As we know, some medications can sometimes have uncomfortable or difficult to manage side effects.
Week 6, we will be learning about elimination and alterations in elimination. For this activity, please look
up 5 medications that can cause constipation and 2 medications that can cause urinary retention. Fill out
the brief table below and we will share some of our findings in our discussion this afternoon.
Name of
medication
Pharmacologic
classification
Why it’s
commonly used
Dosage for adult
Ibuprofen (Motrin)
NSAIDs
Pain reliever or
fever reducer
400-800 mg x
daily (don’t
exceed 3200
mg/day)
Diphenhydramine
(Benadryl)
Antihistamines
20-50mg q 4-6
hr (don’t exceed
300mg/day)
Nortriptyline
(Pamelor)
Tricyclic
antidepressants
Relief of allergic
symptoms caused
by histamine
release
Treats depression
Diltiazem
Calcium channel
blockers
Treats
hypertension
(blood pressure
med)
30-120 mg 3-4
times daily
Ditropan XL
Hydralazine
Anticholinergics
Help with
overactive bladder
with symptoms of
urge incontinence
(treat
incontinence)
Antihypertensive Treat moderate to
severe
hypertension
25 mg 3-4 times
daily up to 150
mg/day
Don’t exceed
240 mg/day
5 mg 2-3 times
daily (don’t
exceed
5mg/4times
daily)
10 mg 4 times
daily
Side effects besides
constipation/urinary
retention
Headache, GI
bleeding, hepatitis,
dyspepsia, n/v and
abdominal
discomfort, cystitis,
hematuria, renal
failure,
hypersensitivity
reactions
Hypotension,
anorexia,
drowsiness,
constipation
Hypotension,
arrhythmias,
blurred vision, dry
eyes, nausea
n/d,
n/d, upset stomach
and stomach pain,
chest pain, edema,
dry mouth,
dizziness,
drowsiness
Tachycardia, angina,
arrhythmias,
edema, orthostatic
hypotension, d/n/v,
rash, arthralgias,
arthritis, dizziness,
drowsiness,
headache,
peripheral
neuropathy, drug-
Diphenhydramine
(Benadryl)
Antihistamines
Relief of allergic
symptoms caused
by histamine
release
20-50mg q 4-6
hr (don’t exceed
300mg/day)
induced lupus
syndrome
Hypotension,
anorexia,
drowsiness,
constipation