Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference (83 page)

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

carvedilol (Rx)

(kar-ved′i-lole)

Coreg, Coreg CR

Func. class.:
Antihypertensive, α-/β-adrenergic blocker

Do not confuse:
carvedilol
/captopril/carteolol

ACTION:

A mixture of nonselective α-/β-adrenergic blocking activity; decreases cardiac output, exercise-induced tachycardia, reflex orthostatic tachycardia; causes vasodilation, reduction in peripheral vascular resistance

USES:

Essential hypertension alone or in combination with other antihypertensives, CHF, LV dysfunction after MI, cardiomyopathy

Unlabeled uses:
Angina, pediatric patients

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity, asthma, class IV decompensated cardiac failure, 2nd- or 3rd-degree heart block, cardiogenic shock, severe bradycardia, pulmonary edema

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, children, geriatric patients, cardiac failure, hepatic injury, peripheral vascular disease, anesthesia, major surgery, diabetes mellitus, thyrotoxicosis, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, renal disease

 

Black Box Warning:

Abrupt discontinuation

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator
Essential hypertension

• Adult:
PO
6.25 mg bid × 7-14 days; if tolerated well, then increase to 12.5 mg bid × 7-14 days; if tolerated well, may be increased (if needed) to 25 mg bid; not to exceed 50 mg/day;
EXT REL
cap 20 mg/day, may increase after 7-14 days to 40 mg/day

Congestive heart failure

• Adult:
PO
3.125 mg bid × 2 wk; if tolerated well, give 6.25 mg bid × 2 wk, then double q2wk to max dose of 25 mg bid <85 kg or 50 mg bid >85 kg;
EXT REL
caps (Coreg CR) 10 mg/day × 2 wk, increase to 20, 40, 80 mg/day over successive intervals of 2 wk

Postmyocardial infarction

• Adult:
PO
6.25 mg bid with food × 3-10 days, lower starting dose may be used if indicated; titrate upward as tolerated; may increase to 12.5 mg bid then titrate to 25 mg bid;
PO EXT REL
20 mg daily with food, lower starting dose of 10 mg/day may be used, titrate upward after 3-10 days, increase to 40 mg daily as required

Angina (unlabeled)

• Adult:
PO
25-50 mg bid

Available forms:
Tabs 3.125, 6.25, 12.5, 25 mg; ext rel cap 10, 20, 40, 80 mg

Administer:

• 
With food in morning; tabs may be crushed or swallowed whole; give ext rel every
AM
with food; do not break, crush, chew ext rel cap; separate alcohol (including OTC products that contain ethanol) by ≥2 hr; caps may be opened and sprinkled over applesauce

 

Black Box Warning:

Do not discontinue before surgery

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Dizziness
, fatigue, weakness, somnolence, insomnia, ataxia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, vertigo, depression, headache

CV:
Bradycardia,
postural hypotension
, dependent edema, peripheral edema,
AV block,
extrasystoles, hypo/hypertension, palpitations, peripheral ischemia,
CHF, pulmonary edema

GI:
Diarrhea
, abdominal pain, increased alk phos, ALT, AST

GU:
Decreased libido,
impotence
, UTI

INTEG:
Rash

MISC:
Injury, back pain, viral infection, hypertriglyceridemia,
thrombocytopenia,
hyperglycemia

RESP:
Rhinitis, pharyngitis, dyspnea,
bronchospasm,
cough,
lung edema

PHARMACOKINETICS

Peak 1-2 hr; readily and extensively absorbed PO; >98% protein binding; extensively metabolized by liver; excreted through bile into feces; terminal half-life 7-10 hr with increases in geriatric patients, hepatic disease

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
conduction disturbances—calcium channel blockers

Increase:
bradycardia, hypotension—levodopa, MAOIs, reserpine

Increase:
hypoglycemia—antidiabetic agents

Increase:
concentrations of digoxin, cycloSPORINE, CYP2D6 inhibitors (FLUoxetine, quiNIDine)

Increase:
toxicity of carvedilol—cimetidine, other antihypertensives, nitrates, acute alcohol ingestion

Decrease:
heart rate, B/P—cloNIDine

Decrease:
carvedilol levels—rifampin, NSAIDs, thyroid medications

Drug/Herb

Increase:
antihypertensive effect—hawthorn

Decrease:
antihypertensive effect—ephedra (ma huang)

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
blood glucose, BUN, potassium, triglycerides, uric acid, bilirubin, cholesterol, creatinine

Decrease:
sodium, HDL

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Hypertension:
B/P when beginning treatment, periodically thereafter; pulse: note rate, rhythm, quality; apical/radial pulse before administration; notify prescriber of significant changes

• 
CHF:
edema in feet, legs daily; fluid overload: dyspnea, weight gain, jugular venous distention, fatigue, crackles

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased B/P with hypertension

Teach patient/family:

• 
To comply with dosage schedule even if feeling better; that improvement may take several weeks

• 
To rise slowly to sitting or standing position to minimize orthostatic hypotension

• 
To report bradycardia, dizziness, confusion, depression, fever, weight gain, SOB, cold extremities, rash, sore throat, bleeding, bruising

• 
To weigh, take pulse, B/P at home; to advise if weight gain of >2 lb/day or 5 lb/wk and when to notify prescriber

 

Black Box Warning:

Not to discontinue product abruptly; to taper over 1-2 wk; life-threatening dysrhythmias may occur

• 
To avoid hazardous activities until stabilized on medication; dizziness may occur

• 
To avoid all OTC medications unless approved by prescriber

• 
To carry emergency ID with product name, prescriber information at all times

• 
To inform all health care providers of products, supplements taken

• 
To report if pregnancy is planned or suspected, pregnancy (C) avoid breastfeeding

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

caspofungin (Rx)

(cas-po-fun′gin)

Cancidas

Func. class.:
Antifungal, systemic

Chem. class.:
Echinocandin

ACTION:

Inhibits an essential component in fungal cell walls; causes direct damage to fungal cell wall

USES:

Treatment of invasive aspergillosis and candidemia that has not responded to other treatment, including peritonitis, intraabdominal abscesses; susceptible species:
Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, A. terreus, Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis
, esophageal candidiasis; empirical therapy for presumed fungal infection in febrile, neutropenic patients

Unlabeled uses:
Aspergillus niger
, fungal infections in premature neonates, neonates, infants, children <2 yr

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Hypersensitivity to this product, other echinocandins, including mannitol

Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, children, geriatric patients, severe hepatic disease

DOSAGE AND ROUTES
Calculator

• Adult:
IV
loading dose 50-70 mg on day 1 then 50 mg/day maintenance dose, depending on condition; max 70 mg/day

• Adolescent/child/infant ≥3 mo:
IV INF
70 mg/m
2
loading dose then 50 mg/m
2
/day; max 70 mg/day

• Neonate and infant <3 mo (unlabeled):
IV
25 mg/m
2
/day

Esophageal candidiasis

• Adult:
IV
50 mg × 7-14 days over 1 hr

• Child:
3 mo-17 yr: IV
70 mg/m
2
may increase to max 70 mg/m
2

Available forms:
Powder for inj 50, 70 mg

Administer:

• 
Do not mix or coinfuse with other medications, do not use dextrose-containing products to dilute, do not give as bolus

Intermittent IV INF route

• 
Allow to warm to room temp

• 
May administer loading dose on day 1

• 
Reconstitute
50-mg vial or 70-mg vial with 10.8 ml 0.9% NaCl, sterile water for inj or bacteriostatic water for inj (5 mg/ml or 7 mg/ml);
swirl
to dissolve, withdraw 10 ml reconstituted sol, and
further dilute
with 250 ml 0.9% NaCl, 0.45% NaCl, 0.225% NaCl, RL;
run
over 1 hr or more

SIDE EFFECTS

CNS:
Dizziness,
headache

CV:
Sinus tachycardia

GI:
Abdominal pain,
nausea, anorexia, vomiting, diarrhea, increased AST/ALT, alk phos

HEMA:
Thrombophlebitis,
vasculitis,
anemia

INTEG:
Rash, pruritus, inj site pain

META:
Hypokalemia

MS:
Myalgia

RESP:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

SYST:
Anaphylaxis

PHARMACOKINETICS

Metabolized in liver to inactive metabolites; excretion in feces, urine; phase II terminal half-life 9-11 hr; phase III terminal half-life 40-50 hr; protein binding 97%

INTERACTIONS

Increase:
caspofungin levels—cycloSPORINE; may need dosage reduction

Decrease:
levels of tacrolimus, sirolimus

Decrease:
caspofungin levels—carBAMazepine, dexamethasone, efavirenz, nelfinavir, nevirapine, phenytoin, rifampin

Drug/Lab Test

Increase:
AST, ALT, RBC, eosinophils

Decrease:
HCT/Hgb, WBC, potassium

NURSING CONSIDERATIONS
Assess:

• 
Infection;
clearing of cultures during treatment; obtain culture at baseline, throughout treatment; product may be started as soon as culture is taken (esophageal candidiasis); monitor cultures during HSCT for prevention of
Candida
infections

• 
Hepatic studies before, during treatment: bilirubin, AST, ALT, alk phos, as needed; obtain baseline renal studies

• 
Hypersensitivity:
rash, pruritus, facial swelling; also for phlebitis

• 
GI symptoms: frequency of stools, cramping; if severe diarrhea occurs, electrolytes may need to be given

Perform/provide:

• 
Storage at room temp for up to 24 hr or refrigerated for 48 hr; store reconstituted sol at room temp for 1 hr before preparation of sol for administration

Evaluate:

• 
Therapeutic response: decreased symptoms of
Candida, Aspergillus
infections

Teach patient/family:

• 
To notify prescriber if pregnancy is suspected or planned

• 
To inform prescriber of renal/hepatic disease

• 
To report bleeding, facial swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing, itching, rash, hives, increasing warmth, flushing; anaphylaxis can occur

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