Need some help...!!!

:frustrated: Need some answers to a few questions form you `smart nurses`!!

1) What group of medications interfers with the absorption of oral medications such as digoxin and iron compounds?
When should they be administered?

2) Before administering Coumadin what should the nurse do first?

3) What is the classification of drug that gives increased ease of breathing?

4) Name some common medications that require a serum drug level to be done routinely?

5) Why would an anticholinergic be frequently administered with an antipsychotic?

I have these already `answered` ` sorta` LOL and just want to compare the answers I see you smart guys may give.

oH OH...forgot these two regarding conversions:
7mg/tablet=? mgO/5 tablet
48mg/tablet=12mg/tab

Regarding the conversion ones...I will be honest,,,,I haven`t a clue what the answers are...so if somebody would be kind enough to give the answer and explain how they came up with it that would be great.

I don`t even understand the qiestion re the conversion but I typed it in exactly as it is written!!


Thanks so much for any help you may be able to give!!

#1 An antacid or laxative that contains aluminum, magnesium, or kaolin-pectin such as Maalox, Rolaids, Mylanta, Milk of Magnesia, and others.

#2 Check bleeding times (PT, PTT). Check for hx of bleeding problems - ulcer, stroke, etc.

#3 Bronchodilator.

#4 Lithium is the only thing that comes to mind.

#5 An adverse reaction to some antipsychotic meds (i.e., thorazine) can cause tardive dyskinesia - involuntary contraction of smooth muscle especially in the face/neck. Anticholinergic meds prevent this.

I didn't understand your conversion problem either.

Hope this helps. :-)

Some other drugs that require routine serum level checks are digoxin, dilantin, tegretol, & potassium. Any others?

depakote (valproic acid)

Lidocaine, quinidine, heparin, coumadin, any electrolyte, vancomycin, gentamicin

teapotagain wrote:4) Name some common medications that require a serum drug level to be done routinely?

Coumadin, Heparin, etc. don't require a serum drug level- they require monitoring of coagulation studies (PT/PTT/INR), but not serum drug levels.

ABCs are your anticholinergics I think. Artane, Benedryll, and Cogentin. Benedryll IM is first because it's the weakest I suppose. I agree w/ the prevention of Tardive Dyskinesia..but isn't it also administered for s/s of Acute Dystonic Reaction?

Now granted, I am only a student but I live on mneumonics.
Our professor told us that Heparin was associated with PTT ..an you can remember that you can make an "H" from the TT but drawing a line through it. And Coumadin for PT..need to educate pt. about eating Vit. K rich foods and get knowledge of ETOH consumption so dr. can accurately choose level for pt.

CaceNurse wrote:ABCs are your anticholinergics I think. Artane, Benedryll, and Cogentin. Benedryll IM is first because it's the weakest I suppose. I agree w/ the prevention of Tardive Dyskinesia..but isn't it also administered for s/s of Acute Dystonic Reaction?

You're absolutely right about the acute dystonic rxn. Cogentin (for example) can be given prophalactically daily with the antipsychotic, or only given PRN. There are antiemetics and muscle relaxers that can also cause these reactions, but I couldn't tell you what they are at the moment. I'm sure someone here knows.

In the ER we give Benadryl a lot if someone has a dystonic reaction to meds like Phenergan, Compazine, Reglan, etc....

I was given reglan in the ER once to treat nausea while I drank CT contrast. I had never had it before and I had a severe dystonic reaction to it. Picture a previously rational patient, in c-spine, flat on her back, unknown if there are any injuries, waving her arms and legs franticely, screaming "I GOTTA GET OUTA HERE!" Yeah, that was me. They gave me benadryl and it cleared it right up, and put me to sleep on top of that.