Excessive thirst, fruit breath, fatigue, increased urination
- Monitor blood glucose
- Instruct patient on signs and symptoms of hypoglycemmia and hyperglycemia
Budesomide (Pulmicort): Nebulizer
Therapeutic Class
- Anti-Inflammatories
Pharmacology Class
- Corticosteroids
Common Indications
- Maintenance treatment and prophylaxis therapy of asthma.
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor respiratory status and lung sounds
- Advise patient to notify HCP if signs if anaphylaxis occur
- Notify patient to rinse mouth after use
Calcium Glucomate: IV
*High Alert
Therapeutic Class
- PMineral and electrolyte repalcements
Common Indications
- Treatment and prevention of hypoglacemia
- Emrgency treatment of hyperkalemia an dhypermagnesemia and adjunct in cardiac arrest or calclium channel blocking agent toxicity
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor BP, pulse, and ECG
- May cause vasodilation resulting with hypotension, bradycardia, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest
- Assess for signs of toxicity
- Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, thirst, braducardia, severe consipation, and peralytic ileus
- Administer slowly, high consentration may cause cardiac arrest.
Captopril: PO
Therapeutic Class
- Anti-hypertensive
Pharmacology Class
- Ace Inhibitor
Common Indications
- Managment of HF
- Post MI therapy
- Treatment of nephropathy in patients with Type 1 DM of retinopathy
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor BP, pulse and ECG frequently
- Assess for angioedema
- Swelling of face, extremities, eyes, lips, and tongue
- Difficulty breathing
- Monitor weight and assess for fluid overload
- Monitor CBC
- Monitor ins and outs
Cefazolin: IV
Therapeutic Class
- Anti-infective
Pharmacology Class
- First generation cephalosporins
Common Indications
- Treatment of crtain infections
- Perioperative prophylaxis
Nursing Responsibilities
- Observe for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
- Monitor bowel function
- Diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever and blood stools are sings of CDAD
- Assess for skin rash
- Assess for infection
Cetraxone: IV
Therpaeutic Class
- Anti-infective
Pharmacology Class
- Third generation cephalosporins
Common Indications
- Treatment of certain bacterial infections
- Perioperative prophylaxis
Nursing Responsibilities
- Assess for infection
- Observe for signs of anaphylaxis
- Assess for skin rash
- Monitor bowel function
- Diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever and blood stools are sings of CDAD
- Monitor injection site for phlebitis
Ciprofloxacin: IV
Therpaeutic Class
- Anti-infective
Pharmacology Class
- Fluoroquinolones
Common Indications
- Treatment of certain bacterial infections
- Post-exposure prophylaxis of inhalation anthrax
- Treatment and priphylaxis of the plague
Nursing Responsibilites
- Observe for signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis
- Monitor bowel function, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever and blood stools
- Assess for skin rash
- Assess for infection
Clopidogrel (Plavix): PO
Therapeutic Class
- Antuplatelet agent
Pharmacology Class
- Platelet aggregation inhibitors
Common Indications
- Acute coronary syndrom
- Patients with established peripheral arterial disease, recent MI or recent stroke
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess for signs of peripheral arterial disease, MI and stroke
- Monitor for thrombotic thrombocytic purpura
- Monitor bleeding time during therapy
- Monitor CBC
Combivent Nebulizer (Albuterol and Intrapropium)
Therapeutic Class
- Bronchodilator
- Adrenergic
Common Indications
- Treatment or prevention of bronchospasm in asthma or COPD
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess lung sounds, pulse and BP
- Observe for paradoxial bronchospasm (wheexing)
- Withhold medication
Dexamethasone: PO/IV
Therapeutic Class
- Anti-inflammatory
Pharmacology Class
- Corticosteroids
Common Indications
- Wide variety of chronic diseases, such as inflammatory, allergic, endocrine and autoimmune
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor intake and output ratios
- Take daily weights
- Observe for peripheral edema, steady weight gain, reales/ cracklers and/or dyspnea
- Assess for signs of adreanl insufficency
- Hypotension, weight loss, weakness, nausea, vomiting
- Instruct patient to report severe abdominal pain and tarry stools
Digoxin: PO/IV
*High Alert
Therpaeutic Class
- Antiarrhythmics
- Inotropics
Pharmacology Class
- Digitalis glycosides
Common Indications
- Heart failure
- Arterial fibrillation and artierial flutter
- Paroxysmal arterial tachycardia
Nursing Responsibilities
- Monitor apical pulse
- Withhold if rate is less than 60 bpm for adult, 70 bpm for child, and 90 bpm for infant
- Monitor BP and ECG
- Teach patient to take pulse and to notify doctor if heart rate is less than 60 bpm per minute or above 100 bpm
Dimenhydrinate (Gravol): IV
Therapeutic Class
- Antihistamine
- Antiemetic
Common Indications
- Nausea, vomiting, dizziness and vertigo accompanying motion sickness
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess nausea, vomiting, bowel sounds, and abdominal pain
- Monitor intak and output
- May cause drowsiness, caution patient to avoit OTC cougha nd cold products while breasfeeding or to children under 4 years old
Enalapril: PO
Therapeutic Class
- Antihypertensive
Pharmacology Class
- Ace Inhibitor
Common Indications
- Managment of hypertension and HF
Nursing Responsibilites
- Monitor BP and pulse
- Assess for signs of angioedema
- Swelling of face, extremities, eyes, lips and tongue
- Difficultiy swallowing and breathing
- Monitor weight and for fluid overload
- Monitor CBC
Enoxaparin: SC
*High Alert
Therpaeutic Class
- Anticoagulant
Pharmacology Class
- Antithrombotic
- Low molecular weight heparin
Common Indications
- Prevention of VTE, DVT, and PE
- Treatment of DVT with or without PE
- Prevention of ischemic complictions from unstable angina and non-ST-segment elevation MI
- Treatment ofa cute ST-segment-elevation MI
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess for bleeding
- Alternate injection site
Epinephrine: IM
Therapeutic Class
- Antiasthmatic
- Bronchodilator
- Vasopressor
Pharmacology Class
- Adrenergic
Common Indications
- Severe allergic reactions
Nursing Responsibilites
- Observe for paradoxical bronchospasm
- Withhold medication
- Assess lung sounds, respiratory pattern, pulse and BP
Fentanyl Patch (Duragesie)
*High Alert
Therapeutic Class
- Opioid analgesic
Parmacology Class
- Opioid agonists
Common Indications
- Moderate to severe chronic pain
Nursing Responsibilites
- Assess BP, pulse and respirations
- If respiration is <10 minutes, assess levle of sedtion
- Assess risk for opioid addiction abuse or misuse prior to adminsitration