Medications Flashcards
Interferon (Antiviral)
Use:
- Interferes with mood and blood counts
- Treats Hepatitis B and C
- Treats some cancers by stimulating immune system and slowing cancer cells
- treats MS using Interferon Beta
Nursing Considerations:
- Watch for hepatotoxicity
- Assess for suicidal ideation
- Can cause bone marrow suppressiomn —-> fracture
- Monitor CBC
Corticosteroids
Uses:
- Reduces Inflammation
- Treats MS
- Prevents steroid-induced adrenal insufficiency
Nursing Considerations:
- Can cause hyperglycemia
- Weight gain
- Infection risk
- Osteoporosis
- Taper dose slowly
- Monitor BP and blood glucose
- Avoid exposure to infection
Cefdinir (Omnicef) = cephalosporin antibiotic
Uses:
- treats bacterial infections (respiratory and skin)
Nursing Considerations:
- Can cause diarrhea, rash, and C. diff
- Assess for penicillin allergy
- Monitor for resistance
- Educate patient on taking full medication regimen
Phenazopyridine (Pyridium)
Uses:
- Used as a urinary analgesic for UTI
Nursing Considerations:
- Causes urine to be orange/red
- Can cause GI upset
- Only for symptom relief (not antibiotic)
- Do not wear contacts while using because they can stain orange
- Keep patient out of direct sunlight
Magnesium Sulfate
Uses:
- Electrolyte replacement or anticonvulsant
- Treats hypermagnesemia
- Used as seizure prophylaxis
- Treats preeclamposia
- Helps treat Torsades de Pointes (hearts lower chambers beat faster than upper chambers)
Nursing Considerations:
- Respiratory Depression (monitor rate and O2 sat)
- Monitor BP for hypotension
- Monitor deep tendon reflexes
** Antidote = Calcium Gluconate (for hypermagenesemia)
Bismuth Salts (Pepto-Bismol)
Uses:
- Part of quadruple therapy to suppress and eradicate H. pylori
- Treats peptic ulcers
- Coats Stomach lining
- Used with PPI and either Metronidazole or tetracycline
Nursing Considerations:
- Can cause hypomagnesemia or fractures
- Take before meals
- Not intended for long-term use
Antacids (Bicarbonate)
Uses:
- Raises pH in stomach, neutralizing gastric acid
- Used to manage chronic gastritis
- Relieves heart burn and GERD symptoms
Nursing Considerations:
- Causes constipation (aluminum and Ca+ based)
- Causes diarrhea (magnesium based)
- Electrolyte imbalance with long-term use
- Give 2 hours before or after other medications (affects absorption)
Lorazepam (Ativan) = Benzodiazepine
Uses:
- Enhances the effects of GABA —> CNS depression
- Treats anxiety, status epilepticus, and insomnia
- Used for preoperative sedation
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for dizziness and respiratory depression
- Continuously assess sedation level
- Taper slowly of does is discontinued
- Avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants while taking
- Fall risk in elderly
- Risk of dependence/tolerance (use short-term)
Diazepam (Valium) = Benzodiazepine
Uses:
- Treats anxiety, status epilepticus, and insomnia
- Used for conscious sedation
- Improves motor function in MS
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for dizziness and respiratory depression
- Continuously assess sedation level
- Taper slowly of does is discontinued
- Avoid alcohol and other CNS depressants while taking
- Fall risk in elderly
- Risk of dependence/tolerance (use short-term)
Phenytoin (Dilantin) = Hydantoin drug class
Uses:
- Treats tonic-clonic and complex partial seizures
Nursing Considerations:
- Assess for swollen and tender gums (gingival hyperplasia)
- Assess for signs of cardiac arrest
- Assess for signs of suicidal ideation
- Assess for skin rash common in those with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome
- Monitor serum drug levels
- Administer slowly @ 50mg/min via IV push
Carbidopa/Levodopa (Sinemet)
Uses:
- Dopamine replacement that treats Parkinson’s Disease
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for orthostatic hypotension
- Monitor for GI symptoms of: hepatotoxicity, hemorrhage, ischemia, obstruction, perforation, and peritonitis
- Avoid high protein meals and multivitamins
- Educate on dark urine or sweat
Monitor for dyskinesia
- Be aware of on-off syndrome (sudden immobility)
Valproate (Valproic Acid)
Uses:
- Treats simple and complex absent seizures and partial seizures
- Treats manic episodes from BPD
- Treats migraines
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor liver enzymes, amylase, and lipase
- Avoid in pregnancy
- Watch for hyperammonemia
- Taper if discontinued (abrupt withdrawal —> status epilepticus
Phenobarbital (Luminal) = short-acting Barbituate
Uses:
- Treats insomnia
- Treats status epilepticus if initial treatment fails
- For preop sedation
- Induced coma for cerebral ischemia and ICP
- Treats normal seizures
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for respiratory depression
- Monitor for CNS depression
- Avoid alcohol
- Taper dose gradually
Calcium Acetate (PhosLo)
Uses:
- Treats hyperphosphatemia by allowing calcium to bind (treats CKD)
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for hypercalcemia (low phos), constipation, and nausea
- Give with food; best with 1st bite
- Monitor serum phosphorous and calcium levels
Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate (Kayexalate)
Uses:
- Treats hyperkalemia
Nursing Considerations:
- Watch for constipation, hypokalemia, and fluid overload
- Monitor lung sounds for crackles and rales
- Physical assessment of JVD and peripheral edema
- Ensure bowel function before use
- Low potassium diet
Erythropoietin (Epogen)
Uses:
- Treats anemia in CKD, anemia caused by HIV therapy, and anemia from chemo (stimulates RBC production)
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor BP for hypertension
- Monitor for thromboembolism
- Monitor for headache
- High iron diet or iron supplement
- Monitor hemoglobin levels
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim DS)
Uses:
- 1st line agent for mild to moderate IBD, UTI, shigella’s, MRSA, and respiratory infections
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for sulfa allergy, Steven’s-Johnson Syndrome, rash, nausea, headache, diarrhea
- Monitor for hyperkalemia
- Get culture before administration
- Educate on taking full drug regimen
Allopurinol
Uses:
- lowers uric acid production
- Treats gout and uric acid stones
- Prevents Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS)
Nursing Considerations:
- Rash = RED FLAG!
- Increase fluids to prevent kidney stones
- Monitor uric acid levels and kidney/liver function
Furosemide (Lasix)
Uses:
- Treats edema, hypertension, and heart failure
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor electrolytes closely
- Monitor input and output
- Monitor BP regularly
- Ototoxicity may occur if given too fast
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Uses:
- Eradicates H. pylori when used with bismuth salts and a PPI (quadruple therapy)
- Treats peptic ulcers, anaerobic infections, giardiasis, C. diff associated diarrhea, and trichomaniasis (STI)
Nursing Considerations:
- Metallic taste in mouth is a normal side effect
- Notify provider if rash, furry tongue, genital itching, or diarrhea are present
- No alcohol while using
- Monitor liver function
- May also be used with another antibiotic like amoxicillin or clarithromycin and a PPI (Triple therapy)
Clarithromycin (Biaxin)
Uses:
- Treats H. pylori in triple therapy
- Treats respiratory infection
Nursing Considerations:
- Causes QT prolongation, GI upset, and metallic taste
- With prolonged use, monitor ECG
- Take with food
- Report blood in stool!
Famotadine (Pepcid) = H2 Receptor Antagonist
Uses:
- Inhibits gastric acid production
- Treats chronic gastritis
- Treats GERD symptoms
- Promotes ulcer healing
Nursing Considerations:
- Monitor for arrythmias, headaches, dizziness, and confusion
- Monitor for GI bleeding
- Take with food
- Has a proloned half-life in patients with renal insufficiency
- Considered best choice for critically ill patients due to least risk of drug interactions and no alterations in liver metabolism
Omeprazole and Lansoprazole = PPI
Uses:
- Reduces gastric acid secretions
- Treats GERD with or without esophageal erosion
- Treats duodenal ulcers (H. pylori)
- Treats upper GI bleeds
- Treats hypersecretory conditions
Nursing Considerations:
- Patients with Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES) may have hypersecretion of gastrin controlled with PPI
- Give on an empty stomach 1 hour before other meds
- Monitor for digestive problems with food and meds
- Lansoprazole must be given through a special filter
