Patient Education Flashcards
What is Furosemide and its use
It’s a diuretic (water pill) known to increase urine production to get rid of excess fluids and salts. Used to treat high blood pressure, fluid build up in the body and heart failure
What is co-amilofruse
Diuretic
What’s spironolactone (lasilactone)
Diuretic
What’s frusene
Diuretic
When is furosemide taken + why
OM so as to not disturb patients sleep
How long does furosemide take to work
Within an hour (most patients will need to pee after 30 mins and then again after a few hours) for it to take FULL effect and start helping your condition it can take a few weeks
Is furosemide with or without food
Either as it doesn’t upset the stomach
Can I take furosemide after 4 pm
Not advised as it may wake u up on the night to go pee
What’s Gabapentin and its use
Used for nerve pain (caused by diabetes, shingles or injury) and epilepsy (reduces abnormal activity
How Is Gabapentin taken
TDS
Gabapentin with or without food
Either is okay
How long does Gabapentin take to work
A few weeks to take effect so don’t be discouraged and stop taking it if you don’t immediately feel a difference
How long will I have to take the Gabapentin
For epilepsy many years and potentially lifelong to prevent seizures but this will be regularly reviewed by your doctor
For nerve pain it will need to be taken until pain resides and and several months after to prevent it from reoccurring
What’s allopurinol + use
Medicine used to lower uric acid levels in your blood (uric acid = waste product when your body breaks down purines) the uric acid can build up and form tiny sharp crystals to form AROUND ur joints which causes the swollen painful symptoms of gout. Used to treat gout symptoms (gout = inflammation caused by build up of uric acid)
I don’t have gout why am I taking allopurinol
If you have cancer you may also be given allopurinol as cancer treatments can cause build up of uric acid
How long does it take for allopurinol to work
Several months to feel full effect and therefore your doctor may have prescribed you some ibuprofen or colchicine to relieve the symptoms until the allopurinol takes effect
Lifestyle advice for those on allopurinol
Reduce alcohol levels as this can increase uric acid levels in the blood therefore making the gout worse
Why do I have to wait before taking allopurinol
It is usually started AFTER an acute gout attack has completely settled otherwise it may potentially worsen or prolong the attack
Allopurinol with or without food
Ideally after food same time each day
Can I take Gabapentin whenever
Ideally the same time each day, they’re all same time each day bc even furosemide should be every morning
How long will I have to take allopurinol
Lifelong usually - it should not be stopped abruptly as this may worsen the gout or cause serious side effects
How long will I need to take furosemide
It is taken long term, potentially lifelong but this will be reviewed by your doctor
