Pharm is AWESOME! Flashcards
Warfarin aka, and medication class
Aka Coumadin. Oral anticoagulant, specifically a Vitamin K antagonist.
Warfarin route
Route: usually oral
Warfarin use
Use: Reduces ability to clot. Used in patients with A Fib, history of thrombosis, artificial valves. Prevention of recurrent MI, transient ischemic attacks, pulmonary emboli, DVT.
Warfarin teaching
Teaching: Excessive Vitamin K rich foods should be avoided, but more importantly, Vitamin K foods (broccoli, spinach, liver) should be CONSISTENT –don’t add a lot or subtract a lot from usual diet. Monitor for signs of internal bleeding/vital signs.
what increases risk of bleeding on warfarin
Increased risk of bleeding (increased efficacy) when on warfarin: acetaminophen, NSAIDS, antibiotics, antifungals, amiodarone, cranberry juice, gingko biloba, vitamin E, omeprazole, thyroid hormine, SSRIS
What increases risk of clots on warfarin
Increased risk of clotting (decreased efficacy of warfarin): rifampin, carbamezapine, oral contraceptives, ginseng, st johns wort, vitamin K rich foods.
Warfarin monitor
Monitor: PT/INR, monitor for medication induce hepatitis –look at liver enzymes, signs of jaundice.
Warfarin overdose interventions
In overdose, D/C warfarin and administer Vitamin K. If bleeding not controlled by Vit K, administer fresh frozen plasma or whole blood.
Warfarin category
Category X –not safe in pregnancy. If anti-coagulation in pregnancy is needed, heparin can be used.
Warfarin therapeutic level time and range
Takes 3-5 days to reach therapeutic levels, can be taken indefinitely. Therapeutic INR is 2-3. Maybe up to 3.5 in heart valve disease. Level over 4 is concerning but not emergent.
Lithium medication class
Lithium carbonate is a mood stabilizer used in the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
Lithium therapeutic range
Lithium has a narrow therapeutic range 0.6 - 1.2 is generally considered therapeutic. 1.3 - 1.9 is no-mans land and maybe toxic or maybe fine. Over 2 is considered toxic.
Lithium toxicity warning signs
Early: Diarrhea, n/v, excessive thirst, polyuria, muscle weakness, fine hand tremor, slurred speech, lethargy.
Advanced: ongoing GI distress, mental confusion, poor coordination, coarse tremor, sedation
Sever: extreme polyuria of dilute urine, tinnitus, EPS, blurred vision, ataxia, seizure, severe hypotension –coma, respiratory failure, death.
Expected side effects of lithium and teaching
Some effects resolve within a few weeks.
Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain –take lithium with milk.
Fine hand tremors –can be made worse with caffeine and stress.
Polyuria and mild thirst. Important to maintain adequate fluid intake 2-3 L per day.
Maintain normal sodium intake.
Do NOT take with NSAIDs or anticholinergics.
Weight gain.
Renal toxicity, dose should be as low as can be effective. Renal function should be monitored periodically.
Goiter and hypothyroidism with long term treatment.
Bradydysrythmia, hypotension, electrolyte imbalance
Magnesium sulfate use in preeclampsia
Prophylactic for seizures
Magnesium toxicity signs
Nausea, flushing, headache, hypotension, abdominal pain, respiratory distress, absent or reduced deep tendon reflexes, hypocalcemia, somnolence, cardiac arrest, decreased urine output.
Magnesium sulfate therapeutic range
4-7
Intervention in magnesium toxicity
Stop mag, administer IV calcium gluconate bolus
Magensium contraindications
Not for use in pts with myasthenia gravis
Magnesium use in preterm labor
Tocolytic –mag sulfate is a CNS depressant and relaxes smooth muscle. It is a last-line drug for preterm labor as it has significant maternal side effects and incrases fetal mortality.
Thrombolytic vs Anti-thrombotics
Thrombolytics help dissolve existing clots by converting plasminogen to plasmin, which destroys fibrinogen and other clotting factors.
Anti-Thrombotics like antiplatelets and anticoagulants, affect the body’s ability to aggregate platelets or form clots.
Common thrombolytics
–plase suffix. Alteplase (aka tPA), tenecteplase, reteplase.
Therapeutic uses of thrombolytics
Treat:
acute MI (all)
Massive pulmonary emboli (alteplase only)
Acute ischemic stroke (alteplase only)
Restore patency to central lines (alteplase only)
Complications and monitoring of thrombolytics
Bleeding –both internal and superficial. Must monitor wounds, limit pokes, monitor vitals and signs of intracranial bleeding (change in LOC, weakness), monitor H&H, aPTT and PT.