Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (106 page)

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

colchicine (Rx)

(kol′chih-seen)

Colcrys

Func. class.:
Antigout agent

Chem. class.: Colchicum autumnale
alkaloid

ACTION:

Inhibits microtubule formation of lactic acid in leukocytes, which decreases phagocytosis and inflammation in joints

USES:

Gout, gouty arthritis (prevention, treatment); to arrest the progression of neurologic disability in those with MS, Mediterranean fever

Unlabeled uses:
Hepatic cirrhosis, pericarditis, amyloidosis, Behçet’s syndrome, biliary cirrhosis, dermatitis herpetiformis, idiopathic thrombocytopenic
purpura, Paget’s disease, pseudogout, pulmonary fibrosis

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Pregnancy (D) (injectable), serious GI, severe cardiac/renal/hepatic disorders, hypersensitivity

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C) (PO), breastfeeding, children, geriatric patients, blood dyscrasias, hepatic disease

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Gout prevention

• Adult:
PO
0.6-1.2 mg/day, depending on severity

Gout treatment

• Adult:
PO
1.2 mg initially, then 0.6 mg 1 hr later (1.8 mg); for those on strong CYP3A4 inhibitor (during past 14 days), 0.6 mg initially, then 0.3 mg 1 hr later

Renal dose

• Adult:
PO
CCr <30 ml/min, for acute gout, do not repeat course for 2 wk; for familial Mediterranean fever, 0.3 mg daily, increase cautiously

Mediterranean fever (unlabeled)

• Adult on no interacting products:
PO
1.2-2.4 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses; strong CYP3A4 inhibitor; P-glycoprotein inhibitors within 14 day: max 0.6 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses; moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors with 14 day: max 1.2 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses

• Adolescent:
PO
1.2-2.4 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses, titrate by 0.3 mg/day

• Child > 6-12 yr:
PO
0.9-1.8 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses

• Child 4-6 yr:
PO
0.3-1.8 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses

Amyloidosis/biliary cirrhosis/dermatitis herpetiformis/Paget’s disease/Behçet’s syndrome/chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura/pulmonary fibrosis (unlabeled)

• Adult:
PO
0.5-0.6 mg bid-tid

Available forms:
Tabs 0.5, 0.6, 1
 mg

Administer:
PO route

• 
Without regard to food

• 
Cumulative doses ≤4 mg, renal patients ≤2 mg; when reached, administer only for 3 wk

SIDE EFFECTS

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, malaise
, metallic taste, cramps, peptic ulcer, diarrhea

GU:
Hematuria,
oliguria, renal damage

HEMA:
Agranulocytosis, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, pancytopenia

INTEG:
Chills, dermatitis, pruritus, purpura, erythema

MISC:
Myopathy, alopecia, reversible azoospermia, peripheral neuritis

PHARMACOKINETICS

PO:
Peak 1/2-2 hr, half-life 4.4 hr, deacetylates in liver, excreted in feces (metabolites/active product)

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
colchicine level/toxicity—moderate/strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, reduce dose

Increase:
GI effects—NSAIDs, ethanol

Increase:
bone marrow depression—radiation, bone marrow depressants, cycloSPORINE

Decrease:
action of vit B
12
; may cause reversible malabsorption

Drug/Food

Increase:
colchicine level—grapefruit juice

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
alk phos, AST

Decrease:
platelets, WBC, granulocytes

False positive:
urine Hgb

Interference:
urinary 17-hydroxycorticosteroids

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Relief of pain, uric acid levels returning to normal

• 
I&O ratio; observe for decrease in urinary output

 
CBC, platelets, reticulocytes before, during therapy (q3mo); may cause aplastic anemia, agranulocytosis, decreased platelets

• 
Toxicity:
weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; product should be discontinued, report symptoms immediately

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased stone formation, decreased pain in kidney region, absence of hematuria, decreased pain in joints

Teach patient/family:

• 
To avoid alcohol, OTC preparations that contain alcohol

• 
To report any pain, redness, hard areas, usually in legs; rash, sore throat, fever, bleeding, bruising, weakness, numbness, tingling, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain

• 
About the importance of complying with medical regimen (diet, weight loss, product therapy); about the possibility of bone marrow depression occurring

• 
Advise all providers of product use; surgery may increase possibility of acute gout symptoms

TREATMENT OF OVERDOSE:

D/C medication; may need opioids to treat diarrhea

Canada only   Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening   
Nurse Alert

colesevelam (Rx)

(koe-leh-seve′eh-lam)

WelChol

Func. class.:
Antilipemic

Chem. class.:
Bile acid sequestrant

ACTION:

Adsorbs, combines with bile acids to form insoluble complex excreted through feces; loss of bile acids lowers cholesterol levels

USES:

Elevated LDL cholesterol, alone or in combination with HMG-COA reductase inhibitor; type 2 diabetes (adjunct)

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, biliary obstruction, dysphagia, bowel disease, primary biliary cirrhosis, triglycerides >300 mg/dl, fat-soluble vitamin deficiency, bowel obstruction pancreatitis

Precautions:
Pregnancy (B), breastfeeding, children

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Monotherapy

• Adult:
PO
3 625-mg tabs bid with meals or 6 tabs daily with meal; may increase to 7 tabs if needed

Combination therapy

• Adult:
PO
3 tabs bid with meals or 6 tabs daily with meal given with an HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor

Type 2 diabetes, adjunct (to improve glycemic control)

• Adult and geriatric:
PO
Approx 3.8 g (6 tabs)/day or approx 1.9 g (3 tabs) bid

Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

• Females (postmenarchal and >10 yr) and males ≥10 yr:
PO
1.875-g packet bid or 3.75-g packet daily dissolved in 4-8 oz of water with meal

Available forms:
Tabs 625 mg; powder for oral susp 3.75 g/packet

Administer:

• 
Swallow tabs whole; do not break, crush, or chew

• 
Drug daily or bid with meals; give all other medications 1 hr before or 4 hr after colesevelam; with liquid to avoid poor absorption

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, vertigo, tinnitus

GI:
Constipation, abdominal pain, nausea
, fecal impaction, hemorrhoids, flatulence, vomiting, GI obstruction

INTEG:
Rash, irritation of perianal area, tongue, skin

MISC:
Hypertriglycerides, hypoglycemia

MS:
Muscle, joint pain

PHARMACOKINETICS

Excreted in feces, peak response 2 wk

INTERACTIONS

Decrease:
absorption of diltiazem, gemfibrozil, mycophenolate, phenytoin, propranolol, warfarin, thiazides, digoxin, penicillin G, tetracyclines, corticosteroids, iron, thyroid, fat-soluble vitamins, glyburide

Decrease:
action of—oral contraceptives

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
LFTs

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Cardiac glycoside level, if both products administered

• 
Fasting LDL, HDL, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels, electrolytes if on extended therapy

• 
Bowel pattern daily; increase bulk, water in diet for constipation

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased total cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol, apolipoproteins

Teach patient/family:

• 
About the importance of compliance; toxicity may result if doses missed

• 
That risk factors should be decreased: high-fat diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, absence of exercise

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