Drugs Classification Action Indication Adverse Effect Nursing Responsibilities

Verapamil • Antianginal Inhibits the • Angina Dizziness, • Monitor BP very carefully

hydrochloride • Antiarrhythmi movement of pectoris duty vertigo, • Monitor cardiac rhythm
(Verelan) c calcium ions across to coronary sleepiness, regularly
• Antihypertensi the membranes of artery spasm headache, • Protect IV solution from
ve cardiac and arterial • effort- peripheral light
• Calcium muscle cells results associated edema, • Advise patient to take this
Channel in the depression of angina hypotension, drug in the morning with
Blocker impulse formation in • Chronic nausea, food
specialized stable constipation, • Advise patient to report
pacemaker cells. angina muscle fatigue irregular heart beat,
• essential shortness of breath,
hypertension swelling of hands and
Ranitidine feet, dizziness, nausea
Hydrochloride and constipation
Inhibits the basal • Active
(Zantac) gastric acid secretion duodenal
• histamine 2 and gastric acid ulcer Headache, • Advise patient to take this
antagonist secretion that • GERD malaise, drug with meals and at
stimulated by food, • Erosive dizziness, rash, bedtime
insulin, histamine, esophagitis constipation, • Advise patient to have
gastrin and • heartburn, diarrhea, medical follow-up care to
pentagastrin acid nausea, evaluate the response
indigestion vomiting, • Advise patient to report
abdominal pain sore throat, fever, unusual
Nicardipine bruising or bleeding, tarry
Hydrochloride stools, confusion, severe
Inhibits the headache
• antianginal • chronic
• antihypertensi movement of stable
ve calcium ions across angina: use Dizziness, • Monitor BP very carefully
• calcium the membranes of alone or with lightheadedness, • Monitor cardiac rhythm
channel cardiac and arterial beta headache, regularly
blocker muscle cells results blockers peripheral • Advise patient to have a
in the depression of • managemen edema, frequent meals if GU
impulse formation in bradycardia,
 specialized t of essential flushing, nausea upset occurs
pacemaker cells. hypertension • Advise patient to report
Decreased cardiac irregular heart beat,
energy consumption, shortness of breath,
and increased swelling of hands and
delivery of oxygen to feet, dizziness and
myocardial cells constipation

Drugs Classification Action Indication Adverse Effect Nursing Responsibilities

Metocloprami • antiemetic Stimulates motility • Acute and Restlessness, • monitor BP during IV
de • dopaminergic of upper GI tract recurrent drowsiness, administration
(Reglan) blocker without stimulating diabetic fatigue, nausea • Monitor for extra
• GI stimulant gastric, biliary or gastroparesi and diarrhea pyramidal reaction
pancreatic secretion s • Advise patient not to use
• prevention alcohol, serious sedation
of nausea will occur
and vomiting • Advise patient to report
involuntary movement of
face, eyes, severe
depression and severe
diarrhea

• adrenal Enters target cells Vertigo,

Hydrocortison cortical and binds to • replacement headache, • Advise patient to take
e Valerate steroid cytoplasmic therapy in hypotension, this drug exactly as
• corticosteroid receptors; initiates adrenal shock, fragile prescribed
(short- acting) many complex cortical skin, • Take with meals if GI
• glucocorticoid reactions that are insufficiency amenorrhea, upset occurs
• hormone responsible for its • hypercalcem irregular • Advise patiemt not to
anti- inflammatory ia associated menses, pepctic veruse, joint after intra-
with cancer ulcer, muscle articular injections, even
• rheumatoid weakness if pain is gone
arthritis •
Drugs Classification Action Indication Side Effects/ Nursing Responsibilities
 Adverse Effect

Diphenhydra • antihistamine Blocks the effects of • perennial Side Effects: • Administer with food if GI
mine • cough histamine at H1- and seasonal Diarrhea or upset occurs
hydrochloride suppressant receptor sites, has allergic constipation, dry • Advise patient to avoid
(Benadryl) • anti- motion- atropine- like, anti- rhinitis mouth alcohol, serious sedation
sickness pruritic and sedative • nighttime will occur
20-50mg q 4- drugs effects sleep aid Adverese Effect: • Advise patient to report
6hr PO not • suppression Drowsiness, difficulty in breathing,
exceed of cough due sedation, hallucinations, tremors
300mg/24hr to colds and dizziness, and loss of coordination
allergy restlessness,
epigastric
distress,
Thickening of
bronchial
secretions

• alpha- Increases cardiac • low cardiac • Obtain history of

Dopamine adrenergic output, output Side Effetcs: patient’s
hydrochloride agonist blood pressure, • hypotension Headache, underlying condition
2- • beta1 – renal • correction of vasoconstriction, before
5mcg/kg/min selective perfusion (in low hemodynami nausea, therapy
IV adrenergic doses). c imbalances vomiting, • Monitor urine flow,
agonist present in dyspnea cardiac output, BP
the shock closely during infusion
syndrome Adverse Effects:
due to MI Anxiety,
tachycardia,
angina pain,
azotemia
 Drugs Classification Action Indication Side Effects/ Nursing Responsibilities

Adverse Effect

Epinephrine • alpha- Relaxes bronchial • Brochospasm Side Effects: • Do not exceed

(Adrenalin) adrenergic smooth s, Dizziness, recommended dosage
agonist muscles, causes hypersensitiv drowsiness, • Briskly massage site or
• anti cardiac ity fatigue, IM injection to hasten
0.1 to 0.5 ml asthmatic stimulation, relieves apprehension, drug action.
reactions,
of • bronchodilato allergic signs and anaphylaxis. anxiety, fast • Discard solution if
1:1,000 r symptoms, helps • Hemostasis heart rate reddish brown and after
subcutaneousl • nasal stop • Acute expiration date.
y decongestant local bleeding, and asthma Adverse Effects: • Advise patient to report
or IM decreases pain attacks. Restlessness, chest pain, dizziness,
sensation • Restoring headache, N/V, insomnia, weakness,
cardiac pallor, HPN tremors or irregular heart
rhythm in resulting in beat
cardiac intracranial
arrest. hemorrhage

Side Effects:
jaundice,
• Loop Diuretics • Edema • Do not expose to light
tinnitus,
associated • Measure and record
hearing
with HF, weight to monitor fluid
impairment,
renal disease changes
hypotension,
• Acute • Advise patient to report
water/electrolyt
pulmonary loss or gain of more than
e
Furosemide edema depletion, 3pounds in 1 day,
• hypertension pancreatitis, swelling in ankles or
(Lasix) Inhibits the abdominal pain, fingers, dizziness,
reabsorption of dizziness, fatigue, muscle
sodium and chloride anemia weakness
in the proximal and
Initial: 20–80
distal
mg/day as a tubules as well as
the Adverse Effects:
single dose.
For resistant ascending loop of Orthostatic
cases, dosage Henle; this results in hypotension,
can be the weakness,
increased by excretion of sodium, thrombophlebiti
20– chloride, and, to a s
40 mg q 6–8 lesser
hr until degree, potassium
desired and
diuretic bicarbonate ion.
response is
attained.
Maximum
daily dose
should not
exceed 600
mg

Drugs Classification Action Indication Side Effects/ Nursing Responsibilities

Adverse Effect

Terbutaline • anti acts relatively • prophylaxis Side effects: • do not exceed

sulfate asthmatic selectively at beta2- and Weakness, recommending dose
(Brethine) • bronchodilato adrenergic treatment of dizziness, • advise patient to report
r receptors to cause bronchial inability to sleep, chestpain, dizziness,
0.25mg • tocolytic drug bronchodilation and asthma N/V tremors or irregular
subcutaneousl relax the pregnant • to prevent heart beat, failure to
y into lateral uterus preterm Adverse Effects: respond to usual dosage
deltoid area labor Restlessness,
apprehension,
cardiac
arrhythmias,
palpitation,
respiratory
difficulties, pallor

Hydralazine Acts directly on • Monitor patient for

hydrochloride • antihypertens vascular smooth • severe Side effects: orthostatic
ive muscle to cause essential Dizziness, hypertension, which is
• vasodilator vasodilation, hypertension weakness, GI most marked in the
(peripheral) primarily arteriolar, • after load upset morning and in hot
decreasing treatment in weather and with
peripheral HF Adverse Effects: alcohol or exercise
resistance; Headache, • Do not exceed on
maintains or palpitations, recommended dose
increase renal and tachycardia • Advise patient to report
cerebral blood flow A/N/V fever, persistent or severe
chills, nasal constipation;
congestion unexplained fever or
malaise, muscle or joint
aching, chest pain, rash
 Drugs Classification Action Indication Side Effects/ Nursing Responsibilities

Adverse Effect

Isosorbide • antianginal Relaxes vascular • Treatment Side effects: • Place the sublingual
Dinitrates • nitrate smooth muscle with and Dizziness, tablet under the tongue.
(Isoket) • vasodilator a resultant decrease prevention of lightheadedness, Advise patient not to
in venous return and angina headache, chew
decrease in arterial pectoris flushing of back • Advise patient to report
BP which reduces and face blurred vision, persistent
left ventricular or severe headache
workload and Adverse effects:
decreases Vertigo,
myocardial oxygen tachycardia,
consumption hypotension,
syncope,
collapse,
orthostatic
Tramadol • analgesic hypotension,
Hydrocholride ( centrally Binds to mu-opioid nausea • Advise the patient to
(Ultram) acting) receptors and • Relief of limit the use or being
inhibits the reuptake moderate to Side effects: dependent on opioids.
50-100mg PO of norepinephrine severe pain Dizziness, • Advise patient to report
q 4-6hr. and serotonin; drowsiness, severe nausea,
causes many effects impaired visual dizziness, severe
similar to the acuity, nausea constipation
opioids but does not
have respiratory Adverse effects:
depressant effects Headache,
sedation,
hypotension,
sweating,
vomiting, dry
 mouth

Drugs Classification Action Indication Side Effects/ Nursing Responsibilities

Adverse Effect

Phenytoin • antiarrhytmic Has anti epileptic • Control Side Effects:

(Dilantin) • antiepileptic activity without grand mal
causing general CNS and
depression; psychomotor
stabilizes neuronal seizure
membranes and • control
prevents status
hyperexcitability epilepticus
caused by excessive
stimulation