NURS 3210 Part 2 Drug Charts
Instructions: As we discuss the different medications classes and types, complete the chart. The more pertinent information you provide regarding the drug’s nursing implications will assist in your learning. The
information in the chart should be written in a way to provide complete and adequate patient education and teaching. Students must submit the chart in the indicated area in Blackboard (unless otherwise instructed by faculty)
throughout the semester per the course calendar in the syllabus. Failure to comply with these instructions will resort in a loss of 5 points per infraction.
Drug Class
Prototype
Indications of Use
Goal of therapy
Administration
Therapeutic Effects
Adverse Effects
Contraindications
Salicylates
Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)
Pain, fever, inflammation, and
cardiac problems (i.e., blood
clot and heart attacks).
Lower pain, fever, and
decrease inflammation.
Decrease blood clot
formation.
Orally (with food to decrease
stomach upset), Rectally
Pain reduced,
temperature decreased,
decrease signs of
inflammation (pain,
redness, and swelling at
the area), absence of
myocardial infraction
(heart attack) or stroke
Nausea, heartburn, decreased
blood clot formation from GI
blood loss, and bruising.
Sensitivity (allergy) to drug
or risk of bleeding.
Nonnarcotic analgesic
antipyretic
Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
Minor pain and fever.
Lower pain and decrease
fever.
Orally (with food to decrease
stomach upset), Rectally
Pain reduced and
temperature decreased.
Yellow tint to the skin or eyes
(jaundice), liver damage, and
kidney failure
Sensitivity (allergy) to drug,
or liver/kidney damage
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory
Ibuprofen (Motrin)
Minor-moderate pain, fever,
inflammation.
Lower pain, decrease
temperature, improve
signs and symptoms of
inflammation (pain,
redness, swelling, tissue
destruction and scarring)
Orally, IV
Pain reduction,
decreased temperature,
and improved signs of
symptoms of
inflammation (less pain,
swelling, and redness)
GI: heartburn, nausea,
constipation, GI ulcer with
hidden blood loss (blood in stool)
Allergy to NSAIDs
(nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs) and
aspirin
GU: liver damage, elevated labs
that test kidney function (BUN,
creatinine), and edema
Other
Antidote: Mucomyst for
toxicity
Respiratory: difficulty breathing
Allergic reactions
Corticosteroid
Prednisone
Relief of inflammation in
different areas of the body.
Lessen swelling, redness,
itching, and allergic
reactions, relief for
inflamed areas of the
body.
Dependent on area of
inflammation:
Oral tablet. Oral & nasal
inhalation. Injection: IV,
Intramuscular. Rectal. Topical
(local). Eye and ear drops
Reduce swelling, redness,
itching, and allergic
reactions. Relieve
different sites of
inflammation areas of the
body.
Increased risk of infection, low
blood sugar, weight gain from
fluid retention, reddened skin,
stretch marks, slow wound
healing, irregular menstrual
cycles
Fungal infections, people at
risk of catching an infection
Used to relieve symptoms;
do not cure the underlying
disease
Drug Class
Prototype
Indications of Use
Goal of therapy
Administration
Therapeutic Effects
Adverse Effects
Contraindications
Other
Penicillin
Ampicillin (Principen)
Bacterial infections
Treat a wide variety
of bacterial
infections.
PO: give on an empty
stomach.
Serum creatinine and blood urea
nitrogen (BUN), in normal
ragerepresent appropriate kidney
function
Allergic reaction: skin rash, hives,
itching, severe diarrhea, shortness
of breath, fever, sore throat, black
tongue, or any unusual bleeding
Sensitivity or allergic reactions
to any penicillin forms and
cephalosporin
Take 1 hour before or 2
hours after a meal
IV
Patient’s infection has resolved as
evidence by: negative cultures,
normal temperature, and normal
white blood cell (WBC) count
GI: abdominal pain, diarrhea,
stomach inflammation, and
nausea/vomiting
IM, IV, PO: take most with
food or milk to prevent
stomach upset
Serum creatinine and blood urea
nitrogen (BUN), in normal
ragerepresent appropriate renal
function
GI: abdominal pain, diarrhea,
stomach inflammation,
nausea/vomiting
Sensitivity or allergic reactions
to cephalosporin and penicillin
Some forms should not be
taken with antacids
Sensitivity to aminoglycosides;
caution in patients with kidney
damage
Hearing loss may be
irreversible.
Hypersensitivity/allergy to
ciprofloxacin or any drug in
quinolones class
Avoid sun if possible;
sunscreen not enough
Allergy to tetracycline; kidney
and liver damage
Avoid sunlightwear
sunscreen & protective
clothing in the sun
Cephalosporin
Aminoglycoside
Cefazolin (Ancef)
Gentamicin (Garamycin)
Bacterial infections &
prevent infection from
surgery
Bacterial infections
Treat bacterial
infections & used to
prevent infections at
a surgical site
Destroy the bacteria
causing the bacterial
infections
IM
IV, IM, PO
Reversal or prevention of infection
Allergic reaction: hives, itching, skin
rash
Signs and symptoms of infection are
resolving (normal temperature,
WBC count)
Kidney failure (decrease urine
output, abnormal labs that assess
kidney function)
Damage to the ear: dizziness,
spinning dizziness, ringing in the
ears, and hearing loss
Fluoroquinolones
Tetracycline
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Tetracycline (Sumycin)
Bacterial infections
Bacterial infections
Treat bacterial
infections
Treat a broad variety
of bacterial
infections
PO: with or without foot,
IV
PO: most effective on an
empty stomach; IV
Reversal of infection; assess of
factors that increase the risk of
adverse effects (kidney damage,
insufficient fluid intake, use of
multivitamins/antacids, or frequent
exposure to sunlight)
Sensitivity
Decreased signs and symptoms of
the infection (normal temperature
and normal white blood cell (WBC)
count
Sensitivity
GI: nausea/vomiting, & abdominal
discomfort
Photosensitivity: sensitivity/allergy
to sunlight
GI: gas, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting
Development of a second infection:
sore throat, white patches on gums
in mouth
Avoid taking iron,
multivitamins, &
antacidstake Cipro 2
hours before or 6 hours
after these agents
Do not take with dairy
products, antacids, or iron
supplements
Allergy to sunlight
Kidney and liver damage
Sulfonamides
Trimethoprim–
sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ
(Bactrim, Septra)
Bacterial infections
Treat bacterial
infections
PO: with or without food,
with glass of water; IV,
topical
Ending the infection; reversal &
improvement of symptoms (normal
temperature, normal WBC count)
Sensitivity & development of a
second infection
GI: abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, &
inflamed pancreas
Allergy to any sulfa drug,
trimethoprim, TMP-SMZ, or
any other sulfonamides,
salicylates (Aspirin)
Avoid: prolonged exposure
to sunlightwear sunscreen
& protective clothing
Dermatological: itching, hives, sun
allergy
Kidney: increased labs that reflect
kidney function (BUN, creatinine), &
kidney failure
Anti-infective
Vancomycin (Vancocin)
Treat resistant
microorganisms
(MRSA, methicillinresistant S. aureus)
Treat resistant
bacteria infections
Oral & IV
Signs and symptoms of infection
resolving (normal temperature and
WBC counts)
Low blood pressure, flushing
(redness of skin), and skin rash (red
man syndrome)
Allergy to vancomycin; kidney
disease
Drug Class
Prototype
Indications of Use
Goal of therapy
Administration
Therapeutic Effects
Adverse Effects
Contraindications
Other
Statin
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
High plasma cholesterol
and lipoprotein (fat) levels
Reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol
levels and reduce total blood
cholesterol levels
Orally: usually taken at night
Maintenance of cholesterol
levels
GI: nausea, constipation,
diarrhea, abdominal cramps or
pain
Pregnancy & breast-feeding
women
Liver function assessed 12
weeks after initiation, every
increase in dose, and then
periodically
Liver impairment
Musculoskeletal: injury to
muscle tissue (muscle ache,
pain, or weakness)
Fibrates
Cholesterol
Absorption Inhibitor
Miscellaneous
Dyslipidemia Agent
AngiotensinConverting Enzyme
(ACE) Inhibitors
Fenofibrate (TriCor)
Ezetimibe (Zetia)
Niacin (nicotinic acid)
Captopril (Capoten)
High triglyceride (fat)
levels in blood
Reduce triglyceride levels in
blood
Orally: with food to increase
absorption
Triglyceride/cholesterol levels
lowered to acceptable levels
GI: discomfort and diarrhea
High plasma cholesterol
Prevent the absorption of
cholesterollower total
cholesterol and LDL (bad
cholesterol) & increase HDL
(good) cholesterol
Orally: with or without food, at
the same time each day
Lowered cholesterol levels to
an acceptable level
GI: diarrhea, abdominal pain, &
nausea
Decreases LDL (bad)
cholesterol & increases HDL
(good) cholesterol
Orally: immediate-release with
meals, timid-release without
regard to meals
Cholesterol levels lowered to
acceptable levels
Reduce blood pressure
Orally: empty stomach, 1 hour
before or 2 hours after meals,
at the same time each day
Blood pressure return to
target limits without
significant adverse effects
High cholesterol levels
Hypertension (high blood
pressure)
Liver: liver damage, increase
cholesterol in the biliary
tractcausing gallstones
CNS: headache, dizziness, &
fatigue
Skin flushing (redness of skin),
itching, stomach irritation
Liver: increased ALT (enzyme in
liver to assess damage) &
hepatitis (liver inflammation)
Lifestyle modifications to
improve baseline blood
pressure readings (weight
Continuous cough
Sudden deep swelling or welts
under skin (usually around eyes
and lips)
Liver or severe kidney
impairment; preexisting
gallbladder disease, buildup
of bile in liver, or constant
liver function abnormalities
of unknown source
Pregnancy & breast-feeding
women; accompanying use
with a statin in people with
active liver disease
Take at night is used in
combination with a statin
Liver disease or unexplained
liver dysfunction, or an
active stomach ulcer
Pregnancy
Assess blood pressure and
pulse on an ongoing basis
with initial dosage
adjustment and periodically
during therapy
loss, stop smoking, reduced
salt intake)
Critical hypotension on initiation
(feel dizzy or faint)
High potassium level in patients
with Type 1 diabetes or kidney
damage or taking potassium
supplements, or potassiumsparing diuretics
Angiotensin II
Receptor Blockers
(ARBs)
Calcium Channel
Blockers (CCBs)
Organic Nitrates
Losartan (Cozaar)
Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Nitroglycerin (NitroBid, Bitro-Dur)
Hypertension (high blood
pressure)
Hypertension (high blood
pressure)
Onset chest pain
Block vasoconstriction effects
of the heart to lower blood
pressure
Lower blood pressure
Orally: without regard to food
Orally: without regard to food;
IV
Improvement (decrease)
blood pressure
Dizziness, muscle cramps or
weakness
Lifestyle modifications to
improve baseline blood
pressure readings (weight
loss, stop smoking, reduced
salt intake)
Sudden deep swelling or welts
under skin (usually around eyes
and lips)
Improvement (decrease)
blood pressure
CNS: drowsiness, fatigue,
dizziness
Lifestyle modifications to
improve baseline blood
pressure readings (weight
loss, stop smoking, reduced
salt intake)
Cardiac: edema (swelling) of the
hands, ankles, and feet; redness
of the skin; pounding/racing
heart
Management and prevention
of acute chest pain caused by
a heart attack
IV; Sublingual (take as soon as
chest pain begins);
Translingual spray (onto or
under tongue); PO; Topical
ointment
Improvement (decrease)
blood pressure
Lifestyle modifications to
improve baseline blood
pressure readings (weight
loss, stop smoking, reduced
salt intake)
Pregnancy
High potassium levels
Severe liver disease and
severely low blood
pressure; sensitivity to
calcium channel blockers
Avoid drinking grapefruit
juice
Severe headache, dizziness, slow
heart rate, loss of consciousness,
hypotension (low blood
pressure), & low blood pressure
when standing up from sitting or
lying down
Severe anemia,
hypotension, and decreased
volume of circulating blood
in the body
Apply topical forms to nonhairy area of skin (chest,
abdomen, thighs; avoid areas
away from the center of the
torso)
Beta-adrenergic
Blockers
Atenolol (Tenormin)
Chest pain, heart attack,
hypertension, heart
failure, & irregular
heartbeat
Treat high blood pressure &
chest pain
PO, IV
Improvement (decrease)
blood pressure
Heart failure, slowing of the
heart rate
2nd & 3rd degree heart block,
severe slow heart rate,
heart failure, or
hypotension
Cardiac Glycosides
Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Heart failure & atrial
fibrillation (AFibirregular heartbeat
that can lead to blood
clots, stroke, & heart
failure)
Treat mild to moderate heart
failure.
PO: taken with food or after
meals, take at least 1 hr.
before a prescribed antacid; IV
Slowing of the heart rate
“Skipped” heartbeats, nausea,
vomiting, loss of appetite,
abdominal discomfort, vision
changes (yellow-green halos &
problems with color perception),
blurred vision, and mental
changes
Inflammation of the heart
muscle, heart ventricles
beat quickly, & lifethreating rapid, inadequate
heartbeat.
HR less than 60 beats/min in
adults; do not administer