Prescription Flashcards
Adrenergics
Desired Effects: Cause vasoconstriction (i.e, narrowing of the lumen of a blood vessel); dilate pupils and bronchioles; relax muscles of the GI and urinary tracts
Examples:
Adrenergic used to treat hypotension: Isoproterenol (isuprel); Norepinephrine (levophed)
Adrenergic used for nasal and ophthalmic decongestion: Naphazoline (Nophcon); Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine); Pseudoephedrine (Sudafed); Tetrahydrozoline (Visine)
Indications for Use: Stop superficial bleeding; raise and sustain BP; relieve nasal congestion and relieve redness, burning, irritation and dryness of the eyes
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Chest pain, tachycardia, headache, increased blood glucose levels, nervousness and tremors
Adrenergic Blockers
Desired Effects: Cause Vasodilation; reduce BP; increase muscle tone of GI walls
Examples: Valsartan (Diovan); Propranolol (Inderal); atenolol (tenormin); carvedilol (Coreg); tamsulosin (flomax); metoprolol (Lopressor)
Indications for Use: Control hypertension and peripheral vascular disease; treat prostatic hyperplasia
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Confusion, lowering of BP, lowering of blood glucose levels, fatigue, reduced heart rate
Analgesics
Desired Effects: Reduce the sensory function of the brain; block pain receptors
Examples:
Nonnarcotic OTCs: Aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol); ibuprofen (Advil,Motrin)
Narcotic: Hydrocodone W/ APAP (Tylenol with codeine); Oxycodone (oxycontin); Meperidine (Demerol); hydrocodone (Vicodin)
Indications for Use: Relieve pain
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions:
Nonnarcotic: GI disorders, liver and kidney disorders,Tinnitus
Narcotic: Suppression of vital signs, agitation, blurred vision, confusion, constipation, over sedation, restlessness
Anesthetics
Desired Effects: Produce insensibility to pain or the sensation of pain; block nerve impulses to the brain, resulting in unconsciousness; dilate pupils; lower BP; reduce respiratory and pulse rates
Examples:
Local: Benzocaine (dermoplast, solarcaine); lidocaine (xylocaine); bupivacaine (Morcaine); lidocaine topical (lidoderm); procaine (novocain)
General: Midazolam (versed)
Indications for Use: Produce local anesthesia (absence of sensations without loss of consciousness) or general anesthesia (loss of consciousness)
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Hypotension, cardiopulmonary depression, sedation, nausea, vomiting, headaches
Antacids/ Proton-Pump Inhibitors
Desired Effect: Reduce acidity in the stomach
Examples: Omeprazole (Prilosec); esomeprazole (Nexium); rabeprazole (aciphex); Iansoprazole (prevacid); pantoprazole (protonix0
OTCs: magaldrate (riopan); calcium carbonate (maalox)
Indications for Use: Treat gastric hyperacidity; treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Constipation, diarrhea, electrolyte imbalance, flatulence, kidney stones, osteoporosis
Anti-anxiety Agents
Desired Effects: reduce anxiety and tension
Examples: Chlordiazepoxide (Librium); clonazepam ( Klonopin); chlorazepate (tranxene); diazepam (Valium); alprazolam (xanax); temazepam (rcrestoril); triazolam (Halcion)
Indications for Use: Produce calmness and release muscle tension; sedation
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Agitation, amnesia, bizarre behaviors, confusion, reduced WBC count, depression, lethary, over sedation, tremors, photosensitivity
Antibiotics
Desired Effects: Kill or inhibit growth of microorganisms
Examples: Azithromycin (zithromax); levofloxacin (levaquin); cefaclor (ceclor); tetracycline ( Sumycin); amoxicillin (amoxil); amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (augmentin); cefadroxil (duricef); ciprofloxacin (Reflex); doxycycline (vibramycin)
Indications for Use: Treat bacterial invasions and infections
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Hypersensitivity reaction, nausea, diarrhea, GI distress, light sensitivity, urticaria
Anticholinergics
Desired Effects: Parasympathetic blocking agents; reduce spasms in smooth muscles
Examples: Scopolamine or atropine sulfate; tiotropium inhalation ( Spiriva); dicyclomine (bentyl); ipratropium (atrovent)
Indications for Use: Dry secretions, before surgery; prevent brinchospasm
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: increased bleeding ; blood irregularities; GI, liver and kidney disease
Anticonvulsants
Desired Effects: prevent seizures; reduce excessive stimulation of the brain
Examples: Clonazepam (klonopin); gabapentin (Neurontin); phenytoin (dilantin); phenobarbitral; carbamazepine (tegretol); lamotrigine (lamictal); pregabalin (Lyrica); topiramate (topamax; valproic acid (depakene)
Indications for Use: Treat epilepsy on other neurologic disorders (e.g, peripheral neuropathy)
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Sedation, vertigo, visual disturbances, GI disturbances, liver problems
Antidepressants
Desired Effects: Treat depression
Examples: Venlafaxine hydrochloride ( Effexor); sertraline (Zoloft); escitalopram (lexapro); duloxetine (Cymbalta); bupropion (Wellbutrin); trazodone HCI (desyrel); fluoxetine (prozac); imipramine pamoate ( tofranil); amitriptyline (elavil); citalopram
Indications for Use: Elevate mood; treat other neurologic disorders (e.g., migraines)
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Anorexia, Anxiety, Sexual Dysfunction, fatigue, drowsiness, vertigo, weight gain, confusion, blurred vision
Antiemetics
Desired Effect: act on hypothalamic center in the brain to reduce or prevent nausea and vomiting
Examples: Prochlorperazine (compazine); trimethobenzamide (Tigan); metoclopramide (reglan); granisetron ( kytril); ondansetron (zofram); promethazine (phenergan)
Indications for Use: Prevent and relieve nausea and vomiting; manage motion sickness
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Dry mouth, sedation, drowsiness, diarrhea, blurred vision
Antifungals
Desired Effects: Slow or retard multiplication of fungi
Examples: miconazole (monistat); nystatin (myocostatin); fluconazole (diflucan); ketoconazole (nizoral); terbinafine (Lamisil)
Indications for Use: Treat systemic or local fungal infections
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Anemia, chills, hypotension, vertigo, fever, kidney and liver damage, malaise, photophobia, muscle and joint pain
Antihistamines
Desired Effects: counteract the effects of histamine by blocking action in tissues; may be used to inhibit gastric secretions
Examples: Cetirizine (Zyrtec); fexofenadine (allegra); loratadine (Claritin, Alavert); chlorpheniramine (chlor-trimeton); diphenhydramine ( Benadryl); promethazine (phenergan); cimetidine (Tagamet); ranitide (Zantac)
Indications for Use: Relieve allergies; prevent gastric ulcers
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: CNS depression, muscle weakness, epigastric distress, dry mouth
Antihypertensive Agents
Desired Effects: Block nerve impulses that cause arteries to constrict; slow the heart rate, reducing its contractility; restrict the hormone aldosterone in the blood
Examples: Amlodipine (Norvasc); atenolol (tenormin) ; doxazosin (mesylate (candura); metoprolol (lopressor or toprol); methyldopa (aldromet); valsartan (diovan); amlodipine plus benazepril (lotrel);propranolol (inderal); diltiazem (cardizem); nifedipine (Procardia); benzapril (lotensin); lisinopril (prinivil, zestril); losartan (cozaar)
Indications for Use: Reduce and control blood pressure
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: Headache, vertigo, GI disturbances, rash, hypotension, nonproductive cough
Anti-Inflammatory Agents
Desired Effects: Reduce inflammation
Examples:
Nonstreriodal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS): Ibuprofen (Advil,motrin); naproxen (naprosyn); celecoxib (Celebrex); indomethacin (indocin)
Steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (SAIDs): dexamethasone (decadron); prednisone (cortisone); methylprednisolone (medrol, depo-medrol); montelukast sodium (Singulair); fluticasone propionate (Flonase); mometasone (Nasonex)
Inhalers: flunisolide (aerobid); triamcinolone (azmacort)
Indications for Use: Treat arthritis and other inflammatory disorders, including asthma and allergic arthritis
Side Effects and Adverse Reactions: GI upset, GI bleeding, hepatitis, drowsiness, tinnitus, irregular heart rate, kidney disorders
