Diuretics and Potassium

Question 1

this diuretic is potent when given IV

Answer 1

furosemide (Lasix)

10mg per minute IV push so 40 mg is pushed slowly over 4 minutes.

Question 2

this diuretic spares potassium in the blood strem

Answer 2

spironolactone

drug class

Question 3

this drug class includes these two drugs: furosemide and bumetanide

Answer 3

Loop diuretics

Question 4

avoid salt substitutes, educate about signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia and to avoid foods that are high in potassium

Answer 4

potassium sparing diuretics

Question 5

these two diuretics drug classes cause hypokalemia

Answer 5

Loop diuretics and Thiazide diurectics

Question 6

muscle cramps, fatigue, weakness, irregular heartbeats, dry mouth, increase thirst, mental changes, and mood changes

Answer 6

signs and symptoms of hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is a side effect of loop diuretics and thiazide diuretics

Question 7

confusion, convulsions, decrease mental activity, irritability, muscle cramps, unusual fatigue or weakness

Answer 7

signs and symptoms for hyponatremia

side effects of loop diuretics

Question 8

muscle twitching, cramps, paresthesia, EKG changes, dysrhythmias, abominal cramping and diarrhea

Answer 8

signs and symptoms of hyperkalemia

Question 9

calcium gluconate, sodium bicard, amp of D50, and insulin

Answer 9

treatment for hyperkalemia

kayexalate also is used to treat hyperkalemia

Question 10

To help prevent hyperkalemia, a patient maybe prescribed….

Answer 10

to take both a loop diuretic and a potassium sparing diuretic

if not a loop diuretic, it could be a thiazide diuretic too. the combination allows for the body to keep a balance of potassium

Question 11

the nursing assessment prior to administration of a diuretic should include…

Answer 11

blood pressure, pulse, potassium lab results

Question 11

general patient education should include

Answer 11

daily weights, take in the morning, no evening doses, monitor blood pressure and heart rate, keep tract of oral intake

Question 12

This diuretic is used for medical emergencies such as cerebral edema or increase in intraocular pressure

Answer 12

osmotic diuretics

Mannitol is a common osmotic diuretic

Question 13

dysrhythmia occur with this adverse reaction when taking loop or thiazide diuretics

Answer 13

hyperkalemia

Question 14

what is a normal serum blood level for potassium?

Answer 14

3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L

Question 15

this medication is used to treat hypokalemia

Answer 15

potassium chloride

Oral dose is 20 to 40 mEq tablets, IV dosing is 10mEq/100mL per hour, typical IV dose is the same as oral so you will be administering potassium for two to four hours. Oral dose can be liquid or tablets, you can break tablets in half

Question 16

how do you administer IV potassium

Answer 16

IV dosing is 10mEq/100mL per hour, typically IV dose is the same as oral so you will be administering potassium for two to four hours.

NEVER will you IV push potassium, it can be deadly. IV potassium burns so you may need to slow it down and you will want a IV site in the antecubital

Question 17

Besides loop and thiazide diuretics,what else can cause hypokalemia

Answer 17

excessive vomiting or diarrhea, excessive use of laxatives, intestinal drainage, or GI fistula