Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (175 page)

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

fexofenadine (Rx, OTC)

(fex-oh-fi′na-deen)

Allegra, Allegra ODT, GNP Allergy Relief, Premier Value Allergy Relief

Func. class.:
Antihistamine—2nd generation

Chem. class.:
Piperidine, peripherally selective

Do not confuse:
Allegra
/Viagra

ACTION:

Acts on blood vessels, GI, respiratory system by competing with histamine for H
1
-receptor site; decreases allergic response by blocking pharmacologic effects of histamine, less sedating

USES:

Rhinitis, allergy symptoms, chronic idiopathic urticaria

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Breastfeeding, newborn or premature infants, hypersensitivity, severe hepatic disease

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), children, geriatric patients, respiratory disease, closed-angle glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy, bladder neck obstruction, asthma

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult and child >12 yr:
PO
Rx only, 60 mg bid or 180 mg/day; PO OTC only, 60 mg bid or 180 mg/day (self-treatment of allergic rhinitis)

• Child 2-11 yr:
PO
30 mg bid;
ORALLY DISINTEGRATING TAB Child 6-11 yr:
30 mg bid dissolved on tongue

Renal dose

• Adult and child ≥12 yr:
PO
CCr <80 ml/min, 60 mg/day

• Child 2-11 yr:
PO
CCr <80 ml/min, 30 mg q day

• Child <2 yr:
PO
CCr <80 ml/min, 15 mg q day

Available forms:
Tabs 30, 60, 180 mg; oral susp 6 mg/ml, orally disintegrating tab 30 mg

Administer:

• 
Without regard to meals; caps/tabs should not be given with or right before grapefruit, orange, or apple juice

• 
Orally disintegrating tab:
allow to dissolve, swallow; do not remove from blister pack until time of administration

• 
Oral susp:
shake well, use calibrated measuring device

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Headache, stimulation, drowsiness, sedation, fatigue, confusion, blurred vision, tinnitus, restlessness, tremors, paradoxical excitation in children or geriatric patients

CV:
Hypotension, palpitations, bradycardia, tachycardia,
dysrhythmias
(rare)

GI:
Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, constipation

GU:
Frequency, dysuria, urinary retention, impotence

HEMA:
Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, agranulocytosis, pancytopenia

INTEG:
Rash, eczema, photosensitivity, urticaria

RESP:
Thickening of bronchial secretions, dry nose, throat

PHARMACOKINETICS

Well absorbed; onset 1 hr; peak 2-3 hr; duration 12-24 hr; 80% excreted in urine; half-life 14.5 hr, increased in renal disease

INTERACTIONS

Decrease:
effect—magnesium-aluminum-containing antacids

Drug/Food

Decrease:
absorption of product—apple, orange, grapefruit juice

Drug/Lab Test

False negative:
skin allergy tests

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Allergy:
itchy, runny, watery eyes; congested nose; before and during treatment

• 
I&O ratio: be alert for urinary retention, frequency, dysuria, especially among geriatric patients; product should be discontinued if these occur; serum creatinine/BUN at baseline and periodically during treatment

• 
Respiratory status: rate, rhythm, increase in bronchial secretions, wheezing, chest tightness

Perform/provide:

• 
Storage in tight, light-resistant container

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: absence of running or congested nose or rashes

Teach patient/family:

• 
About all aspects of product use; to notify prescriber if confusion, sedation, hypotension occur

• 
To avoid driving, other hazardous activity if drowsiness occurs

• 
To avoid alcohol, other CNS depressants

• 
Not to exceed recommended dose; that dysrhythmias may occur

TREATMENT OF OVERDOSE:

Lavage, diazepam, vasopressors, IV phenytoin

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

fidaxomicin

(fye-dax′oh-mye′sin)

Dificid

Func. class.:
Antiinfective-macrolide

ACTION:

Bactericidal against
Clostridium difficile;
is a fermentation product obtained from
Dactylosporangium aurantiacum
; inhibits RNA synthesis by inhibiting transcription of bacterial RNA polymerases; may act at the early stages of transcription

USES:

Pseudomembraneous colitis

Clostridium difficile
-associated diarrhea

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hyper-sensitivity

Precautions:
Pregnancy (B), breastfeeding, children

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult:
PO
200 mg bid × 10 days

Available forms:
Tab 200 mg

Administer:

• 
Without regard to food

• 
Store at room temperature

SIDE EFFECTS

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain,
GI bleeding

HEMA:
Anemia, neutropenia

META:
Metabolic acidosis,
hyperglycemia

PHARMACOKINETICS

Half-life 12 hr, onset 1 hr, peak 1-5 hr, excreted in feces 92%

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
fidaxomicin action—cycloSPORINE

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
Glucose, LFTs, alk phos

Decrease:
sodium bicarbonate

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Pseudomembraneous colitis:
for diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, fatigue, anorexia, anemia, elevated WBC and low serum albumin; product may be used in place of vancomycin; monitor CBC with differential and stool culture (
Clostridium difficile
), not to be used for systemic infection, obtain C&S before use, monitor glucose (diabetic patients)

Evaluate:

• 
Positive therapeutic response: resolution of
Clostridium difficile

Teach patient/family:

• 
To report GI bleeding, or severe abdominal pain

• 
To report if pregnancy is planned or suspected or if breastfeeding

• 
May take without regard to food

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

filgrastim (Rx)

(fill-grass′stim)

G-CSF, granulocyte colony stimulator, Neupogen

Func. class.:
Biologic modifier

Chem. class.:
Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor

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