ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATE:
Medication
Colin McKeown
STUDENT NAME______________________________________
Levodopa-Cardidopa
MEDICATION___________________________________________________________________________
REVIEW MODULE CHAPTER____________
medication
CATEGORY CLASS__Dopaminergic
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE OF MEDICATION
Expected Pharmacological Action
Relief from dyskenesias and an increase in ability to
perform ADLs by maintaining balance between
dopamine and acetylcholine in the extrapyramidal
nervous system
Therapeutic Use
Most effective for PD treatment
"Wearing off" effect may occur at the end of
dosing interval, indicating medication levels
are subtherapeutic
Complications
"on-off" phenomena can occur any time during the dosing
interval, lasting minutes to hours at a time and becoming
more frequent and intense over time
Contraindications/Precautions
Nausea/vomiting
drowsiness
dyskinesias
orthostatic hypotension
Psychosis
Interactions
Medication Administration
Take medication with foods
Effects may not be visible for
weeks or months
Nursing Interventions
Adminster with food at the start
of treatment and if GI effects
occur
decrease dosage if dyskinesias
occur
Monitor Blood pressure
vitamins and foods with pyridoxine can reduce therapeutic
effects
Concurrent use of antipsychotic agents (haloperidol)
blocks dopamine receptors
Client Education
Evaluation of Medication Effectiveness
Improvement of manifestations as demonstrated by
absence of tremors, reduction of irritability and stiffness
Increase in ability to perform ADLs
ACTIVE LEARNING TEMPLATES
Eat protein in several small
portions during the day
avoid wheat germ, green
vegetables, bananas, whole
grain cereals, liver, legumes
(reduces therapeutic effect)
Therapeutic Procedure
A7