Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (338 page)

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

pseudoephedrine nasal
agent

 

psyllium (
OTC
, Rx)

(sill′ee-um)

Hydrocil, Leader Fiber Laxative, Metamucil, Natural Fiber, Natural Vegetable Fiber, Reguloid, Wal-Mucil

Func. class.:
Bulk laxative

Chem. class.:
Psyllium colloid

ACTION:

Bulk-forming laxative

USES:

Chronic constipation, ulcerative colitis

Unlabeled uses:
Diarrhea, diverticulosis, irritable bowel syndrome, hypercholesterolemia

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, intestinal obstruction, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fecal impaction

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C)

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult:
PO
1-2 tsp in 8 oz water bid or tid then 8 oz water or 1 premeasured packet in 8 oz water bid or tid, then 8 oz water

• Child
>
6 yr:
PO
1 tsp in 4 oz water at bedtime

Available forms:
Chew pieces 1.7, 3.4 g/piece; effervescent powder 3.4, 3.7 g/
packet; powder 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 4.94 g/tsp; wafers 3.4 g/wafer

Administer:
PO route

• 
Alone for better absorption, separate from other products by 1-2 hr

• 
In morning or evening (oral dose)

• 
Immediately after mixing with water or will congeal

• 
With 8 oz water or juice followed by another 8 oz of fluid

SIDE EFFECTS

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea
, cramps, intestinal esophageal blockage

PHARMACOKINETICS

Onset 12-72 hr, excreted in feces, not absorbed in GI tract

INTERACTIONS

Decrease:
absorption of cardiac glycosides, oral anticoagulants, salicylates

Drug/Herb

Increase:
laxative effect—flax, senna

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Blood, urine electrolytes if used often

• 
I&O ratio to identify fluid loss

• 
Constipation:
cause of constipation; fluids, bulk, exercise missing; bowel sounds, distention, usual bowel function; color, consistency, amount

• 
Cramping, rectal bleeding, nausea, vomiting; product should be discontinued

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decrease in constipation, decreased diarrhea with colitis

Teach patient/family:

• 
To maintain adequate fluid consumption

• 
That normal bowel movements do not always occur daily

• 
Not to use in presence of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting

• 
To notify prescriber if constipation unrelieved or if symptoms of electrolyte imbalance occur: muscle cramps, pain, weakness, dizziness, excessive thirst

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

pyridostigmine (Rx)

(peer-id-oh-stig′meen)

Mestinon, Mestinon Timespan, Regonol

Func. class.:
Cholinergic; anticholinesterase

Chem. class.:
Tertiary amine carbamate

ACTION:

Inhibits destruction of acetylcholine, which increases concentration at sites where acetylcholine is released; this facilitates the transmission of impulses across the myoneural junction

USES:

Nondepolarizing muscle relaxant antagonist, myasthenia gravis, pretreatment for nerve gas exposure (military only)

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Bradycardia; hypotension; obstruction of intestine, renal system; bromide, benzyl alcohol sensitivity; adrenal insufficiency; cholinesterase inhibitor toxicity

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), seizure disorders, bronchial asthma, coronary occlusion, hyperthyroidism, dysrhythmias, peptic ulcer, megacolon, poor GI motility

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Myasthenia gravis

• Adult:
PO
600 mg/day in 5-6 divided doses, max 1.5 g/day;
IM/IV
2 mg or 1/30 of
PO
dose;
SUS REL
180-540 mg/day or bid at intervals of ≥6 hr

• Child:
PO
7 mg/kg/day in 5-6 divided doses;
IM/IV
0.05-0.15 mg/kg/dose

Nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocker antagonist

• Adult:
0.6-1.2 mg IV
atropine then 0.1-0.25 mg/kg/dose

• Child:
IV
0.1-0.25 mg/kg/dose

Nerve gas exposure prophylaxis (military)

• Adult:
PO
30 mg q8hr if threat of exposure to Soman gas is anticipated; start several hours prior to exposure and discontinue upon exposure; after product is discontinued, give antidotes (atropine, pralidoxime)

Available forms:
Tabs 60 mg; ext rel tabs 180 mg; syr 60 mg/5 ml; inj 5 mg/ml

Administer:

• 
Only with atropine sulfate available for cholinergic crisis

• 
Only after all other cholinergics have been discontinued

• 
Increased doses for tolerance as ordered

• 
Larger doses after exercise or fatigue as ordered

• 
Do not break, crush, or chew sus rel tabs

PO route

• 
On empty stomach for better absorption

Direct IV route

• 
Undiluted (5 mg/ml), give through
Y
-tube or 3-way stopcock, give ≤0.5 mg/min (myasthenia gravis); 5 mg/min (reversal of nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers)

Syringe compatibilities:
Glycopyrrolate

Y-site compatibilities:
Heparin, hydrocortisone, potassium chloride, vit B/C

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Dizziness, headache, sweating, weakness,
seizures,
incoordination,
paralysis,
drowsiness, LOC

CV:
Tachycardia, dysrhythmias, bradycardia, AV block, hypotension, ECG changes,
cardiac arrest,
syncope

EENT:
Miosis, blurred vision, lacrimation, visual changes

GI:
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, cramps, increased salivary and gastric secretions, peristalsis

GU:
Urinary frequency, incontinence, urgency

INTEG:
Rash, urticaria, flushing

RESP:
Respiratory depression, bronchospasm, constriction, laryngospasm, respiratory arrest

SYST:
Cholinergic crisis

PHARMACOKINETICS

Metabolized in liver, excreted in urine (unchanged)

PO:
Onset 20-30 min, duration 3-6 hr

PO-EXT rel:
Onset 30-60 min, duration 6-12 hr

IM/IV/SUBCUT:
Onset 2-15 min, duration 2½-4 hr

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
action—succinylcholine

Decrease:
action—gallamine, metocurine, pancuronium, tubocurarine, atropine

Decrease:
pyridostigmine action—aminoglycosides, anesthetics, procainamide, quiNIDine, mecamylamine, polymyxin, magnesium, corticosteroids, antidysrhythmics, quinolones

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Myasthenia gravis:
fatigue, ptosis, diplopia, difficulty swallowing, SOB, hand/gait before, after product; improvement should be seen after 1 hr

• 
VS, respiration q8hr

• 
I&O ratio; check for urinary retention or incontinence

• 
Toxicity:
bradycardia, hypotension, bronchospasm, headache, dizziness, seizures, respiratory depression; product should be discontinued if toxicity occurs

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: increased muscle strength, hand grasp, improved gait, absence of labored breathing (if severe); reversal of nondepolarizing neuromus
cular blockers; prevention of nerve gas toxicity

Teach patient/family:

• 
Myasthenia gravis:
that product is not a cure, only relieves symptoms

• 
To wear emergency ID specifying myasthenia gravis, products taken

• 
To avoid driving, other hazardous activities until effect is known

• 
To report muscle weakness (cholinergic crisis or underdosage), bradycardia

• 
Not to drink alcohol

• 
To take with food to decrease gastric side effects

TREATMENT OF OVERDOSE:

Discontinue product, atropine 1-4 mg IV

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

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