See 2. Table 2 Medication Name Drug Action/ Normal Dose Major Side Nursing (Generic/Trade) Purpose Range Effects Considerations Antipyretic, PO:325-650mg Hepatic failure, Assess type of 325 mg (2 tabs) PO analgesic. q 4-6hr or 1 hepatotoxicity, pain, location, q 6 hr PRN for pain gm 3-4 times failure, and intensity Inhibits synthesis of daily or 1300 neutropenia, prior to and 30-60 prostaglandins that mg q 8 hr (not pancytopenia, minutes may serve as to exceed 4g or leucopenia, rash, following mediators of pain and 2.5g/24hr in urticaria administration. fever, primarily in patients with the CNS. hepatic/renal Assess fever, note impairment. presence of associated signs, i.e. malaise, tachycardia, diaphoresis Evaluate hepatic, hematologic, and renal function during prolonged therapy. May alter results of blood glucose monitoring by falsely lowering values when measured with glucose method. Amiodarone Antiarryhthmics Dizziness, Monitor ECG (Cordarone) 200 mg III) fatigue, continuously PO q am in 1-2 doses malaise, corneal during initial Prolongs action for 1-3 microdeposits, oral therapy. potential and weeks, then adult resp. Monitor heart refractory period, 600-800 distress rate and rhythm slows the sinus mg/day in 1-2 syndrome, throughout rate, increases PR doses for 1 pulmonary therapy. and QT intervals, month, then fibrosis, and decreases 400 mg/day pulmonary Assess for signs peripheral vascular maint. Dose toxicity, chf, of pulmonary resistance worsening of toxicity (vasodilation). arrhythmias, (rales/crackles, bradycardia, decreased
See 2. Table 2 Medication Name (Generic/Trade) Drug Action/ Purpose Normal Dose Range Major Side Effects Nursing Considerations 325 mg (2 tabs) PO q 6 hr PRN for pain Antipyretic, analgesic. Inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins that may serve as mediators of pain and fever, primarily in the CNS. PO:325-650mg q 4-6hr or 1 gm 3-4 times daily or 1300 mg q 8 hr (not to exceed 4g or 2.5g/24hr in patients with hepatic/renal impairment. Hepatic failure, hepatotoxicity, failure, neutropenia, pancytopenia, leucopenia, rash, urticaria Assess type of pain, location, and intensity prior to and 30-60 minutes following administration. Assess fever, note presence of associated signs, i.e. malaise, tachycardia, diaphoresis Evaluate hepatic, hematologic, and renal function during prolonged therapy. May alter results of blood glucose monitoring by falsely lowering values when measured with glucose method. Amiodarone (Cordarone) 200 mg PO q am Antiarryhthmics III) Prolongs action potential and refractory period, slows the sinus rate, increases PR and QT intervals, and decreases peripheral vascular resistance (vasodilation). in 1-2 doses for 1-3 weeks, then 600-800 mg/day in 1-2 doses for 1 month, then 400 mg/day maint. Dose Dizziness, fatigue, malaise, corneal microdeposits, adult resp. distress syndrome, pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary toxicity, chf, worsening of arrhythmias, bradycardia, Monitor ECG continuously during initial oral therapy. Monitor heart rate and rhythm throughout therapy. Assess for signs of pulmonary toxicity (rales/crackles, decreased
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