Nursing Pharmacology: Essential Medications and
Concepts
This resource provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of key medications
frequently encountered in nursing practice, including their mechanisms of action,
therapeutic uses, and significant adverse effects.
I. Respiratory Medications:
1. Albuterol: A Short-Acting Beta2 Agonist (SABA) used for the acute
relief of bronchospasm and symptoms of asthma. It works by relaxing the
smooth muscles of the airways.
2. Beclomethasone: An inhaled corticosteroid used for the long-term
treatment and prevention of airway inflammation in asthma.
3. Cromolyn: A mast cell stabilizer, administered via inhalation, used for the
prophylactic treatment of asthma and allergic reactions.
4. Ipratropium: A Respiratory Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Antagonist (anticholinergic bronchodilator) used to dilate airways and
reduce bronchoconstriction.
5. Montelukast: A respiratory anti-inflammatory agent and Leukotriene
Modifier, administered orally, used for the long-term control of asthma
and allergic rhinitis.
6. Prednisone: An oral corticosteroid used for the long-term control of
persistent asthma and other inflammatory conditions.
7. Salmeterol: A Long-Acting Beta2 Adrenergic Receptor Agonist (LABA)
used as a bronchodilator for the long-term maintenance treatment of
asthma and COPD; should not be used for acute symptoms.
8. Theophylline: A methylxanthine bronchodilator with a narrow
therapeutic range, less commonly used now due to potential toxicity and
interactions.
II. Analgesics and Antipyretics:
9. Acetaminophen: A centrally acting cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor
with analgesic (pain-relieving) and antipyretic (fever-reducing)
properties. It lacks significant anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic effects.
10.Aspirin: A Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that inhibits
platelet COX, COX-1, and COX-2, leading to decreased platelet
aggregation. It is used to prevent arterial thrombosis, stroke, and
, myocardial infarction (MI). Major adverse effects include the risk of
gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
11.Codeine: An antitussive (cough suppressant) and weak mu-opioid
agonist. A significant adverse effect is respiratory depression.
12.Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen: A combination medication containing an
opioid analgesic (hydrocodone) and a non-opioid analgesic
(acetaminophen) for pain relief.
13.Morphine Sulfate: A strong mu-opioid agonist used for moderate to
severe pain relief.
14.Dextromethorphan: A non-opioid antitussive used to suppress coughing.
III. Antivirals:
15.Acyclovir: An antimetabolite used to treat Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
and Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) infections. Its mechanism of action
involves inhibiting viral DNA polymerase, thereby suppressing viral DNA
synthesis. Resistance can develop.
16.Nevirapine: A Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
(NNRTI) that binds to HIV reverse transcriptase, inhibiting its activity.
Adverse effects include rash (potentially severe, like Stevens-Johnson
syndrome), hepatotoxicity, and multiple drug interactions.
17.Zidovudine (AZT): A Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
(NRTI) that inhibits HIV replication. Adverse effects include anemia,
neutropenia, lactic acidosis, GI disturbances, and central nervous system
(CNS) effects.
IV. Antifungals:
18.Amphotericin B: A broad-spectrum antifungal and the agent of choice
for systemic mycoses, despite its high toxicity. Its use is typically limited to
progressive and potentially fatal infections. Adverse effects include infusion
reactions, nephrotoxicity, and hypokalemia.
19.Ketoconazole: An alternative antifungal drug for systemic and superficial
mycoses. It has fewer severe side effects than amphotericin B but may be
slightly less effective. Adverse effects include hepatotoxicity, effects on sex
hormones, nausea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal pain.
V. Antibiotics:
20.Amoxicillin: A broad-spectrum penicillin active against Haemophilus
influenzae, Escherichia coli, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is inactivated by
Concepts
This resource provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of key medications
frequently encountered in nursing practice, including their mechanisms of action,
therapeutic uses, and significant adverse effects.
I. Respiratory Medications:
1. Albuterol: A Short-Acting Beta2 Agonist (SABA) used for the acute
relief of bronchospasm and symptoms of asthma. It works by relaxing the
smooth muscles of the airways.
2. Beclomethasone: An inhaled corticosteroid used for the long-term
treatment and prevention of airway inflammation in asthma.
3. Cromolyn: A mast cell stabilizer, administered via inhalation, used for the
prophylactic treatment of asthma and allergic reactions.
4. Ipratropium: A Respiratory Muscarinic Acetylcholine Receptor
Antagonist (anticholinergic bronchodilator) used to dilate airways and
reduce bronchoconstriction.
5. Montelukast: A respiratory anti-inflammatory agent and Leukotriene
Modifier, administered orally, used for the long-term control of asthma
and allergic rhinitis.
6. Prednisone: An oral corticosteroid used for the long-term control of
persistent asthma and other inflammatory conditions.
7. Salmeterol: A Long-Acting Beta2 Adrenergic Receptor Agonist (LABA)
used as a bronchodilator for the long-term maintenance treatment of
asthma and COPD; should not be used for acute symptoms.
8. Theophylline: A methylxanthine bronchodilator with a narrow
therapeutic range, less commonly used now due to potential toxicity and
interactions.
II. Analgesics and Antipyretics:
9. Acetaminophen: A centrally acting cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitor
with analgesic (pain-relieving) and antipyretic (fever-reducing)
properties. It lacks significant anti-inflammatory and antirheumatic effects.
10.Aspirin: A Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that inhibits
platelet COX, COX-1, and COX-2, leading to decreased platelet
aggregation. It is used to prevent arterial thrombosis, stroke, and
, myocardial infarction (MI). Major adverse effects include the risk of
gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding.
11.Codeine: An antitussive (cough suppressant) and weak mu-opioid
agonist. A significant adverse effect is respiratory depression.
12.Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen: A combination medication containing an
opioid analgesic (hydrocodone) and a non-opioid analgesic
(acetaminophen) for pain relief.
13.Morphine Sulfate: A strong mu-opioid agonist used for moderate to
severe pain relief.
14.Dextromethorphan: A non-opioid antitussive used to suppress coughing.
III. Antivirals:
15.Acyclovir: An antimetabolite used to treat Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)
and Varicella-Zoster Virus (VZV) infections. Its mechanism of action
involves inhibiting viral DNA polymerase, thereby suppressing viral DNA
synthesis. Resistance can develop.
16.Nevirapine: A Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
(NNRTI) that binds to HIV reverse transcriptase, inhibiting its activity.
Adverse effects include rash (potentially severe, like Stevens-Johnson
syndrome), hepatotoxicity, and multiple drug interactions.
17.Zidovudine (AZT): A Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
(NRTI) that inhibits HIV replication. Adverse effects include anemia,
neutropenia, lactic acidosis, GI disturbances, and central nervous system
(CNS) effects.
IV. Antifungals:
18.Amphotericin B: A broad-spectrum antifungal and the agent of choice
for systemic mycoses, despite its high toxicity. Its use is typically limited to
progressive and potentially fatal infections. Adverse effects include infusion
reactions, nephrotoxicity, and hypokalemia.
19.Ketoconazole: An alternative antifungal drug for systemic and superficial
mycoses. It has fewer severe side effects than amphotericin B but may be
slightly less effective. Adverse effects include hepatotoxicity, effects on sex
hormones, nausea, vomiting, headache, and abdominal pain.
V. Antibiotics:
20.Amoxicillin: A broad-spectrum penicillin active against Haemophilus
influenzae, Escherichia coli, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It is inactivated by
