Medications Flashcards
Classification: Loop diuretic
Indications: edema due to heart failure, HTN
Therapeutic effects: Diuresis – HELPS RID BODY OF EXTRA FLUID, CRACKLES, GIVE LASIX – URINATE
Nursing implications: Monitor BP, intake and output, weight, K+ levels – RELEASING WHEN DIURESIS
Furosemide
Classification: beta blocker
Indications: HTN, angina, POST MI
Therapeutic effects: decreased BP and HR - AFIB
Nursing Implications: Monitor BP, HR - CHECK PRIOR AND DURING TREATMENT
Metoprolol
Classification: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor
Indications: HTN and HF
Therapeutic effects: increases blood flow to heart by relaxing cardiac arterial smooth muscle leading to lowered BP,
BETTER PUMPING EFFICIENCY
Nursing implications: Monitor BP, renal function
Lisinopril
Classification: Expectorant – EXPEXTORATE MUCINEX, LARGE AMOUNT OF WATER, HELP REDUCE VISCOSITY OF
MUCOUS
Indications: Chest congestion
Therapeutic effects: Reduces viscosity of respiratory mucous
Nursing implications: Administer with large amount of fluid
Guaifenesin
Classification: Antitussive – ANNOYING COUGH THAT WON’T ALLOW THEM TO SLEEP
Indications: Nonproductive cough
Therapeutic effects: Suppresses the cough reflex by a direct action on the cough center in the medulla of the brain
Nursing implications: Not for use in patients with restrictive airway disease, i.e. asthma
Dextromethorphan
Classification: Short-acting beta-2 agonist
Indications: Bronchospasm
Therapeutic effects: Relaxes smooth muscles of the bronchioles, EXPANDS, WHEEZING PATIENTS, OPENS AIRWAYS,
IN CURRENT ASTHMA ATTACK-RESCUE INHALER, TACHY/PALPITATIONS/TREMORS ARE SYMPTOMS
Nursing implications: Used as a “rescue inhaler”; may cause tachycardia, tremors, insomnia, headache
Albuterol
Classification: glucocortisoid
Indications: cough due to bronchitis, asthma, COPD
Therapeutic effects: reduces inflammation in the airways, WORKS WELL-GIVEN IV, ORALLY
Nursing implications: educate patient regarding dosing, assess for infection, UNDERSTAND DOSING
Prednisone
Classification: Steroid + long-acting beta-2 agonist
Indications: Maintenance treatment for patients with asthma, COPD
Therapeutic effects: Decreases inflammation of and relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchioles
Nursing implications: Not for use as a “rescue inhaler” May cause headache, tremors, palpitations, upper respiratory tract
infection, oral candidiasis (yeast)-Instruct to rinse mouth out after use
RINSE MOUTH AFTER ANY INHALER WITH STEROID
fluticasone-DECREASES INFLAMMATION/salmeterol (Advair)-OPENS AIRWAYS
PHARMACOLOGIC CLASSIFICATION: CHOLINERGIC AGONISTS (MECHANISM OF ACTION: DIRECTLY
STIMULATES MUSCARINIC CHOLINERGIC RECEPTORS, MIMICKING ACETYLCHOLINE ACTION, INCREASING GI
TRACT TONE AND PERISTALSIS AND CONTRACTION OF THE DETRUSOR MUSCLE OF THE URINARY BLADDER),
THERAPEUTIC CLASSIFICATION: URINARY STIMULANTS, ADVERSE REACTIONS/SIDE EFFECTS: CNS:
HEADACHE, MALAISE, SEIZURES. CV: BRADYCARDIA, PROFOUND HYPOTENSION WITH REFLEXIVE
TACHYCARDIA, FLUSHING. EENT: LACRIMATION, MIOSIS. GI: ABDOMINAL CRAMPS, DIARRHEA, EXCESSIVE
SALIVATION, NAUSEA, BELCHING, BORBORYGMUS. GU: URINARY URGENCY. RESPIRATORY:
BRONCHOCONSTRICTION, ASTHMA ATTACK. SKIN: DIAPHORESIS. NURSING IMPLICATIONS: ADVERSE EFFECTS
ARE RARE WITH ORAL USE. MONITOR VITAL SIGNS FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY RESPIRATIONS. ALWAYS HAVE
ATROPINE INJECTION AVAILABLE, AND BE PREPARED TO GIVE 0.6 MG SUBCUT OR BY SLOW IV PUSH. PROVIDE RESPIRATORY SUPPORT, IF NEEDED. MONITOR PATIENT FOR ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION. WATCH CLOSELY
FOR ADVERSE REACTIONS THAT MAY INDICATE DRUG TOXICITY. PATIENT TEACHING: TELL PATIENT TO TAKE
DRUG ON AN EMPTY STOMACH AND AT REGULAR INTERVALS. INFORM PATIENT THAT DRUG IS USUALLY
EFFECTIVE 30 TO 90 MINUTES AFTER USE.
Bethanechol
PHARMACOLOGIC CLASSIFICATION: ANTIMUSCARINICS (MECHANISM OF ACTION: RELAXES
SMOOTH MUSCLE OF BLADDER BY ANTAGONIZING MUSCARINIC RECEPTORS, RELIEVING SYMPTOMS OF
OVERACTIVE BLADDER), THERAPEUTIC CLASSIFICATION: URINARY ANTISPASMODICS, ADVERSE
REACTIONS/SIDE EFFECTS: CNS: DIZZINESS, INSOMNIA, NERVOUSNESS, DROWSINESS, RESTLESSNESS,
HALLUCINATIONS, ASTHENIA, FEVER, HEADACHE, SOMNOLENCE, CONFUSION. CV: PALPITATIONS,
TACHYCARDIA, VASODILATION, PERIPHERAL EDEMA. EENT: MYDRIASIS, CYCLOPLEGIA, DECREASED
LACRIMATION, AMBLYOPIA, BLURRED VISION, DRY EYES. GI: CONSTIPATION, DIARRHEA, DRY MOUTH, NAUSEA,
VOMITING, DYSPEPSIA, DECREASED GI MOTILITY, ABDOMINAL PAIN. GU: URINARY HESITANCY, URINE
RETENTION, IMPOTENCE, UTI. SKIN: RASH, DECREASED DIAPHORESIS. OTHER: SUPPRESSION OF LACTATION.
NURSING IMPLICATIONS: DRUG MAY AGGRAVATE SYMPTOMS OF HYPERTHYROIDISM, CAD, HF, ARRHYTHMIAS,
TACHYCARDIA, HTN, OR PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA. OXYTROL FOR WOMEN HAS BEEN FDA-APPROVED AS AN
OTC PRODUCT. THE 3.9-MG/DAY PATCH SHOULD BE APPLIED TO THE SKIN EVERY 3 TO 4 DAYS. MONITOR
PATIENT FOR ANTICHOLINERGIC EFFECTS. IF CNS ANTICHOLINERGIC EFFECTS OCCUR, CONSIDER DOSAGE
REDUCTION OR DISCONTINUATION. LOOK ALIKE-SOUND ALIKE: DON’T CONFUSE DITROPAN WITH DETROL,
DIAZEPAM, DIPRIVAN, OR DITHRANOL. DON’T CONFUSE OXYBUTYNIN WITH OXYCONTIN, PATIENT TEACHING:
WARN PATIENT TO AVOID HAZARDOUS ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS OPERATING MACHINERY OR DRIVING, UNTIL CNS
EFFECTS OF DRUG ARE KNOWN. CAUTION PATIENT THAT USING DRUG DURING VERY HOT WEATHER MAY
CAUSE FEVER OR HEATSTROKE BECAUSE IT SUPPRESSES SWEATING. TELL PATIENT TO SWALLOW
EXTENDED-RELEASE TABLET WHOLE AND NOT TO CHEW OR CRUSH IT. INSTRUCT PATIENT TO MEASURE
SYRUP WITH A TEASPOON. INSTRUCT PATIENT USING TRANSDERMAL PATCH TO CHANGE PATCH TWICE A
WEEK (EVERY 3 TO 4 DAYS) AND TO CHOOSE A NEW APPLICATION SITE WITH EACH NEW PATCH TO AVOID THE
SAME SITE WITHIN 7 DAYS. WARN PATIENT TO ONLY WEAR ONE PATCH AT A TIME. TELL PATIENT TO DISPOSE
OF OLD PATCHES CAREFULLY IN THE TRASH IN A MANNER THAT PREVENTS ACCIDENTAL APPLICATION OR
INGESTION BY CHILDREN AND PETS. TELL PATIENT USING TRANSDERMAL PATCH TO KEEP PATCH IN SEALED
POUCH UNTIL IMMEDIATELY BEFORE APPLICATION, NOT TO EXPOSE PATCH TO SUNLIGHT, AND TO WEAR
PATCH UNDER CLOTHING. TELL PATIENT TO REMOVE PATCH BEFORE UNDERGOING AN MRI SCAN. ADVISE
PATIENT USING TOPICAL GEL TO ROTATE APPLICATION SITES. ADVISE PATIENT TO AVOID ALCOHOL WHILE
TAKING DRUG. TELL PATIENT THAT DRUG MAY CAUSE DRY MOUTH.
Oxybutynin
PHARMACOLOGIC CLASSIFICATION: ALPHA BLOCKERS (MECHANISM OF ACTION: SELECTIVELY
BLOCKS ALPHA RECEPTORS IN THE PROSTATE, LEADING TO RELAXATION OF SMOOTH MUSCLES IN THE
BLADDER NECK AND PROSTATE, IMPROVING URINE FLOW AND REDUCING SYMPTOMS OF BPH), THERAPEUTIC
CLASSIFICATION: BPH DRUGS, ADVERSE REACTIONS/SIDE EFFECTS: CNS: DIZZINESS, HEADACHE, ASTHENIA,
INSOMNIA, SOMNOLENCE, SYNCOPE, VERTIGO. CV: CHEST PAIN, ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION. EENT:
RHINITIS, AMBLYOPIA, PHARYNGITIS, SINUSITIS. GI: DIARRHEA, NAUSEA. GU: DECREASED LIBIDO, ABNORMAL
EJACULATION. MUSCULOSKELETAL: BACK PAIN. RESPIRATORY: INCREASED COUGH. OTHER: INFECTION,
TOOTH DISORDER, NURSING IMPLICATIONS: MONITOR PATIENT FOR DECREASES IN BP. SYMPTOMS OF BPH
AND PROSTATE CANCER ARE SIMILAR; RULE OUT PROSTATE CANCER BEFORE STARTING THERAPY. IF
TREATMENT IS INTERRUPTED FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR MORE, RESTART THERAPY AT THE 0.4-MG PO ONCEDAILY DOSE. RARE BUT SERIOUS PRIAPISM CAN OCCUR AND MUST BE TREATED URGENTLY. LOOK ALIKESOUND ALIKE: DON’T CONFUSE FLOMAX WITH FOSAMAX, FLONASE, OR FLOVENT., PATIENT TEACHING:
INSTRUCT PATIENT NOT TO CRUSH, CHEW, OR OPEN CAPSULES. ADVISE PATIENT THAT DRUG MAY CAUSE
SUDDEN DROP IN BP, ESPECIALLY AFTER FIRST DOSE OR WHEN CHANGING DOSES. TELL PATIENT TO RISE
SLOWLY FROM A CHAIR OR BED WHEN STARTING THERAPY AND TO AVOID SITUATIONS IN WHICH INJURY
COULD OCCUR AS A RESULT OF FAINTING. WARN PATIENT THAT RARELY, PRIAPISM CAN OCCUR AND TO
REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY. INSTRUCT PATIENT NOT TO DRIVE OR PERFORM HAZARDOUS TASKS FOR 12 HOURS
AFTER FIRST DOSE OR CHANGES IN DOSE UNTIL RESPONSE CAN BE MONITORED. TELL PATIENT TO TAKE DRUG ABOUT 30 MINUTES AFTER SAME MEAL EACH DAY. ADVISE PATIENT CONSIDERING CATARACT OR GLAUCOMA SURGERY TO INFORM THE OPHTHALMOLOGIST ABOUT TAKING DRUG.
Tamsulosin
