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Common Medication Uses & Side Effects: Patient Education
A Student and Nurse’s Guide
“Hello, I have the medications that have been ordered for you. I have ________, _________, and
________. Are any of these new for you?“ If yes, tell them what the medication is for. Using the
teach back method ask them to tell you what the new medication is for.
When giving any medications, state “some possible side effects for this new medication are
__________, ____________, and ___________.”
Using the teach back method ask them to tell you what the new medication is for.
Medication
Angiotensin Converting
Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitor
(e.g. captopril, enalapril,
lisinopril, “prils”)
Beta Blockers
(e.g. atenolol,
metoprolol, Toprol,
“Lols”)
Angiotensin Receptor
Blockers (ARBs)
(e.g. Losartan, Valsartan,
Candesartan, Irbesartan)
Calcium Channel
Blockers
(e.g. Norvasc, Cardizem,
Procardia, Verapamil,
Plendil)
Diuretics
(e.g. Lasix, Diurel,
Aldactone, Bumex)
What the medication
does
Lowers blood pressure &
decreases strain on the
heart. This makes it
easier for the heart to
pump & improves blood
flow.
Lowers blood pressure
and slows the heart rate.
It does this by altering
hormones (body
chemicals) that are
damaging to the heart.
May strengthen the
heart’s pumping action
over time.
Lowers blood pressure
and decreases strain on
the heart, making it
easier for the heart to
pump and improves
blood flow. May be
prescribed instead of an
ACE inhibitor.
Interrupts the movement
of calcium into the cells
of the heart & blood
vessels. May decrease
the heart’s pumping
strength & relax blood
vessels
Helps rid the body of
excess water, which
reduces swelling & may
improve breathing. Less
fluid to pump means the
heart doesn’t have to
Reasons for medication
Possible side effects
Used to treat or improve
symptoms of heart
conditions such as high
blood pressure or heart
failure
Low blood pressure (may
make you dizzy), dry
cough, change in kidney
function, too much
potassium in the body,
swelling of mouth, lips, or
tongue.
Used to lower blood
pressure, treat chest
pain, or to prevent future
heart attacks
Low blood pressure (may
make you feel dizzy), low
heart rate, depression,
tiredness, sexual
dysfunction, heart failure
symptoms may be worse
at first, but will improve
over time.
Used to treat or improve
symptoms of heart
conditions such as high
blood pressure & heart
failure. Used when
patients cannot take ACE
Inhibitors
Low blood pressure (may
make you feel dizzy),
change in kidney
function, too much
potassium in the body,
swelling of mouth, lips, or
tongue (rare).
Used to treat high blood
pressure, chest pain
caused by reduced blood
supply to the heart
muscle & abnormal heart
rhythms
Dizziness, headache, eye
pain, facial flushing
Used to help lower blood
pressure & reduce
swelling from extra fluid
in the body
Frequent urination, loss
of potassium,
magnesium, or sodium
from the body. Kidney
problems, low blood
pressure (may make you
work as hard. Often call
“water pills”.
feel dizzy), high blood
sugar, gout, impotence,
dehydration.
Digoxin
(e.g. Lanoxin, Digitek)
Increases the force of the
heart’s contraction and
slows the irregular atrial
contractions
Statins
(e.g. Lipitor, Zocor,
Pravachol, Crestor)
Lowers blood cholesterol Used to lower bad
& can help prevent future cholesterol (LDL) & raise
heart attacks
good cholesterol (HDL) &
lower triglyceride levels
Headache, muscle aches
or tenderness, dizziness,
nausea, vomiting,
constipation, liver failure
Antiplatelets
(e.g. aspirin, Plavix,
dipyridamole)
Helps prevent blood
clots, which could block
an artery. May reduce
your risk of heart attack
or stroke.
Decreases the clotting
ability of the blood by
decreasing platelet
aggregation
Treats and prevents
infections
Used to treat or prevent
heart attacks, chest pain,
TIA’s (little strokes)
Bleeding, heartburn or
indigestion, ringing in the
ears, sleepiness,
headache.
Used to prevent harmful
clots that can cause a
heart attack, stroke or
clots in the legs & lungs
Used to treat and prevent
infections
Bleeding, bruising, low
platelets
Diarrhea, constipation,
headache, abdominal
pain
Anti-anxiety (e.g.
lorazepam (Ativan),
alprazolam (Xanax),
diazepam (Valium)
Decreases amount of acid Used to treat and prevent
in stomach and decreases ulcers, heartburn, GERD;
histamine production
can also be used in
managing allergic
reactions
Calms the brain but
Used to treat anxiety,
works on
panic attacks, sleep
neurotransmitters within problems, alcohol
the brain
withdrawal,
Narcotics/Opioids
(e.g. Norco, Dilaudid,
Percocet, Morphine)
Lowers the feeling of pain Used to relieve moderate
by affecting the mu
to severe pain
receptors in the brain
Nausea, rash, itching
(mostly when injected),
constipation, drowsiness
Stool Softeners or
Stimulants
(e.g. docusate, senna)
Antiemetics
(e.g.Zofran, Phenergan,
Reglan)
Antidepressants
(e.g. Celexa, Zoloft,
Increases activity in the
bowel
Used to treat hard stools
or constipation
Stomach cramps, nausea,
diarrhea
Calms the vomiting
center in the brain
Used to decrease nausea
and vomiting
Headache, constipation,
dizziness
Increases chemicals in
the brain that improve
Most commonly used to
treat low mood or
Sleepy, lightheaded,
nervous, dry mouth,
Anticoagulants
(e.g. Lovenox, Coumadin,
Heparin, Pradaxa,
Xarelto)
Antibiotics;
antimicrobials
(e.g. Levaquin, Ancef,
Vancomycin, Zosyn,
Rocephin)
Protonix (pantoprazole)
Pepcid (famotidine)
Tagamet (rantididine)
Used to relieve heart
failure symptoms or to
slow heart rate in
irregular heart rhythms
High digoxin levels can
lead to very low heart
rates, nausea/vomiting,
or changes in vision
Rash, stomach upset,
diarrhea
Light headed, sleepiness,
change in thinking,
change in vision, dry
mouth
Effexor, Paxil, Elavil)
mood
depression
nausea, suicidal ideation
Anti-diabetic
(e.g. insulin, metformin,
glipizide)
Lowers blood sugar &
may help insulin work
better
Used to prevent or treat
high blood sugar
Low blood sugar,
dizziness, stomach upset,
diarrhea
Neurontin (gabapentin)
Works on nerves to
reduce irritation on nerve
fibers and therefore
reduces pain
Used to treat painful
Dizziness, nausea, weight
nerve disease, restless leg gain, change in thinking
syndrome, seizures
clearly