GENERIC NAME: CEFUROXIME

BRAND NAME: Cefroxsur

CLASSIFICATION: Antibiotics / Second generation cephalosporins
DOSAGE, ROUTE & FREQUENCY: 1.5 gm IV q 8 hours ANST (-)
MECHANISM OF ACTION: Inhibits cell-wall synthesis, promoting osmotic instability:
usually bactericidal
DESIRED EFFECT: This drug is used to treat lower respiratory tract infections
NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Performing skin testing before administering the medication to the patient.
RATIONALE: to determine if the patient is allergic to the drug or not.
2. Avoid confusing the medication with other cephalosporins that have similar names.
RATIONALE: A mistake of this nature might injure the patient if it is not stopped
before it reaches them.
3. Instruct to report adverse effects like stomach pain, bleeding, drowsiness
RATIONALE: to prevent further complication and discomfort to the patient
4. Monitor for these side effects:
a. Vomiting
- Encourage to increase oral fluid intake
b. Diarrhea
- Ensure adequately hydrated because dehydration can sometimes trigger
headaches.
c. Headache
- Encourage to rest in a quiet and dim lit room to promote comfort and alleviate
headache
d. Dizziness
- Advise to move slowly, especially when changing position from lying to
sitting or from sitting to standing.
GENERIC NAME: OMEPRAZOLE
BRAND NAME: Sidprazole
CLASSIFICATION: Anti-ulcer drugs/ Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPIs)
DOSAGE, ROUTE & FREQUENCY: 40 mg IV OD
MECHANISM OF ACTION: Inhibits proton pump activity by binding to hydrogen- potassium
adenosine triphosphatase, located at secretory surface of gastric
parietal cells, to suppress gastric acid secretion.
DESIRED EFFECT: This drug is given to reduce acid production by the stomach as well as to
neutralize the stomach acid
NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Give drug at least 30-60 minutes before meals
RATIONALE: for optimal control of daytime gastric acidity.
2. Monitor for the serum electrolytes particularly magnesium
RATIONALE: for this may cause osteoporosis
3. Advise to avoid eating spicy foods and carbonated drinks.
RATIONALE: to prevent GI irritation
4. Instruct to report adverse effects like skin rashes, heart burn, cough, URI, abdominal
pain.
RATIONALE: to avoid other complication
5. Monitor for these side effects:
a. Headache
- Ensure adequately hydrated because dehydration can sometimes trigger
headaches.
b. Dizziness
- Advise to move slowly, especially when changing position from lying to
sitting or from sitting to standing.
c. Weakness
- Advise to have adequate rest
d. Constipation
- Encourage to increase oral fluid intake and fiber rich foods like bananas,
apples, pears…etc.
GENERIC NAME: LOSARTAN POTASSIUM
BRAND NAME: Losaar
CLASSIFICATION: Antihypertensive / Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
DOSAGE, ROUTE & FREQUENCY: 50mg tab OD
MECHANISM OF ACTION: Inhibits vasoconstrictive and aldosterone secreting action of
angiotensin II by blocking angiotensin II receptor on the surface
of vascular smooth muscle and other tissue cells
DESIRED EFFECT: This drug is given to relax the blood vessels thus lowering blood pressure
NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Monitor vital sign especially blood pressure.
RATIONALE: To check the effectiveness of the drug
2. Monitor for the serum electrolyte level particularly potassium.
RATIONALE: This drug may cause hyperkalemia
3. Advise to report adverse reactions and to immediately report swelling of the face, eye,
lips, or tongue and dyspnea.
RATIONALE: To prevent complications
4. Instruct patient to avoid or lessen intake of fatty foods.
RATIONALE: This may cause increase cholesterol level in the blood
5. Educate Patient about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a
balanced diet and regular exercise.
RATIONALE: It can help support the overall effectiveness of the medication, a healthy
lifestyle can help maintain a healthy blood pressure which compliments the effect of the
drug.
6. Monitor for these side effects:
a. Dizziness
- Advise to move slowly, especially when changing position from lying to
sitting or from sitting to standing
b. Headaches
- Ensure adequately hydrated because dehydration can sometimes trigger
headaches.
c. Nausea
- Encourage to increase oral fluid intake
d. Fatigue
- Instruct to perform light exercise
GENERIC NAME: CLARITHROMYCIN
BRAND NAME: Klarithix
CLASSIFICATION: Antibiotics/ Macrolide
DOSAGE, ROUTE & FREQUENCY: 500mg tab BID PC
MECHANISM OF ACTION: Binds to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosomes, blocking protein
synthesis; bacteriostatic or bactericidal, depending on concentration.
DESIRED EFFECT: This drug is given to treat lung infections such as pneumonia.
NURSING RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Notify physician immediately if rashes or other skin reaction occur.
RATIONALE: This may indicate serious hypersensitivity reactions.
2. Advise to take the medication religiously.
RATIONALE: To prevent relapse of infection and the development of antibiotic
resistance.
3. Advise to report all adverse reactions such as abdominal pain/ discomfort, dyspepsia,
insomnia and others
RATIONALE: to avoid further complications.
4. Monitor the lab test result particularly BUN levels.
RATIONALE: High BUN levels can result to kidney dysfunction
5. Monitor for these side effects:
a. Headache
- Ensure adequately hydrated because dehydration can sometimes trigger
headaches.
b. Flatulence
- Instruct to avoid gas-forming foods.
c. Vomiting
- Eat slowly with small frequent meals.