MedMaster by NURSING.com

MedMaster by NURSING.com

By Jon Haws, RN CCRN AlumnusMedicineHealth & FitnessEducation
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MedMaster by NURSING.com episodes

  • Atropine (Atropen)
    Visit: https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds" Generic Name

    Atropine

    Trade Name

    Atropen

    Indication

    Decreases oral and respiratory secretions, treats sinus bradycardia and heart block, treatment of bronchospasm

    Action

    Atropine is an anticholinergic which means that it inhibits the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system, specifically acetylcholine. This inhibition causes increase in HR, bronchodilation, decreased GI and respiratory secretions.

    Therapeutic Class

    Antiarrhythmic

    Pharmacologic Class

    Anticholinergic, antimuscarinic

    Nursing Considerations

    • Avoid in acute hemorrhage, tachycardia, and angle closure glaucoma • Monitor patient for tachycardia and palpitations • May cause urinary retention in elderly patients • Patients may experience constipation due to slowed GI motility

    6 min
  • Atenolol (Tenormin)
    Visit: https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds" Generic Name

    Amlodipine

    Trade Name

    Norvasc

    Indication

    Hypertension, angina

    Action

    Blocks transport of calcium into muscle cells inhibiting excitation and contraction

    Therapeutic Class

    Antihypertensive

    Pharmacologic Class

    Ca channel blocker

    Nursing Considerations

    • May cause gingival hyperplasia • Grapefruit juice may increase drug level • Monitor blood pressure and pulse prior to and during therapy • Monitor intake and output • Assess for signs of CHF • Assess characteristics of angina • Instruct patient of interventions for hypertension and how to take blood pressure

    5 min
  • Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
    Visit: https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds" Generic Name

    amoxicillin

    Trade Name

    Moxatag

    Indication

    skin infections, respiratory infections, sinusitis, endocarditis prophylaxis, lyme disease

    Action

    Inhibits synthesis of bacterial cell wall leading to cell death.

    Therapeutic Class

    anti-infectives, antiulcer agent

    Pharmacologic Class

    aminopenicillins

    Nursing Considerations

    • contraindicated with penicillin allergy • may cause seizures • assess for rash, anaphylaxis • excreted by kidneys – monitor renal labs • monitor patient for diarrhea – bloody stool should be reported immediately

    4 min
  • ASA (Aspirin)

    Visit https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds"

    Generic Name

    Acetylsalicylic Acid

    Trade Name

    Aspirin

    Indication

    Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, ischemic stroke, and MI prophylaxis

    Action

    Inhibits the production of prostaglandins which leads to a reduction of fever and inflammation, decreases platelet aggregation leading to a decrease in ischemic diseases

    Therapeutic Class

    Antipyretics, non-opioid analgesics

    Pharmacologic Class

    Salicylates

    Nursing Considerations

    • Use caution in bleeding disorders, chronic alcohol use • May lead to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, laryngeal edema, and anaphylaxis • Increases risk for bleeding with warfarin, heparin, and clopidogrel • Increased risk for GI bleeding with NSAID use • Monitor liver function tests • Concurrent use with alcohol may increase risk for GI bleeding • Aspirin with viral infections can cause Reye's syndrome

    5 min
  • Amlodipine (Norvasc)

    Visit https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds"

    Generic Name

    Amlodipine

    Trade Name

    Norvasc

    Indication

    Hypertension, angina

    Action

    Blocks transport of calcium into muscle cells inhibiting excitation and contraction

    Therapeutic Class

    Antihypertensive

    Pharmacologic Class

    Ca channel blocker

    Nursing Considerations

    • May cause gingival hyperplasia • Grapefruit juice may increase drug level • Monitor blood pressure and pulse prior to and during therapy • Monitor intake and output • Assess for signs of CHF • Assess characteristics of angina • Instruct patient of interventions for hypertension and how to take blood pressure

    4 min
  • Ampicillin (Omnipen)

    Visit https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds"

    Ampicillin

    Trade Name

    Principen

    Indication

    Skin infections, soft tissue infections, otitis media, sinusitis, respiratory infections, GU infections, meningitis, septicemia

    Action

    Bactericidal, broader spectrum than penicillin, binds to cell wall leading to bacterial cell death

    Therapeutic Class

    Anti-infective

    Pharmacologic Class

    Aminopenicillin

    Nursing Considerations

    • Contraindicated in penicillin allergy, use caution in renal insufficiency • May lead to seizures, diarrhea, anaphylaxis, superinfection • Assess for infection • Monitor liver function tests • Instruct patient on signs of superinfection: furry overgrowth on tongue, vaginal itching, loose and foul smelling stool • Pt should not use with oral contraceptive use.

    4 min
  • Amitriptyline (Elavil)

    visit https://nursing.com/140meds to request your free copy of "140 Must Know Meds"

    Outline Generic Name

    Amitriptyline

    Trade Name

    Elavil

    Indication

    Depression, anxiety, insomnia, parkinson's

    Action

    Increases effect of serotonin and norepinephrine in the CNS, exhibits anticholinergic effects

    Therapeutic Class

    Antidepressant

    Pharmacologic Class

    Tricyclic antidepressant

    Nursing Considerations

    • Contraindicated in MI, heart failure, QT prolongation, glaucoma • May increase risk for suicidal ideation • May cause arrhythmias, hypotension, EKG changes • May cause alterations in blood glucose levels • May lead to general sedation and lethargy • Do not use within 2 weeks of MAOIs • Instruct pt to take medication exactly as instructed • Monitor for orthostatic hypotension • May lead to photosensitivity, instruct patient to use sunscreen • May turn urine blue/green color.

    5 min

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Brought to you by NURSING.com, based on their #1 Online Nursing Pharmacology Course . . . Visit nursing.com/50meds to get our list of the 50 most prescribed medications.