Read Mosby's 2014 Nursing Drug Reference Online
Authors: Linda Skidmore-Roth
CNS:
Headache
, drowsiness, apathy, confusion, disorientation, fatigue, depression, hallucinations
CV:
Dysrhythmias,
hypotension
, bradycardia,
AV block
EENT:
Blurred vision, yellow-green halos, photophobia, diplopia
GI:
Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, abdominal pain, diarrhea
Half-life 1.5 days, excreted in urine, protein binding 20%-30%
PO:
Onset 1/2-2 hr, peak 6-8 hr, duration 3-4 days
IV:
Onset 5-30 min, peak 1-5 hr, duration variable
Increase:
toxicity—azole antifungals, macrolides, tetracyclines, ritonavir
Increase:
hypercalcemia, hypomagnesemia, digoxin toxicity—thiazides, parenteral calcium
Increase:
hypokalemia, digoxin toxicity—diuretics, amphotericin B, carbenicillin, ticarcillin, corticosteroids
Increase:
digoxin levels—propantheline, quiNIDine, verapamil, amiodarone, anticholinergics, diltiazem, NIFEdipine, indomethacin
Increase:
bradycardia—β-adrenergic blockers, antidysrythmics
Increase:
cardiac dysrhythmia risk—sympathomimetics
Decrease:
digoxin absorption—antacids, kaolin/pectin, cholestyramine, metoclopramide
Decrease:
digoxin level—thyroid agents, cholestyramine, colestipol, metoclopramide, aMILoride
Decrease:
product effect—St. John’s wort
Increase:
CPK
•
Apical pulse for 1 min before giving product; if pulse <60 in adult or <90 in infant, take again in 1 hr; if <60 in adult, call prescriber; note rate, rhythm, character; monitor ECG continuously during parenteral loading dose
•
Electrolytes: potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium, calcium; renal function studies: BUN, creatinine; blood studies: ALT, AST, bilirubin, Hct, Hgb before initiating treatment and periodically thereafter
•
Monitor product levels; therapeutic level 0.5-2 ng/ml
•
Therapeutic response: decreased weight, edema, pulse, respiration, crackles; increased urine output; serum digoxin level (0.5-2 ng/ml)
•
Not to stop product abruptly; about all aspects of product; to take exactly as ordered; how to monitor heart rate
•
To avoid OTC medications, herbal remedies because many adverse product interactions may occur; not to take antacid at same time
•
To notify prescriber of loss of appetite, lower stomach pain, diarrhea, weakness, drowsiness, headache, blurred or yellow vision, rash, depression, toxicity
•
About the toxic symptoms of this product; when to notify prescriber
•
To maintain a sodium-restricted diet as ordered
•
To use one brand consistently
Discontinue product; give potassium; monitor ECG; give adrenergic-blocking agent, digoxin immune FAB
Canada only Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening
Nurse Alert
(di-jox′in im-myoon′ FAB)
DigiFab
Func. class.:
Antidote—digoxin specific
Antibody fragments bind to free digoxin or digitoxin to reverse toxicity by not allowing digoxin or digitoxin to bind to sites of action
Life-threatening digoxin toxicity
Mild digoxin toxicity, hypersensitivity to this product, papain or ovine protein
Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, children, geriatric patients, renal/cardiac disease, allergy to ovine proteins, hypocalcemia, heart failure
1 (38-mg) vial binds 0.5 mg digoxin; 1 (40 mg) DigiFab binds 0.5 mg digoxin
•
Adult and child: IV
dose (mg) = dose ingested (mg) × 0.8/1000 × 38- or 40-mg vial
• Adult and child: IV
dose = dose ingested (mg)/0.5 × 38- or 40-mg vial
• Adult and child: IV
SDC (ng/ml) × kg of weight/100 × 38- or 40-mg vial
• Adult and child >20 kg: IV
228 mg (6 vials)
• Infant and child <20 kg: IV
38 mg (1 vial)
•
Adult: IV
380 mg (10 vials)
•
Adult: IV
760 mg (20 vials)
•
Adult: ID
9.5 mcg
Available forms:
Inj 38 mg/vial (binds 0.5 mg digoxin), 40 mg/vial (binds 0.5 mg digoxin)
•
Test doses proven to be ineffective in the general population; only use test dose in those with known allergies or those previously treated with digoxin immune FAB
•
For test dose
dilute 0.1 ml of reconstituted product (9.5 mg/ml) in 9.9 ml sterile isotonic saline, inj 0.1 ml (1:100 dilution) ID and observe for wheal with erythema; read in 20 min
•
For scratch test,
place 1 gtt of sol on skin, make a scratch through the drop with a sterile needle; read in 20 min
•
After diluting 38 mg/4 ml of sterile water for inj 10 mg/ml mix; may be further diluted with normal saline; sol should be clear, colorless
•
By bolus if cardiac arrest is imminent or IV over 30 min using a 0.22-μm filter
CV:
CHF,
ventricular rate increase,
atrial fibrillation,
low cardiac output, hypotension
INTEG:
Hypersensitivity
, allergic reactions, facial swelling, redness, phlebitis
META:
Hypokalemia
MISC:
Anaphylaxis
(rare)
RESP:
Impaired respiratory function, rapid respiratory rate
IV:
Peaks after completion of inf; onset 30 min (variable); not known if crosses placenta, breast milk; half-life biphasic: 14-20 hr, prolonged with renal disease; excreted by kidneys
•
Considered incompatible with all products in syringe or sol
Interference:
immunoassay digoxin
•
Hypokalemia:
ST depression, flat
T
waves, presence of
U
wave, ventricular dysrhythmia; potassium levels may decrease rapidly
•
CHF:
dyspnea, crackles, peripheral edema, B/P, volume overload
•
Storage of reconstituted sol for up to 4 hr in refrigerator
•
Do not freeze DigiFab
•
Therapeutic response: correction of digoxin toxicity; check digoxin levels 0.5-2 ng/ml; digitoxin level 9-25 ng/ml
•
About the purpose of medication; to report delayed hypersensitivity: fever, chills, itching, swelling, dyspnea
Canada only Side effects:
italics
= common;
bold
= life-threatening
Nurse Alert
(dil-tye′a-zem)
Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem LA, Cartia XT, Dilacor-XR, Dilt-CD, Diltia XR, Diltia XT, Diltzac, Taztia XT, Tiazac
Func. class.:
Calcium channel blocker, antiarrhythmic class IV, antihypertensive
Chem. class.:
Benzothiazepine
Do not confuse:
Cardizem
/Cardene
Inhibits calcium ion influx across cell membrane during cardiac depolarization; produces relaxation of coronary vascular smooth muscle, di
lates coronary arteries, slows SA/AV node conduction times, dilates peripheral arteries
PO
angina pectoris due to coronary artery spasm, hypertension,
IV
atrial fibrillation, flutter, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
Unlabeled uses:
Unstable angina, proteinuria, cardiomyopathy, diabetic neuropathy
Sick sinus syndrome, AV heart block, hypotension <90 mm Hg systolic, acute MI, pulmonary congestion, cardiogenic shock
Precautions:
Pregnancy (C), breastfeeding, children, geriatric patients, CHF, aortic stenosis, bradycardia, GERD, hepatic disease, hiatal hernia, ventricular dysfunction
•
Adult: PO
30 mg qid, increasing dose gradually to 180-360 mg/day in divided doses or (SR) 60-120 mg bid; may increase to 240-360 mg/day or 120 or 180 mg
EXT REL
(LA, CD, XT, XR products)
PO
daily
•
Adult: IV BOL
0.25 mg/kg over 2 min initially then 0.35 mg/kg may be given after 15 min; if no response, may give
CONT INF
5-15 mg/hr for up to 24 hr
•
Adult: PO
or 120-240 mg
(EXT REL once-daily dosing)
daily or 60-120 mg bid
(SUS REL twice-daily dosing)
• Adolescent/child/infant >7 mo: IV BOL
0.25 mg/kg over 5 min then
CONT IV INF
0.11 mg/kg/hr
Available forms:
Tabs 30, 60, 90, 120 mg; ext rel tabs 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420 mg; ext rel caps 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, 300, 360, 420 mg; inj 5 mg/ml (5, 10 ml)
•
Cardiazem LA
ext rel tab 24 hr: give daily, either
AM
or
PM
, without regard to meals
•
Dilacor XR/Diltia XT
ext rel cap 24 hr: give daily; take on empty stomach; swallow whole; do not cut, crush, chew, open
•
Tiazac, Tiztia XT:
give daily without regard to meals
•
Conventional regular-rel tab:
give before meals, at bedtime
•
Cardizem CD or equivalent (Cartia XT):
generic ext rel cap 24 hr: give daily, without regard to meals
•
May crush, sprinkle regular tab on applesauce for administration
•
Grind 16 90-mg diltiazem regular rel tab into fine powder
•
In separate container, mix 60 ml Ora-Sweet and 60 ml Ora-Plus
•
Add small amount of sol to powder to form paste, add geometric amounts of base to achieve desired vol, place in amber container
•
IV undiluted over 2 min
•
Diluted 125 mg/100 ml, 250 mg/250 ml of D
5
W, 0.9% NaCl, D
5
/0.45% NaCl, give 10 mg/hr, may increase by 5 mg/hr to 15 mg/hr, continue inf up to 24 hr
Y-site compatibilities:
Albumin, amikacin, amphotericin B, aztreonam, bumetanide, ceFAZolin, cefotaxime, cefoTEtan, cefOXitin, cefTAZidime, cefTRIAXone, cefuroxime, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, digoxin, DOBUTamine, DOPamine, doxycycline, EPINEPHrine, erythromycin, esmolol, fentaNYL, fluconazole, gentamicin, hetastarch, HYDROmorphone, imipenem-cilastatin, labetalol, lidocaine, LORazepam, meperidine, metoclopramide, metroNIDAZOLE, midazolam, milrinone,
morphine, multivitamins, niCARdipine, nitroglycerin, norepinephrine, oxacillin, penicillin G potassium, pentamidine, piperacillin, potassium chloride, potassium phosphates, ranitidine, sodium nitroprusside, theophylline, ticarcillin, ticarcillin/clavulanate, tobramycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, vancomycin, vecuronium
CNS:
Headache, fatigue, drowsiness
, dizziness, depression, weakness, insomnia, tremor, paresthesia
CV:
Dysrhythmia,
edema
,
CHF,
bradycardia, hypotension, palpitations,
heart block
GI:
Nausea
, vomiting, diarrhea, gastric upset,
constipation
, increased LFTs
GU:
Nocturia, polyuria,
acute renal failure
INTEG:
Rash
, flushing, photosensitivity, burning, pruritus at inj site
RESP:
Rhinitis, dyspnea, pharyngitis
Onset 30-60 min; peak 2-3 hr immediate rel, 10-14 hr ext rel, 6-11 hr sus rel; half-life 3½-9 hr; metabolized by liver; excreted in urine (96% as metabolites)
Increase:
effect, toxicity—theophylline
Increase:
effects of β-blockers, digoxin, lithium, carBAMazepine, cycloSPORINE, anesthetics, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, benzodiazepines, lovastatin, methylPREDNISolone
Increase:
effects of diltiazem—cimetidine
•
CHF:
dyspnea, weight gain, edema, jugular venous distention, rales; monitor I&O ratios daily, weight
•
Angina:
location, duration, alleviating factors, activity when pain starts
•
Dysrhythmias:
cardiac status: B/P, pulse, respiration, ECG and intervals PR, QRS, QT; if systolic B/P <90 mm Hg or HR <50 bpm, hold dose, notify prescriber
•
Storage in tight container at room temp
•
Therapeutic response: decreased anginal pain, decreased B/P
•
How to take pulse, B/P before taking product; that a record or graph should be kept
•
To avoid hazardous activities until stabilized on product, dizziness is no longer a problem
•
To limit caffeine consumption; to avoid grapefruit juice
•
To avoid OTC products unless directed by prescriber
•
About the importance of complying with all areas of medical regimen: diet, exercise, stress reduction, product therapy
•
To change position slowly
To report dizziness, SOB, palpitations
•
Not to discontinue abruptly
Atropine for AV block, vasopressor for hypotension