NCLEX PHARMACOLOGY

nurse-blog:

Medication SUFFIXES

• “Caine” - Local Anesthetics
• “Done” - Opioid analgesics
• “Mycin” - Antibiotics
• “Micin” - Antibiotics
• “Oxacin” - Broad Spectrum Anti-biotics
• “Vir” - Anti-virals
• “Dine” - anti-ulcer agents (H2 Histamine Blockers)
• “Lam” - anti-anxiety agents
• “Pam” - anti-anxiety agents
• “Nuim” - neuromuscular blockers
• “Statin” - antihyperlipidemics
• “ide” - oral hypoglycemics
• “sone” - Steroids
• “zide” - diuretics
• “mide” - diuretics
• “pril” - ace inhibitors (make sure to check BP)
• “Pine & Amil” - Ca+ channel blockers (check BP)
• “olol” - beta blockers (check bp) affects SNS; side effects: bradycardia, hypotension, CHF, bronchospasm, or asthma attacks. (QUESTION THE PRESCRIPTION OF PT HAS ASTHMA)

OTHER HINTS:

1. Do not give GRAPEFRUIT with the following: Buspar, Verapamil, Tegretol, and Simvastatin
2. Rifampin (TB med) turns bodily fluids *pee* orange. 
3. Myasthenic Crisis= Weakness with change in vitals d/t undermedication (give more meds)
4. Cholinergic Crisis = Weakness with no change in vitals d/t overmedication (reduce meds)
5. DIGOXIN : Side effects are increased when the patient is HYPOKALEMIC so you should monitor the potassium. Digoxin has a negative chronotropic effect (it slows the heart rate) so hold the dose if the HR is less than 60 
6. DIGITALIS TOXICITY: bradycardia, tachycardia, dysrhythmias, nausea, vomiting, headache. If withheld, contact physician.
7. MAOI’s (antidepressant meds: Nardil, Marplan, Parnate) - do not give food with tyramine (aged cheese, cured meats, fermented cabbage, soy sauce ) may cause HTN crisis
8. During alcohol withdrawal administer: librium, ativan, lorazepam (benzos)
9. Antabuse given for Alcohol deterrence. (remind not to take over the counter cough medicine as those may contain alcohol)
10. With all HTN medications, warn the patient about orthostatic hypotension, so teach client to change positions slowly and sit and dangle on the bed first before walking. *risk for falls*
11. Administer DIURETICS (lasix) in the morning so patient doesnt have to get up to pee all night
12. Give medications BEFORE dressing changes or asking PT to use incentive spirometer or cough and deep breathing.

DRUG ANTIDOTES 

• Coumadin … Vitamin K 
• Benzodiazapines … Flumzaemil (Tomazicon)
• Magnesium Sulfate … Calcium Gluconate
• Heparin …Protamine Sulfate
• Tylenol … Mucomyst 
• Opiates (narcotic analgesics, heroin, morphine)…Narcan (Naloxone)
• Cholinergic Meds … Atropine
• Digoxin … Digiband