Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (415 page)

varenicline (Rx)

(var-e-ni′kleen)

Champix
, Chantix

Func. class.:
Smoking cessation agent

Chem. class.:
Nicotine receptor agonist

ACTION:

Partial agonist for nicotine receptors; partially activates receptors to help curb cravings; occupies receptors to prevent nicotine binding

USES:

Smoking deterrent

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, eating disorders

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, children <18 yr, geriatric patients, renal disease, recent MI, angioedema

 

Black Box Warning:

Bipolar disorder, depression, schizophrenia, suicidal ideation

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Smoking cessation

• Adult:
PO
therapy should begin 1 wk prior to smoking stop date (i.e., take product plus tobacco for 7 days); titrate for 1 wk; days 1 through 3, 0.5 mg/day; days 4 through 7, 0.5 mg bid; day 8 through end of treatment, 1 mg bid; treatment is for 12 wk and may be repeated for another 12 wk

Renal dose

• Adult:
PO
CCr ≤50 ml/min, titrate to max 0.5 mg bid

Available forms:
Tabs 0.5, 1 mg; Chantix continuing month PAK; Chantix starting month PAK

Administer:

• 
Do not break, crush, or chew tabs

• 
Increased fluids, bulk in diet if constipation occurs

• 
After eating with a full glass of water

• 
Sugarless gum, hard candy, or frequent sips of water for dry mouth

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Headache, agitation, dizziness, insomnia, abnormal dreams, fatigue, malaise, behavior changes, depression, suicidal ideation,
suicide,
amnesia, hallucinations, hostility, mania, psychosis, tremor

CV:
Dysrhythmias, hypo/hypertension, palpitations, tachycardia, angina,
MI

EENT:
Blurred vision
, tinnitus

GI:
Nausea, vomiting
, anorexia,
dry mouth
, increased/decreased appetite,
constipation
, flatulence, GERD

GU:
Erectile dysfunction, urinary frequency, menstrual irregularities

INTEG:
Rash, pruritus,
angioedema, Stevens-Johnson syndrome

MISC:
Weight loss or gain

RESP:
Dyspnea, rhinorrhea

PHARMACOKINETICS

Elimination half-life 24 hr; metabolism minimal; 93% excreted unchanged in urine; steady state 4 days

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Smoking history:
motivation for smoking cessation, years used, amount each day

• 
Renal function in geriatric patients; cardiac status in cardiac disease

• 
Smoking cessation after 12 wk; if progress not made, product may be used for additional 12 wk

 

Black Box Warning:

Neuropsychiatric symptoms: mood, sensorium, affect; behavior changes, agitation, depression, suicidal ideation; suicide has occurred; possible worsening of depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: smoking cessation

Teach patient/family:

• 
That treatment for smoking cessation lasts 12 wk and that another 12 wk may be required

• 
To use caution when driving, performing other activities requiring alertness; blurred vision may occur

• 
To set a date to quit smoking and to initiate treatment 1 wk before that date

• 
How to titrate product

• 
Not to use with nicotine patches unless directed by prescriber; may increase B/P

• 
To notify prescriber if pregnancy planned or suspected

• 
About common side effects to be expected

 

Black Box Warning:

To notify prescriber immediately of change in thought/behavior (suicidal ideation, hostility, depression), stop product

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

vasopressin (Rx)

(vay-soe-press′in)

Pitressin, Pressyn

Func. class.:
Pituitary hormone

Chem. class.:
Lysine vasopressin

ACTION:

Promotes the reabsorption of water via action on the renal tubular epithelium; causes vasoconstriction

USES:

Diabetes insipidus (nonnephrogenic/nonpsychogenic), abdominal distention postoperatively, bleeding esophageal varices

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, chronic nephritis

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, CAD, asthma, vascular/renal disease, migraines, seizures

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Diabetes insipidus

• Adult:
IM/SUBCUT
5-10 units bid-qid as needed;
CONT IV INF
0.0005 units/kg/hr (0.05 milliunit/kg/hr), double dose q30min as needed

• Child:
IM/SUBCUT
2.5-10 units bid-qid as needed;
IM/SUBCUT
1.25-2.5 units q2-3days (Pitressin Tannate) for chronic therapy

Abdominal distention

• Adult:
IM
5 units then q3-4hr, increasing to 10 units if needed (aqueous)

Available forms:
sol for inj 20 units/ml; 10 units/0.5 ml

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Drowsiness, headache, lethargy, flushing, vertigo

CV:
Increased B/P, dysrhythmias,
cardiac arrest, shock,
chest pain,
MI

EENT:
Nasal irritation, congestion, rhinitis

GI:
Nausea, heartburn, cramps, vomiting, flatus

GU:
Vulval pain, uterine cramping

MISC:
Tremor, sweating, vertigo, urticaria, bronchial constriction

PHARMACOKINETICS

Nasal:
Onset 1 hr; duration 3-8 hr; half-life 15 min; metabolized in liver, kidneys; excreted in urine

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
antidiuretic effect—tricyclics, carBAMazepine, chloropromide, fludrocortisone, clofibrate, urea

Decrease:
antidiuretic effect—lithium, demeclocycline

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Pulse, B/P when giving product IV or IM

• 
I&O ratio, weight daily; fluid/electrolyte balance; check for edema in extremities; if water retention is severe, diuretic may be prescribed

• 
Water intoxication:
lethargy, behavioral changes, disorientation, neuromuscular excitability

• 
Small doses may precipitate coronary adverse effects; keep emergency equipment nearby

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: absence of severe thirst, decreased urine output, osmolality

Teach patient/family:

• 
To measure and record I&O

• 
To avoid alcohol, all OTC medications unless approved by prescriber

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

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