pain m
Medications
Instructed in new m
edication Aricept to m
anage m
oderate dem
entia of the Alzheim
er type. In addition, warned of possible S/E such as headache, insom
nia, dizziness, fatigue, depression, abnorm
al dream
s, som
nolence, seizures, trem
or, irritability, paresthesia, aggression, vertigo, ataxia, restlessness, abnorm
al crying, nervousness, aphasia, syncope, pain
, chest pain
, hypertension, vasodilation, atrial fibrillation, hot flashes, hypotension, cataract, blurred vision, eye irritation, sore throat, nausea, diarrhea, vom
iting, anorexia, fecal incontinence, GI bleeding, bloating, epigastric pain
, frequent urination, ecchym
osis, weight loss, dehydration, m
uscle cram
ps, arthritis, toothache, bone fracture, dyspnea, bronchitis, pruritus, urticaria, diaphoresis, influenza, and increased libido. The drug does not alter the underlying degenerative disease but can tem
porarily stabilize or relieve sym
ptom
s. Effective therapy depends on taking drug at regular intervals. Instructed to take drug in the evening, just before bedtim
e. Im
m
ediately report significant adverse effects or changes in overall health status. Inform
health care team
that patient is taking drug before he receives anesthesia. Avoid OTC cold or sleep rem
edies because of the potential for increased anticholinergic effects.
Instructed patient on new m
edication Ciprofloxacin HCL, which is used to m
anage tract infection. In addition, warned of possible S/E, such as, headache, restlessness, trem
or, dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, insom
nia, depression, light-headedness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, paresthesia, throm
bophlebitis, edem
a, nausea, diarrhea, vom
iting, abdom
inal pain
or discom
fort, oral candidiasis, pseudom
em
branous colitis, dyspepsia, flatulence, constipation, crystalluria, interstitial nephritis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, neutropenia, throm
bocytopenia, arthralgia, arthropathy, joint or back pain
, joint inflam
m
ation, joint stiffness, tendon rupture, aching, neck or chest pain
, rash, photosensitivity, Stevens-Johnson syndrom
e, toxic epiderm
al necrolysis, exfoliative derm
atitis, burning, pruritus, erythem
a, hyperpigm
entation.
Instructed patient in new m
edication side effects ; the m
ost com
m
on side effect is hot flashes (50% of patients) and facial flushing. Alcohol m
ay worsen this reaction, and so it should be cautiously consum
ed. Other com
m
on side effects of the com
bination are diarrhea, constipation and overall pain
including pain
in the back, hips and stom
ach. Less com
m
on side effects are breast enlargem
ent and breast pain
, which m
ay be due to the bicalutam
ide alone.
Instructed patient in new m
edication side effects; the m
ost com
m
on side effect is hot flashes (50% of patients) and facial flushing. Alcohol m
ay worsen this reaction, and so it should be cautiously consum
ed. Other com
m
on side effects of the com
bination are diarrhea, constipation and overall pain
including pain
in the back, hips and stom
ach. Less com
m
on side effects are breast enlargem
ent and breast pain
, which m
ay be due to the bicalutam
ide alone.
Patient instructed on Nitroglycerin sublingual tablets usually give relief in 1 to 5 m
inutes. If the pain
is not relieved, you m
ay use a second tablet 5 m
inutes after you take the first tablet. If the pain
continues for another 5 m
inutes, a third tablet m
ay be used. If you still have chest pain
after a total of 3 tablets, contact your doctor or go to a hospital em
ergency room
right away. Do not drive yourself and call 911 if necessary.
Skilled nurse instructed patient about m
edication Oxycodone is used to treat m
oderate to severe pain
. Take this m
edicine exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Never share the m
edicine with another person. M
isuse narcotic pain m
edication can use addiction overdose, or death, especially in a child or other person using the m
edicine without a prescription. Com
m
on Oxycodone side effects m
ay include: m
ild drowsiness, headache, dizziness, tired feeling; stom
ach pain
, nausea, vom
iting, constipation, loss of appetite, dry m
outh, or m
ild itching.
SN instructed patient / caregiver that the com
bination preparation fluticasone/salm
eterol (Advair diskus) is a form
ulation containing fluticasone propionate and salm
eterol xinafoate, used in the m
anagem
ent of asthm
a and chronic obstructive pulm
onary disease. Com
m
un side effect / adverse reaction m
ay include: Body aches or pain
, choking, congestion, dryness of the throat, high-pitched noise when breathing, hoarseness, runny nose, sneezing, trouble with swallowing, voice changes. Less com
m
on side effect / adverse reaction: Cough-producing m
ucus, flu-like sym
ptom
s, irritation or inflam
m
ation of the eye, m
uscle pain
, pain
or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones, sleep disorders, stuffy nose, white patches in the m
outh or throat or on the tongue.
SN instructed patient about Gabapentin ( Neurontin ). It is a m
edication used to treat epilepsy, neuropathic pain
and hot flashes. It is also used for restless leg syndrom
e. It is a first line agent for the treatm
ent of neuropathic pain
arising from
diabetic neuropathy, post-herpetic neuralgia, and central neuropathic pain
. M
ost com
m
on side effects of gabapentin in adult patients include dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness, weight gain, and peripheral edem
a. It m
ay also produce sexual dysfunction in som
e patients, sym
ptom
s of which m
ay include loss of libido, inability to reach sexual clim
ax, and erectile dysfunction. It should be used carefully in patients with renal im
pairm
ent due to possible accum
ulation and toxicity. Warning of an increased risk of depression and suicidal thoughts and behaviors in patients taking gabapentin. Report to Physician or nurse if any of those side effect / adverse reaction occurs.
SN instructed patient that Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug that is particularly effective as an im
m
unosuppressant drug. It is used to treat som
e types of cancer, but has significant adverse effects. It is used for m
any different indications including: Pericarditis, m
ultiple sclerosis, nephrotic syndrom
e, to relieve the effects of shingles, lupus, m
yasthenia gravis, poison oak exposure, m
eniere's disease and as part of a drug regim
en to prevent rejection after organ transplant. Possible side effect m
ay include: Abdom
inal pain
, peptic ulcer, pain
ful hips or shoulders, steroid-induced osteoporosis, stretch m
arks, osteonecrosis - sam
e as avascular necrosis, insom
nia, severe joint pain
, cataracts or glaucom
a, anxiety, black stool, stom
ach pain
or bloating, severe swelling am
ong others. Take prednisone as ordered.
SN instructed patient and caregiver about Fentanyl Patch. This m
edication is used to help relieve severe ongoing pain
. Fentanyl belongs to a class of drugs known as narcotic ( opiate ) analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain
. Use this m
edication on a regular schedule as directed by your doctor, not as needed for sudden ( breakthrough) pain
. Apply this m
edication to the skin as directed by your doctor. Do not apply on burns, cuts, irritated skin, or skin that has been exposed to radiation ( x-ray treatm
ent ). Select a dry, non - hairy area on a flat part of your body, such as the chest, sides, back, or upper arm
s. To avoid irritation, apply to a different area each tim
e. Be sure to rem
ove the old patch before applying a new patch. The used patch still contains enough fentanyl to cause serious harm
, even kill a child or pet, so fold it in half with the sticky sides together and discard properly. Som
e side effects are nausea, vom
iting, constipation, lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or headache m
ay occur. M
ild irritation, itching, or redness at the application site m
ay also occur. Som
e of these side effects m
ay decrease after you have been using this m
edication for a while. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor. To prevent constipation, eat a diet adequate in fiber, drink plenty of water, and exercise. Ask your pharm
acist for help in selecting a laxative ( such as a stim
ulant type with stool softener ).