Top 200 Drugs Key Patient Counseling Points

Question 1

Key patient counseling points for atorvastatin

Answer 1

Avoid excessive alcohol, grapefruit, and grapefruit juice
Atorvastatin does not take the place of lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) to lower cholesterol levels
Notify HCP if unexplained muscle tenderness or weakness occurs.
may increase blood sugar

Question 2

Key patient counseling points for dapagliflozin

Answer 2

Take before the first meal of the day to help reduce post-meal hyperglycemia
Be aware of symptoms of dehydration (dizziness, low BP, decreased urination), and urinary tract infections and report to HCP.
can increase urination so take in the morning

Question 3

Key patient counseling points for dulaglutide

Answer 3

SQ injection into upper arm, thigh, or abdomen, rotating injection sites
Administer weekly on the same day with or without food, can change administration day as long as 3 days have passed
Separate from insulin injections
Keep refrigerated, stable at room temp for 14 days
Be aware of symptoms of thyroid cancer (lump in neck, trouble breathing or swallowing) and kidney problems (decreased urination, blood in urine) and report to HCP.

Question 4

Key patient counseling points for empagliflozin

Answer 4

Take before the first meal of the day to help reduce post-meal hyperglycemia
Be aware of symptoms of dehydration (dizziness, low BP, decreased urination), and urinary tract infections and report to HCP.
can increase urination so take in the morning

Question 5

Key patient counseling points for ezetimibe

Answer 5

Take with or without food and may be taken at the same time as a concurrent statin. In patients receiving a bile acid sequestrant concurrently, ezetimibe should be taken at least 2 h before or 4 h after the bile acid sequestrant is taken.

Question 6

Key patient counseling points for fenofibrate

Answer 6

Fenoglide tablets and Lipofen R capsules should be given with food; others can be taken without food. Take 1 h before or 4-6 h after a bile acid binding resin. Products are not interchangeable. Do not use if you have severe kidney disease or liver disease.

Question 7

Key patient counseling points of gemfibrozil

Answer 7

Take 30 min before breakfast and dinner. Instruct patient to report signs/symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes), or renal failure.

Question 8

Key patient counseling points of liraglutide

Answer 8

Monitor blood glucose periodically (typically daily, more frequently if administered with sulfonylurea or insulin). If <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber. Administer in upper arm, thigh, or abdomen. Change needle for each injection; do not share pens, even if needle is changed. If also using insulin, administer with separate injection in a nonadjacent area. Can be injected without regard to meals.

Question 9

Key patient counseling points of glimepiride

Answer 9

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times per d); if <70 mg/dL, eat candy or sugar and contact HCP, Take with food or milk in the morning, Use a sunscreen and avoid sunlamps and tanning beds. Do not drink alcohol; may cause a disulfiram reaction.

Question 10

Key patient counseling points for glipizide

Answer 10

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times per d); if <70 mg/dL, eat candy or sugar and contact HCP.
Use a sunscreen and avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
Do not drink alcohol; may cause a disulfiram reaction.
Take 30 min before morning meal.
Do not chew or crush extended-release formulation.

Question 11

Key patient counseling points for insulin aspart

Answer 11

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d); if <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber.
Store unopened vials in refrigerator.
Keep open vials at room temperature if it is painful to inject cold insulin.
Dispose needles in sharps container.
Do not share needles (risk of transmission of infectious diseases).
Rotate injection sites.

Question 12

Key patient counseling points for insulin degludec

Answer 12

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d); if <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber.
Store unopened vials in refrigerator.
Keep open vials at room temperature if it is painful to inject cold insulin.
Dispose needles in sharps container.
Do not share needles (risk of transmission of infectious diseases).
Rotate injection sites.

Question 13

Key patient counseling points for insulin glargine

Answer 13

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d); if <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber.
Store unopened vials in refrigerator.
Keep open vials at room temperature if it is painful to inject cold insulin.
Dispose needles in sharps container.
Do not share needles (risk of transmission of infectious diseases).
Rotate injection sites.

Question 14

Key patient counseling points of insulin human

Answer 14

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d); if <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber.
Store unopened vials in refrigerator.
Keep open vials at room temperature if it is painful to inject cold insulin.
Dispose needles in sharps container.
Do not share needles (risk of transmission of infectious diseases).
Rotate injection sites.

Question 15

Key patient counseling points for insulin lispro

Answer 15

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d); if <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber.
Store unopened vials in refrigerator.
Keep open vials at room temperature if it is painful to inject cold insulin.
Dispose needles in sharps container.
Do not share needles (risk of transmission of infectious diseases).
Rotate injection sites.

Question 16

Key patient counseling points of insulin isophane human

Answer 16

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d); if <70 mg/dL, eat non–sugar-free candy, glucose tablets, or drink a glass of juice and contact prescriber.
Store unopened vials in refrigerator.
Keep open vials at room temperature if it is painful to inject cold insulin.
Dispose needles in sharps container.
Do not share needles (risk of transmission of infectious diseases).
Rotate injection sites.

Question 17

Key patient counseling points for lovastatin

Answer 17

Immediate-release tablets should be taken with the evening meal. Extended-release tablets should be taken at bedtime.
Swallow extended-release tablets whole; do not chew, crush, or cut. Avoid alcohol, grapefruit, and grapefruit juice.
Report signs/symptoms of rhabdomyolysis, jaundice (yellowing of skin or eyes), or renal failure.

Question 18

Key patient counseling points for metformin

Answer 18

Take with meals, helps avoid GI side effects
Drink plenty of liquids to improve elimination of metformin.
Avoid alcohol; this increases the risk of lactic acidosis.
Watch for B12 deficiency

Question 19

Key patient counseling points for metformin/sitagliptin

Answer 19

Can cause lactic acidosis, pancreatitis; side effects include hypoglycemia, kidney problems, joint pain

Question 20

Key patient counseling points for pioglitazone

Answer 20

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times per d). May take without regard to food.
May require several weeks for maximum effect.
Seek care for bone pain, yellowing of skin or eyes, eye pain, or shortness of breath.

Question 21

Key patient counseling points for pravastatin

Answer 21

Take in the evening.
Avoid concurrent heavy alcohol use.
Pravastatin does not take the place of diet and exercise to lower cholesterol levels.
(drug-drug interactions with CYP inhibitors/inducers)
monitor for muscle pain/weakness

Question 22

Key patient counseling points for rosuvastatin

Answer 22

Do not drink alcohol.
Rosuvastatin does not take the place of diet and exercise to lower cholesterol levels.
May be taken without regard for food.
monitor for muscle pain/weakness

Question 23

Key patient counseling points for semaglutide

Answer 23

Can cause thyroid tumors; side effects may include pancreatitis, changes in vision, hypoglycemia, kidney problems
all the usual injection site stuff

Question 24

Key patient counseling points for simvastatin

Answer 24

Avoid excessive alcohol.
There are multiple significant drug-drug interactions with simvastatin. Consult a HCP prior to starting any new medications, including OTC and herbal drugs.
Simvastatin does not take the place of lifestyle changes (diet, exercise) to lower cholesterol levels.
monitor for muscle weakness

Question 25

Key patient counseling points for sitagliptin

Answer 25

Monitor blood glucose in frequent intervals (2-4 times/d). Take with morning meal if once-daily dosing.
Take with morning and evening meal if twice-a-day dosing. When used in combination with insulin or sulfonylureas, risk of hypoglycemia may be increased.