-
PREDNISOLONE
(Delta-Coref, Flo-Pred Pred Forte, Prelone) : Corticosteroid
- Side Effects:
- Depression
- Nausea, diarrhea
- Hypertension
- Nursing Considerations:
- Treatment of severe inflammation, immunosuppression, neoplasms
- Take with food
- Black/tarry stools, slow wound healing, blurred vision, bruising/bleeding, weight gain, emotional changes
-
BECLOMETHASONE
(Beclovent, Beconase, Qvar) : Corticosteroid
- Side Effects:
- Oropharyngeal fungal infections
- Sore throat
- Nursing Considerations:
- Used in chronic asthma treatment, seasonal or perennial rhinitis.
-
HYDROMORPHONE
(Dilaudid) : Opioid Analgesic
- Side Effects:
- Dizziness/Drowsiness
- Constipation
- Nausea/vomiting
- Respiratory depression
- Impairment of mental and physical performance.
- Nursing Consideration:
- Used for relief of moderate to severe pain
- May be habit-forming
- Avoid alcohol during treatment
- Use with caution in patients with pulmonary considerations as it will reduce respiratory rate.
-
PHENYTOIN
(Dilantin) ; Anticonvulsant
- Side Effects:
- Drowsiness, ataxia
- Nystagmus/blurred vision
- GI upset
- Gingival hypertorphy
- Skin rash
- Decrease platlets and WBC's
- Nursing Considerations:
- Management of seizures, migraines, trigeminal neuraliga, Bells's palsy
- May cause increase in blood sugar
- What are the s/s of a decreased platlet and WBC's ?
- * Avoid abrupt withdrawal to prevent convulsions
- Teach good oral hygine
-
DIGOXIN
(Lanoxin) : Digitalis Glycoside
- Side Effects:
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Anorexia,Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea
- Hypotention/Dizziness
- Bradycardia
- Mental disturbances
- Visual disturbances: diplopia, blurred vision, yellow-greeh halos, and photophobia
- Nursing Considerations:
- Used in treatment of CHF, atrial fibrillation, flutter or tachycardia
- * Check apical pulse, if less than 60 beats per minute hold the med and contact clinician
- *Eat a sodium -restricted and potassium-rich (bananas, orange juice) diet to keep potassium level normal. Monitor potassium level as hypokalemia can cause digoxin toxicity.
-
ENOXAPARIN
(Lovenox) : Anticoagulant
- Side Effects:
- Can produce hemorrhage from any body site.
- Anemia
- Thrombocytopenia (low platetet count)
- Pain at injection site
- Nursing Considerations:
- Prevents thromboembolism. The therapeuic dose does not dissolve clots but prevents new thrombus formation.
- Administer by subcutaneous injection only in abdominal wall; do not expel the air bubble from the prefilled syringe or aspirate during injection.
- * Monitor the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and platelet count.
- * Observe for bleeding gums, bruises, epitaxis, hematuria, hematemesis, occult blood in stool and petechiae.
- Avoid ASA-containing products and NSAIDs
- * The antidote is protamine sulfate.
-
ONDANSETRON
(Zofran) : Antiemetic
- Side Effects:
- Headache
- Dizziness/Drowsiness
- Constipation, Diarrhea, Abdominal pain
- Nursing Considerations:
- Prevents nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Also prevention and treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
- * Assess patient for N/V abdominal distention and bowel sounds prior to and following administration.
-
AMOXICILLIN, AMPICILLIN, PENICILLIN
(Bicillin, DisperMox, Larotid, Moxatag, omnipen, Wycillin) : Anti-infective - Penicillin
- Side Effects:
- Allergic reactions: fever, difficulty breathing, skin rash
- Nausea/Vomiting/Diarrhea. Abdominal cramps, severe watery diarrhea as a result of superinfection (altered bacterial balance in bowel)
- Nursing Considerations:
- Used tor treatment of respiratory infections, otitis media,pneumonia, skin and soft tissue infections, gonorrhea.
- *After IM injection, observe for 20 minutes for reaction.
- * Continue medication for entire time prescribed, even if symptoms resolve
- * Monitor for superinfections such as severe diarrhea.
-
INSULIN, REGULAR
(Humulin R) : Short acting Insulin
- Side Effects:
- Hypoglycemia
- Lipodysrophy
- Hypokalemia
- Nursing Considerations:
- Management of diabetic coma, diabetic acidosis or other emergency conditions.
- Only insulin that can be given IV
- * Regular insulin peaks in 2 to 4 hours after injection. During peak action is when hypoglycemic reactions are most likely to occur.
- *Do not rub after subQ injection
- * Monitor blood sugar
-
LORAZEPAM
(Ativan) : Antianxiety - Benzodiazepine
- Side effects:
- Dizziness/Drowsiness/Poss. Disorientation
- Orthostatic hypotension
- Visual disturbance/Blurred vision
- Nursing Considerations:
- Treatment of anxiety, irritability in psychiatric or organic disorders; treatment of insomnia, adjunct in endoscopic procedures, preoperative medication.
- *Monitor for agitation, trembling, visual disturbance (worsen glaucoma).
- * Initate safety precautions eg side rails due to possible confusion or orthostatic hypotension and risk for falling
- *Avoid alcohol
- *Dont stop the medication abruptly as this can result in seizures
-
GLYBURIDE
(DiaBeta) : Oral Hypoglycemic Agent - Sulfonylurea
- Side effects:
- GI disturbances (most common side effect) inc. decreased appitite, nausea and diarrhea.
- Headache
- Nursing Considerations:
- Management of type 2 diabetes mellitus by stimulating beta cells to produce more insulin.
- *Monitor blood glucose levels/ have a quick source of sugar in case blood glucose drops too much
- *Take at breakfact (better with a meal d/t GI disturbances.
- *Dont drink alcohol
- *Insulin may be needed during stress, surgery or infection
-
ALBUTEROL
(Proventil HFA) : Bronchodilator - Adrenergic
- Side Effects:
- Palpitations and tachycardia
- Dysrhythmias
- Restlessness, nervousness, and tremors
- Ankorexia, nausea, and vomiting
- Headaches and dizziness
- Hyperglycemia
- Nursing Considerations:
- Used to control and prevent reversible airway obsturction caused by asthma or COPD.
- * The inhalant is used as a quick relief for acute bronchospasm.The PO med is used as a long term control agent.
- * Assess lung sounds, pulse, and BP before administration. Note amount color and character of sputum
- *Provide adequate hydration: avoid caffeinated products'
-
FAMOTIDINE
(Pepcid) : Histamine 2 (H2)- Receptor Antagonist
- Side Effects:
- Diarrhea
- Muscle Pain
- Rash
- Nursing Considerations:
- Reduces secretion of gastric acid and promotes healing of ulcers. Alleviates symptoms of heartburn
- *Do not need to be administered with food. Food may reduce absorbtion rate.
-
PROMETHAZINE
(Phenegran) : Antiemetic - Antihistamine
- Side Effects:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Constipation/Urinary retention
- Dry mouth
- Nursing Considerations:
- Prevent and treat nausea.
- Decreases sensitivity of vestibular apparatus of inner ear.
- Suppress vomiting center.
- * Use cautiously with asthma, glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy.
- *Drowsiness and confusion, especially if given withother CNS depressants.
-
ACETAMINOPHEN
(Tylenol) Nonopioid Analgesic
- Side Effects:
- Liver and kidney failure
- Rash
- N/V
- Nursing Considerations:
- Used to decrease mild pain and fever.
- *Contraindicated in liver or renal disease, alcoholism
- *Self-medication should not be used longer than 10 days for an adult. Should not exceed 4Gm daily.
- * Signs of chronic overdose: bleeding, brusing, malaise, fever, sore throat, anorexia, jauncice
- *Antidote is acetylcysteine (Mucomyst).
|
|
