Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (26 page)

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

almotriptan (Rx)

(al-moh-trip′tan)

Axert

Func. class.:
Antimigraine agent, abortive

Chem. class.:
5-HT
1
-receptor agonist, triptan

Do not confuse:
Axert
/Antivert

ACTION:

Binds selectively to the vascular 5-HT
1B/1D/1F
-receptors, exerts antimigraine effect

USES:

Acute treatment of migraine with or without aura (adult/adolescent/child ≥12 yr)

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, acute MI, angina, CV disease, CAD, stroke, vasospastic angina, ischemic heart disease or risk for, peripheral vascular syndrome, uncontrolled hypertension, basilar or hemiplegic migraine

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), postmenopausal women, men >40 yr, breastfeeding, children <18 yr, geriatric patients, risk factors for CAD, MI; hypercholesterolemia, obesity, diabetes, impaired renal/hepatic function, sulfonamide hypersensitivity, cardiac dysrhythmias, Raynaud’s disease, tobacco smoking, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult, adolescent, and child

12 yr: PO
6.25-12.5 mg; may repeat dose after 2 hr; max 2 doses/24 hr, 25 mg/day or 4 treatment cycles within any 30-day period

Hepatic/renal dose CCr 10-30 ml/min

• Adult: PO
6.25 mg initially, max 12.5 mg

Available forms:
Tabs 6.25, 12.5 mg

Administer:

• 
Avoid using more than 2 ×/wk; rebound headache may occur

• 
Swallow tabs whole; do not break, crush, chew, without regard to food

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Tingling, hot sensation, burning, feeling of pressure, tightness, numbness, dizziness, sedation
, headache, anxiety, fatigue, cold sensation,
seizures

CV:
Flushing
, palpitations, tachycardia,
coronary artery vasospasm, MI, ventricular fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia

EENT:
Throat, mouth, nasal discomfort; vision changes

GI:
Nausea, xerostomia

INTEG:
Sweating

MS:
Weakness, neck stiffness
, myalgia

RESP:
Chest tightness, pressure

PHARMACOKINETICS

Onset of pain relief 2 hr; peak 1-3 hr; duration 3-4 hr; bioavailability 70%; protein binding 35%; metabolized in the liver (metabolite), metabolized by MAO-A, CYP2D6, CYP3A4; excreted in urine (40%), feces (13%); half-life 3-4 hr

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
serotonin syndrome—SSRIs, SNRIs, serotonin-receptor agonists, sibutramine

Increase:
vasospastic effects—ergot, ergot derivatives, other 5-HT
1
agonists; avoid concurrent use

 
Increase:
almotriptan effect—MAOIs, do not use together

Increase:
plasma concentration of almotriptan—(CYP3A4 inhibitors) itraconazole, ritonavir, erythromycin, ketoconazole, avoid concurrent use in renal/hepatic disease

Drug/Herb

• 
Avoid use with feverfew

Increase:
serotonin syndrome—St. John’s wort

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Migraine:
pain location, aura, duration, intensity, nausea, vomiting


 
Serotonin syndrome:
occurs in those taking SSRIs, SNRIs; agitation, confusion, hallucinations, diaphoresis, hypertension, diarrhea, fever, tremor, usually occurs when dose is increased

• 
B/P; signs/symptoms of coronary vasospasms

• 
For stress level, activity, recreation, coping mechanisms

• 
Neurologic status: LOC, blurring vision, nausea, vomiting, tingling, hot sensation, burning, feeling of pressure, numbness, flushing preceding headache

• 
Tyramine foods
(pickled products, beer, wine, aged cheese), food additives, preservatives, colorings, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, caffeine, which may precipitate these types of headaches

Perform/provide:

• 
Quiet, calm environment with decreased stimulation from noise, bright light, excessive talking

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decrease in severity of migraine

Teach patient/family:

• 
To report chest pain, drowsiness, dizziness, tingling, flushing

• 
To use contraception while taking product, to notify prescriber if pregnancy is planned or suspected, to avoid breastfeeding

• 
That if one dose does not relieve migraine to take another after 2 hr

• 
That product does not prevent or reduce number of migraine attacks; use to relieve attack only

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

alosetron

(ah-loss′a-tron)

Lotronex

Func. class.:
Antidiarrheal, anti-IBS agent

Chem. class.:
Serotonin receptor antagonist

ACTION:

A potent and selective antagonist at serotonin 5-HT
3
receptors, which are extensively distributed on enteric neurons in GI tract. Antagonism at these receptors in the GI tract modulates the regulation of visceral pain, colonic transit, and GI secretions

USES:

Severe, chronic, diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in women who have failed conventional therapy

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Crohn’s disease, severe hepatic disease, diverticulitis, toxic megacolon, GI adhesions/strictures/obstruction/perforation, thrombophlebitis, ulcerative colitis

 

Black Box Warning:

Ischemic colitis, severe constipation

Precautions:
Breastfeeding, pregnancy (B), child <18 yr

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult woman: PO
0.5 mg bid, may increase to 1 mg bid after 4 wk if well tolerated, if symptoms are not controlled after 4 wks of treatment with 1 mg bid, discontinue

Available forms:
Tab 0.5 mg, 1 mg

Administer

• 
Without regard to meals

 

Black Box Warning:

Only after “Physician–Patient Agreement Form” is signed and patient receives official Medication Guide

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Fatigue, headache

GI:
Constipation, abdominal pain, distention, reflux, nausea,
obstruction,
impaction,
ischemic colitis, ileus perforation, small-bowel mesenteric ischemia

GU:
Urinary tract infection

MS:
Muscle spasm

RESP:
Cough, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection

PHARMACOKINETICS

Peak 1 hr, half-life 1½ hr, metabolized extensively in the liver

INTERACTIONS

• 
Do not use with fluvoxaMINE

Increase:
Alosetron metabolism—CYP3A4, 1A2, 2C9 inducers

Increase:
serious adverse reactions, drugs that decrease GI motility—drugs with anticholinergic such as TCAs, H
1
-blockers, orphenadrine, OLANZapine, maprotiline, disopyramide, cyclobenzaprine, cloZAPine, buPROPion, amoxapine, amantadine

Decrease:
Alosetron metabolism—CYP3A4, 1A2, 2C9 inhibitors, hydrALAZINE, procainamide

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
ALT

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

 

Black Box Warning:

Irritable bowel syndrome—constipation, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fecal incontinence, discontinue immediately if bloody diarrhea, severe constipation, rectal bleeding, or severe abdominal pain occur

 

Black Box Warning:

Only clinicians enrolled in the Prometheus Prescribing Program for Lotronex should use this product

• 
Geriatric women can experience more severe side effects

Perform/provide:

• 
Storage at room temperature, protect from light and moisture

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: Decreasing symptoms of IBS

Teach patient/family:

 

Black Box Warning:

Immediately report severe constipation, bloody diarrhea, rectal bleeding, or worsening abdominal pain

• 
Not to double doses, if a dose is missed skip it

• 
That product may be taken without regard to food

• 
That product does not cure disorder, only controls symptoms

• 
Provide medication guide and clarify, if needed, that improvement in symptoms can take 1-4 wks

• 
That product is only used for women with IBS

• 
To report if pregnancy is planned or suspected, product should not be used during pregnancy, effects are unknown

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