Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (65 page)

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

bisacodyl (Rx,
OTC
)

(bis-a-koe′dill)

Alophen, Correctol, Dacodyl, Dulcolax, Ex-Lax Ultra Tab, Femilax, Feminine, Good Sense Women’s, Leader Laxative, Top Care Laxative, Veracolate, Walgreens Gentle, Walgreens Women’s

Func. class.:
Laxative, stimulant

Chem. class.:
Diphenylmethane

ACTION:

Acts directly on intestine by increasing motor activity; thought to irritate colonic intramural plexus

USES:

Short-term treatment of constipation; bowel or rectal preparation for surgery, examination

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, rectal fissures, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, appendicitis, acute surgical abdomen, ulcerated hemorrhoids, acute hepatitis, fecal impaction, intestinal/biliary tract obstruction

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult and child ≥12 yr: PO
10-15 mg in
PM
or
AM
; may use up to 30 mg for bowel or rectal preparation;
RECT
10 mg as a single dose; 30-ml enema

• Child 3-11 yr: PO
5-10 mg as a single dose;
RECT
5-10 mg as a single dose

Available forms:
Tabs del rel 5, 10 mg; enteric-coated tabs 5 mg; supp 5, 10 mg; enema 10 mg/30 ml

Administer:
PO route

• 
Swallow tabs whole with full glass of water; do not break, crush, chew tabs

• 
Alone only with water for better absorption; do not take within 1 hr of other products or within 1 hr of antacids, milk, H
2
antagonists; do not take enteric product with proton-pump inhibitors

• 
In
AM
or
PM

Rectal route

• 
Insert high in rectum

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Muscle weakness

GI:
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, cramps
, diarrhea, rectal burning (suppositories)

META:
Protein-losing enteropathy, alkalosis, hypokalemia,
tetany;
electrolyte, fluid imbalances

PHARMACOKINETICS

Small amounts metabolized by liver; excreted in urine, bile, feces, breast milk

PO:
Onset 6-10 hr

RECT:
Onset 15-60 min

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
gastric irritation—antacids, milk, H
2
-blockers, gastric acid pump inhibitors

Drug/Food

• 
Increase irritation—dairy products separate by 2 hr

Drug/Lab

Increase:
Sodium phosphate

Decrease:
Calcium, magnesium

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Blood, urine electrolytes if product is used often by patient

• 
I&O ratio to identify fluid loss

• 
Cause of constipation; identify whether fluids, bulk, exercise missing from lifestyle; determine use of constipating products

• 
GI symptoms:
cramping, rectal bleeding, nausea, vomiting; if these symptoms occur, product should be discontinued

• 
Multiple products/routes may be used for bowel prep

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decrease in constipation

Teach patient/family:

• 
Not to use laxatives for long-term therapy because bowel tone will be lost, 1 wk use is usually sufficient

• 
That normal bowel movements do not always occur daily

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

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

• 
To take with a full glass of water, do not take with dairy products

• 
Identify bulk, water, constipating products, exercise in patient’s life

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

bismuth subsalicylate (
OTC
)

(bis′muth sub-sal-iss′uh-late)

Bismatrol, Equaline Stomach Relief, Good Sense Stomach Relief, GNP Pink Bismuth, Leader Pink Bismuth, Peptic Relief, Pepto-Bismol, Pink Bismuth, Top Care Stomach Relief, Walgreens Soothe

Func. class.:
Antidiarrheal, weak antacid

Chem. class.:
Salicylate

Do not confuse:
Kaopectate
/Kayoxalate

ACTION:

Inhibits the prostaglandin synthesis responsible for GI hypermotility, intestinal inflammation; stimulates absorption of fluid and electrolytes; binds toxins produced by
Escherichia coli

USES:

Diarrhea (cause undetermined), prevention of diarrhea when traveling; may be included to treat
Helicobacter pylori
, heartburn, indigestion, nausea

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Children <3 yr, children with chickenpox, history of GI bleeding, renal disease, flulike symptoms, hypersensitivity to product or salicylates

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, geriatric patients, anticoagulant therapy, immobility, gout, diabetes mellitus, bleeding disorders, previous hypersensitivity to NSAIDs,
Clostridium-difficile–
associated diarrhea when used with antiinfectives for
H. pylori

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Antidiarrheal/Gastric Distress

• Adult: PO
2 tabs or 30 ml (15 ml extra/max strength) q30min or 2 tabs q60min, max 4.2 g/24 hr

Antiulcer (unlabeled)

• Adult/adolescent: PO
525 mg qid, max 4.2 g/24 hr; given with metroNIDAZOLE or tetracycline and acid-suppressive therapy × 14 days

Available forms:
Tabs 262 mg; chewable tabs 262 mg; susp 87 mg/5 ml, 130 mg/15 ml, 262 mg/15 ml, 525 mg/15 ml

Administer:
PO route

• 
Increased fluids to rehydrate patient

• 
Susp:
shake liquid before using

• 
Tabs can be chewed, dissolved in mouth; caplets to be swallowed whole with water

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Confusion, twitching,
neurotoxicity (high doses)

EENT:
Hearing loss, tinnitus, metallic taste, blue gums, black tongue

GI:
Increased fecal impaction (high doses), dark stools, constipation, diarrhea, nausea

HEMA:
Increased bleeding time

PHARMACOKINETICS

PO:
Onset 1 hr, peak 2 hr, duration 4 hr

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
toxicity—salicylates, methotrexate

Increase:
effects of oral anticoagulants, oral antidiabetics

Decrease:
absorption of tetracycline, quinolones, separate for ≥2 hr

Drug/Lab Test

Interference:
radiographic studies of GI system

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Diarrhea:
bowel pattern before product therapy, after treatment

• 
Electrolytes potassium, sodium, chloride if diarrhea is severe or continues long term; assess skin turgor, other signs of dehydration

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased diarrhea, absence of diarrhea when traveling; resolution of ulcers

Teach patient/family:

• 
To chew, dissolve medication in mouth; not to swallow whole; to shake liquid before using

• 
To avoid other salicylates unless directed by prescriber; not to give to children, possibility of Reye’s syndrome

• 
That stools may turn black; that tongue may darken; that impaction may occur in debilitated patients

• 
To stop use if symptoms do not improve within 2 days or become worse or if diarrhea is accompanied by high fever

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

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