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Pharm - education & safety alert
education and safety alert
31
Pharmacology
Undergraduate 3
11/22/2009

Additional Pharmacology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term

 

 

 

 

Opioid (narcotics)-Morphine

 

Definition
  • Most important patient educations: for long-term use-physical dependency will develop.  This is not the same as addiction and not as appropriate reason to withhold the drug.
  • Patient safety alert:  check dose and patient status carefully; adverse effects and medication errors are common with this drug.  Monitor patient closely, because fall risk is increased.


Term

 

Salicylates-Aspirin

Definition

Life Span alert:

aspirin should not be given to children with varicella-or flu-like illness; it should not be given during pregnancy, especially during the third trimester; monitor patients older than 60 years carefully.  Low-dose aspirin therapy is routinely given to health adults older than 40 years old to prevent MI and stroke.

Term

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications-Ibuprofen

 

Definition

Life Span alert:

ibuprofen is in pregnancy category D in the third trimester: monitor patients over the age of 60 years carefully.

Term

Acetaminophen

Definition

Life Span alert: acetaminophen is the drug of choice for infants and children with flu or flu-like symptoms; analgesic of choice during pregnancy or lactation

 

Term

 

 

Beta Blockers-“olol” medications-atenolol

Definition

Most important patient educations: self-monitoring techniques for adverse effect including how to take a pulse and to detect irregular rhythms or bradycardias

Term

ACE Inhibitors-“pril” medications

Definition

  • Life span alert;  Captopril can cause injury and death to a developing fetus during the second and third trimesters.

 

Term

Cardiac Glycosides (Digoxin)

Definition
  • Most important patient educations: teach how to take pulse and to avoid taking the dose if pulse is below 60, keep out of the reach of children.
Term

 

 

 

 

Nitrates

 

Definition

Most important patient educations:

If one or two (some books say three) sublingual tablets do not alleviate pain, seek immediate emergency medical treatment. Key:  seek help if medication not relieving chest pain.

 

Use prophylactic doses before activities that may precipitate angina.

 

Remove patches or ointment for 10 to 12 hours out of every 24 hours to prevent tolerance.

Term

 

 

 

 

Heparin

Definition

Safety alert:  check concentration of heparin carefully.  Use of the wrong concentration for the route of administration is a common medication error with serious/potentially life-threatening ramifications


Most important patient educations: instruct patients to report any blood in urine or stools or bleeding from gums, nose, vagina, or wounds.

Term
Coumadin (Warfarin)
Definition

Most important patient educations: teach patients to monitor for bleeding, to modify behavior to avoid injuries, and to keep consistent vitamin K intake.

Term

Lipid-lowering meds

 

Statin Drugs

Definition

Most important patient educations: teach patients to continue on a low-fat diet and to report any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness at once.

Term

Bronchodilators -

Albuterol

 

Definition

MOST important patient education:  this rescue drug should be used first for all acute symptoms of shortness of breath or wheezing.

 

Term
Anti-Inflammatory Agents-Inhaled Glucocorticoids (AeroBid)
Definition

MOST important patient education: 

not to be used as a “rescue drug”

Term

Hydrochlorothiazide HTCZ-

Thiazide Diuretics

 

Definition

Most important patient education: explain the importance of periodic blood work to monitor electrolytes.

Term
Potassium-Sparing Diurectics-Aldactone
Definition

Safety alert:  life-threatening hyperkalemia may result when combined with potassium supplements or drugs that increase potassium levels indirectly


Most important patient education: tell the patient to avoid easting potassium-rich food, taking potassium supplements, or using a salt substitute containing potassium chloride.

Term
Saline Laxatives: Magnesium Hydroxide (Milk of Magnesia)
Definition
Most important patient education: magnesium hydroxide is not for long-term use may cause constipation.
Term

Peptic Ulcer medications-Proton Pump Inhibitors

 

Definition

Most important patient educations:

 

take omeprazole before meals, do not crush or chew drug

 

Term
Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonists
Definition
Most important patient education: do not substitute OTC drugs for prescription drug nor add OTC drug to prescribed drug therapy.
Term
Thyroid Medications
Definition

Most important education:

Treatment is LIFELONG

Term
Regular Insulin
Definition

Safety Alert: Sound-alike names for various types of insulin and the high potency of insulins are both common sources of medication errors.


Most important pt. education:     thorough teaching regarding dosage, administration techniques for subcutaneous injection, delivery devices, diet and exercise, and capillary blood glucose testing; wear medical alert tag identifying diabetic condition treated with insulin alert emergency medical personnel.

Term

Oral hypoglycemic-sulfonylureas-Glyburide

 

 

Definition
Most important patient education: signs and symptoms of out-of-control diabetes, such as hyperglycemia, polydipsia, polyphagia, and polyuria, dietary restrictions for serum glucose control and weight loss.
Term

Benzodiazepines

Definition

Life Span alert: contraindicated in children under 6 months; pregnancy category D; older adults more likely to develop ataxia and confusion-so give smaller doses.

Most important patient educations: avoid talking alcohol and other CNS depressants while on a benzodiazepine.

Term
SSRI's - Zoloft
Definition
Education: teach that a lag time occurs b/w beginning therapy and relief of sympotms; avoid alcohol and drugs
Term
Phenytoin - Dilantin
Definition
Most imporant patient education:  be careful driving or operating machinery until effects of drug are known.  Potential risks to fetus if patient becomes pregnant.. do not stop medication abruptly it may cause rebound seizure
Term
PCN
Definition

Most important patient education: take the medication exactly as prescribed until the entire prescription is completed, despite the absence of symptoms.  Monitor for signs and symptoms of allergic response and stop the medication if any occur. 

 

Patient safety:  PCN G: Can be given IM (painful), IV (only PCN form given IV), CANNOT PO (unstable in stomach acid), PCN V or VK:  Can be given PO, NOT IM or IV

Term
Cephalosporin - Cefazolin
Definition

  Most important patient education:  take the medication exactly as prescribed until the entire prescription is completed, despite the absence of symptoms.  Monitor for signs and symptoms of allergic response and stop the medication if any occur.

Patient safety:  The generic names of the cephalosporins are very similar.  Triple-check the order before administering the medication.

Term
Vancomycin
Definition

Most important patient education: need for period CBC when taking for prolonged period or high doses.  Need to advise the health care team for changes in hearing.

 

Term
Aminoglycosides - Gentamicin
Definition
Most important patient education: Teach the patient the signs and symptoms of both nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity and also the importance of contacting the health care provider immediately if any symptoms should occur.
Term
Tetracyclines
Definition

Most important patient education: teach the patient to complete the entire course of medication, despite feeling better.  Teach the patient to keep medication out of the reach of children.

 

Term
Ciprofloxacin
Definition
Most important patient education: importance of completion of therapy, and for women, use of a backup method of contraception.
Term
Acyclovir
Definition
Most important patient education: acyclovir treats the symptoms of the disease; it does not cure the disease or prevent its transmission to another person.
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