Medication/Reason for Dosage/Safe Dose Action as Related to Common Side Effects Nursing Implications Medication Order Medical Diagnosis Generic: Dose ordered: Levodopa is converted into Involuntary movements, Administer on a regular Levodopa/Carbidopa 200/50mg PO active dopamine in the anxiety, dizziness, schedule, eating after 200/50mg QID central nervous system and hallucinations, memory administration may decrease acts as the loss, blurred vision, GI upset but foods high in Trade: Levocarb CR Safe dose: Yes. 25 neurotransmitter, resulting nausea, vomiting, protein may alter the effect mg carbidopa/100 in a relief in tremors. diarrhea, dark urine or of the drug, reposition Class: Dopamine agonist mg levodopa 3 Carbidopa prolongs the sweat, orthostatic slowly to avoid orthostatic (antiparkinson agent) times daily. May time that Levodopa is hypotension. hypotension, rinse mouth be increased every active in the central and provide oral hygiene 1–2 days until nervous system. regularly to decrease dry desired effect is mouth. Assess for signs of achieved (max = 8 toxicity (involuntary muscle tablets of 25 mg twitching, protrusion of carbidopa/100 mg tongue, spasmodic eye levodopa/day). winking, facial grimacing). Generic: Levothyroxine Dose ordered: Replaces or supplements Headache, insomnia, Administer before breakfast Sodium 75mcg PO daily the thyroid hormones. irritability, angina, with a full glass of water, Increases the metabolic arrhythmias, tachycardia, patients with dysphasia may Trade: Synthroid Safe dose: Yes. 50 rate of body tissues (the abdominal cramps, take tablet crushed, watch mcg as a single function of thyroid diarrhea, vomiting, for signs and symptoms of Class: thyroid dose initially, then hormone in the body). sweating, hyperthyroidism (toxicity, preparation (hormones) can be increased q hyperthyroidism. including: tachycardia, chest 2-3 weeks by pain, diaphoresis, tremors) 25mcg a day, maintenance dose is usually 75mcg/day.
Medication/Reason for Medication Order Dosage/Safe Dose Action as Related to Medical Diagnosis Common Side Effects Nursing Implications Generic: Levodopa/Carbidopa 200/50mg Trade: Levocarb CR Class: Dopamine agonist (antiparkinson agent) Dose ordered: 200/50mg PO QID Safe dose: Yes. 25 mg carbidopa/100 mg levodopa 3 times daily. May be increased every 1–2 days until desired effect is achieved (max = 8 tablets of 25 mg carbidopa/100 mg levodopa/day). Levodopa is converted into active dopamine in the central nervous system and acts as the neurotransmitter, resulting in a relief in tremors. Carbidopa prolongs the time that Levodopa is active in the central nervous system. Involuntary movements, anxiety, dizziness, hallucinations, memory loss, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark urine or sweat, orthostatic hypotension. Administer on a regular schedule, eating after administration may decrease GI upset but foods high in protein may alter the effect of the drug, reposition slowly to avoid orthostatic hypotension, rinse mouth and provide oral hygiene regularly to decrease dry mouth. Assess for signs of toxicity (involuntary muscle twitching, protrusion of tongue, spasmodic eye winking, facial grimacing). Generic: Levothyroxine Sodium Trade: Synthroid Class: thyroid preparation (hormones) Dose ordered: 75mcg PO daily Safe dose: Yes. 50 mcg as a single dose initially, then can be increased q 2-3 weeks by 25mcg a day, maintenance dose is usually 75mcg/day. Replaces or supplements the thyroid hormones. Increases the metabolic rate of body tissues (the function of thyroid hormone in the body). Headache, insomnia, irritability, angina, arrhythmias, tachycardia, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, hyperthyroidism. Administer before breakfast with a full glass of water, patients with dysphasia may take tablet crushed, watch for signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism (toxicity, including: tachycardia, chest pain, diaphoresis, tremors)
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