EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE

School of Nursing

DRUG STUDY

Medication Classification and Indication Mechanism of Action Contraindications Adverse Effects Nursing Considerations
Category

Generic Name: Pregnancy Category: - Severe Acts directly on vascular - Contraindicated in - Headache Before:
Hydralize hypertension smooth muscle to cause patients - pounding/fast > check doctor's order
Pharmacologic: - Maintenance vasodilation, primarily hypersensitive to heartbeat > wash hands before
Brand Name: Peripheral vasodilator controlled arteriolar, decreasing drugs. - loss of appetite administering the drug
Apresoline hypotension peripheral resistance; - Contraindicated in - nause > take the client's BP
Dosage: Therapeutic: during maintains or increases those with - vomiting > check the patency of the
50mg q15mins. x Antihypertensive anesthesia renal and cerebral blood coronary artery - diarrhea IV line
2 doses for BP - Acute heart flow disease or mitral - dizziness > educate the client about
140/100 Pregnancy Category Risk: failure valvular the purpose and
Route: C rheumatic heart importance of the drug
IVTT Patient's actual disease.
Frequency: indication: - Use cautiously in During:
25mg tab. TID Pregnancy- induced patients with > Give drug exactly as
hypertension suspected cardiac prescribed
Pharmacokinetics disease, stroke, or Side Effects > Take with food
severe renal - headache > discontinue if blood
Onset: Rapid impairment and in - loss of appetite dyscrasias
Peak: 10-20 mins those taking other - nausea > withdraw drug gradually
- vomiting and not at once
Duration: 2-4 hrs - diarrhea > repeat the purpose of
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

Half-life: - chest pain the drug

After:
> Monitor client for
orthostatic hypertension
> reevaluate therapy if the
patient develops
arthralgia, fever, chest
pain, or continued malaise.
> report persistent or
severe constipation
> report unexplained fever
or malaise, muscle or joint
aching, rash, numbness,
tingling
> document and record.
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

DRUG STUDY

Medication Classification and Indication Mechanism of Action Contraindications Adverse Effects Nursing Considerations
Category

Generic Name: Pregnancy Category: General: May inhibit the central Contraindicated in - Dizziness - Monitor patient's
methyldopa Pharmacologic: - hypertension vasomotor centers, patients who: - Lightheadedness BP regularly.
Sympatholytic (centrally - IV decreasing sympathetic - Are hypersensitive - Drowsiness Elderly patterns
Brand Name: acting antiadrenergic) outflow to the heart, to drug - Stuffy nose, and are more likely to
Aldomet methyldopate: kidneys and peripheral - Have active weakness, experience
Therapeutic: acute hypertensive vasculature. hepatic disease especially when hypotension,
Dosage: 250 mg orally Antihypertensive crisis; not drug of - Had previous starting this syncope, and
250-500mg over 30-60 choice because slow methyldopa medication and sedation.
mins Pregnancy Category Risk: onset of action therapy which when dosage is - Occasionally,
B for P.O.; C for I.V. caused liver increased. tolerance may
Route: > unlabeled use: problems occur, usually
PO/IV Hypertension of - Are taking MAO Side Effects between the
Frequency: 2-3 days pregnancy inhibitors Other side effects: second and third
orally/ every 6 hours - weight gain, months of therapy.
Patient's actual - joint pain or Adding a diuretic
indication: swelling, or adjusting
Pharmacokinetics Methyldopa is given to - muscle pain, dosage may be
patient to treat - dry mouth, needed. If a
- vomiting,
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

Onset: Varies pregnancy- induced - Stomach pain, patient's response

hypertension - swollen or changes
Peak: 2-4 hr
"black" tongue, significantly, notify
Duration: 12-24 hr - constipation,
the prescriber.
- diarrhea,
Half-life: 1.75hrs - After dialysis,
- bloating,
- gas, monitor the
- depressed patient for HTN
mood, and notify the
- unusual prescriber, if
thoughts, needed. Patients
- nightmares,
may need an extra
- numbness or
tingly feeling, dose of the drug.
- missed
menstrual
periods
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

DRUG STUDY

Classification and Indication Mechanism of Action Contraindications Adverse Effects Nursing Considerations
Medication Category

Generic Name: Pregnancy Category: Terbutaline is in a class Wider air passages allow Serious adverse reactions, - increased heart Assess your patient's
Terbutaline Category C of drugs called more air to flow in and including death, have rate respiratory status while on
betamimetics. They out of the lungs. been reported after - transient turbine, monitor your
US FDA pregnancy help prevent and slow Increased airflow administration of hyperglycemia patient for hypoglycemia.
Brand Name: Bricanyl category C: Animal contractions of the reduces shortness of terbutaline sulfate to - hypokalemia Also monitor the maternal
reproduction studies uterus. It may help breath, wheezing, and pregnant women. In the - cardiac and fetal vital signs. If this
Dosage: 0.25mg have shown an adverse delay birth for several cough. Terbutaline also mother, these adverse arrhythmias drug is being used for
effect on the fetus and hours or days. During is used for delaying reactions include - pulmonary preterm labor, know that
Route: Subcutaneously there are no adequate that period, doctors can premature labor by increased heart rate, edema turbine may a cause
and well-controlled administer other drugs relaxing the muscles of transient hyperglycemia, - myocardial decreased potassium
Frequency: 4-6 hrs studies in humans, but to help ensure the baby the uterus that are hypokalemia, cardiac ischemia levels and teach the
potential benefits may is born as healthy as responsible for expelling arrhythmias, pulmonary - death patient to report any side
warrant use of the drug possible. the fetus at the time of edema and myocardial effects to their provider.
Pharmacokinetics in pregnant women delivery. ischemia..
despite potential risks. Side Effects
Onset: 15mins - convulsion
Peak: 30-60 mins - decreased urine
- dry mouth
Duration: 6-7 hrs - increased thirst
Half-life: 12-20 hrs - irregular
EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

heartbeat
- nausea
- vomiting
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

DRUG STUDY

Medication Classification and Indication Mechanism of Action Contraindications Adverse Effects Nursing Considerations
Category

Generic Name: Pregnancy Category: Following delivery of Methylergometrine is Use of Methergine is - confusion Methylergonovine may
methylergonovine Category C the placenta, for an ergot alkaloid. It contraindicated during - dizziness pass into breast milk in
routine management of increases the tone, pregnancy because of its - faiting small amounts and could
meleate
Use of Methergine is uterine atony, rate and amplitude of uterotonic effects. The - inability to speak affect a nursing baby. In
Brand Name: contraindicated during hemorrhage and uterotonic effect of - seizures some cases this drug may
uterine contractions
Methergine pregnancy because of subinvolution of the Methergine is utilized - severe or be used for up to 1 week
which shortens the
its uterotonic effects. uterus. For control of after delivery to assist sudden after a baby is born. It is
Dosage: 0.2mg (oral) third stage of labor
uterine hemorrhage in involution and decrease headache important to discuss with
0.2mg (IM) the second stage of and reduces blood hemorrhage, shortening - slurred speech your doctor about whether
loss.
labor following delivery the third stage of labor.. you should breast-feed
Route: Oral of the anterior during that time.
shoulder.
Frequency: 3-4 times for Side Effects
1 week
- allergic reactions
- decreased
Pharmacokinetics hearing
- fast/irregular
Onset: 5-10 mins (oral) heartbeat
- increased blood
2-5 mins (IM) pressure
- pain or tightness
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

Peak: 1.12 ± 0.82 in the chest,

neck, back or
hours. arms
Duration: 3hrs
Half-life: 3.4 hrs
(1.5-12.7hrs if IM)
 EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

DRUG STUDY

Medication Classification and Indication Mechanism of Action Contraindications Adverse Effects Nursing Considerations
Category

Generic Name: Pregnancy Category: accelerates maturation The short term effects of Dexamethasone is - exogenous Observe for signs of
Dexamethasone Category C of fetal lungs, decrease corticosteroids are administered with Cushing adverse reactions. Monitor
number of neonates decreased vasodilation anti-myeloma products syndrome blood pressure 2 - 3 times
controlled studies in with respiratory and permeability of that can cause - weight gain daily. Test for glycosuria
Brand Name:
humans, but potential distress syndrome and capillaries, as well as embryo-fetal harm and - hypertension daily. If urine is positive for
Decadron
benefits may warrant improves survival in decreased leukocyte are contraindicated for - hyperglycemia sugar, check each urine.
use of the drug in preterm delivered migration to sites of use in pregnancy. Human
Dosage: 12mg
pregnant women neonates. inflammation. Data suggests that

Route: IM despite potential risks. Corticosteroids binding dexamethasone should be

to the glucocorticoid used during pregnancy
receptor mediates only if the potential Side Effects
Frequency: 12hr
changes in gene benefit justifies the - blurred vision
expression that lead to potential risk to the fetus. - muscle
Pharmacokinetics
multiple downstream weakness
effects over hours to - dizziness
Onset: 1hr - insomnia
days. Glucocorticoids
Peak:.0.5 - 4hrs inhibit neutrophil - headache
- impaired wound
Duration: 36-54 hrs apoptosis and
healing
demargination; they - nausea
Half-life: 36-72 hrs
inhibit phospholipase - rash
EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing

A2, which decreases the - mood changes

formation of arachidonic
acid derivatives; they
inhibit NF-Kappa B and
other inflammatory
transcription factors;
they promote
anti-inflammatory genes
like interleukin-10.
Lower doses of
corticosteroids provide
an anti-inflammatory
effect, while higher
doses are
immunosuppressive.
High doses of
glucocorticoids for an
extended period bind to
the mineralocorticoid
receptor, raising sodium
levels and decreasing
potassium levels.
EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE
School of Nursing