MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic name

Trade name

Bethamethasone

Diprolene,
Celestone

Frequency/ Route/ Side effects

P.O
0.5-5 mg/day

IM
0.25-9 mg/day in 1-2 divided
doses

problems with your

vision;
swelling, rapid weight gain,
feeling short of breath;
severe depression, unusual
thoughts or
behavior, seizure (convulsions);
bloody or tarry stools, coughing
up blood;
pancreatitis (severe pain in your
upper stomach spreading to your
back, nausea and vomiting, fast

Classification/ Action

Nursing consideration

Corticosteroid (long
acting)

Give daily dose before 9

AM to mimic normal peak
corticosterone blood
levels.

prevents and controls

inflammation
by controlling the rate
of protein depressing
the migration of
polymorphonuclear
leukocytes and
fibroblasts, and
reversing capillary
permeability and
lysosomal stabilization.

Increase dosage when

patient is subject to
stress.
Taper doses when
discontinuing high-dose
or long-term therapy.
Do not give live virus
vaccines with
immunosuppressive
doses of corticosteroids.

heart rate);
low potassium (confusion,
uneven heart rate, extreme thirst,
increased urination, l

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic name

Trade name

Frequency/ Route/ Side effects

Calcium Gluconate

Calcium Gluconate

Adults
PO 500 to 8,000 mg/day (as
calcium gluconate), in divided
doses, preferably 1 to 2 h after
meals. For the powder, 3
Tbsp/day with food or liquid. IV
500 mg to 2 g (5 to 20 mL of 10%
solution).

Classification/
Action

Electrolytes
And replacement
solutions

Children
IV 200 to 500 mg (2 to 5 mL of
10% solution).

Replaces
Calcium and

Nursing consideration

Use all calcium

product with
extreme
caution in
digitalized
patients and
patients with
sarcoidosis

Advise patient to take

tablets or capsules 1 to 2
h after meals.

Infants

maintain
calcium level.

IV No more than 200 mg (no

more than 2 mL of 10% solution).

Advise patient to take oral

suspension with food or
liquid.
Advise patient, to
immediately report
any of the
following to health
care provider:
general body
weakness,
injection-site
reaction or pain,
intractable nausea
and vomiting

nausea or vomiting;
decreased appetite;
constipation;
dry mouth or increased thirst; or
increased urination.

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic Name

Trade Name

Frequency/ Route/ Side

effects

Dinoprostone

Cerviprime

IV:
Vaginal Dilatation of cervix,
induction and augmentation
of labor- q. 6 hours

Labor induction- q. 6-8hrs.

Classification/ Action

Abortifacient,
Cervical
Ripening agents

Nursing consideration

Check the chart if the

patient is hypersensitive
to the drug
Give the drug after meal

Causing the cervix to

contract and the cervix
to thin and dilate.

Tell the patient to chew

tablet before swallowing

Pregnancy termination: q. 2
hours.

Advise patient to change

position often and
walking will help pass out
flatus

Genitourinary- Increased
uterine contraction with or
without fetal distress, rupture
of the uterus

Report if any of the

adverse effects is present

Gastrointestinal - Nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea, and
abdominal pain.
Miscellaneous- Fever, low
blood pressure, increase in
eye pressure, headache,
breathing difficulty.
Blood- An increased risk of
postpartum disseminated
intravascular coagulation.

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic Name

Trade Name

Frequency/ Route/ Side

effects

Classification/ Action

Nursing consideration

Dexamethasone

Decadron,
Dexasone, Diodex

1.8 mg IV q6

Anti inflammatory
Glucocorticoid

Skin rash
Swollen face, legs or ankles
(fluid retention)
Vision problems (
Dexamethasone may cause
cataracts and increased
intraocular pressure)

suppresses inflammation
and the normal immune
response. It prevents the
release of substances in
the body that causes
inflammation.

Monitor intake and output of

patient.
Observe the patient for
peripheral edema, steady
weight gain, rales or
crackles or dyspnea. Notify
the physician immediately if
these clinical manifestations
are noted.
Periodic growth evaluation
for children should be done
time to time.

Cold or infection that last for

a long time

Guaiac-test stools should be

carried out.

Muscle weakness
Black or tarry stool
(suggestive of peptic
ulceration caused by
Dexamethasone use)

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic Name

Trade Name

Frequency/ Route/ Side effects Classification/ Action

Magnessium Sulfate

Magnessium

2.5g through IV

Anticonvulsant

Nursing consideration
Assess possibility for

Sulfate

5g through IM at each buttocks

q6

inhibits convulsion by
acting at the myoneural
junction to prevent
release of acetylcholine
and to decrease the
SLE
motor and plate
potential. It inhibits the
: syndrome joint-swelling,fever)
reaction,anemia,agranulocytosis, contraction of the uterus
by directly acting on the
hepatitis,glomerulonephritis,
myometrial cells and
acute renalfailure
enhancing uterine blood
flow.

interactions w/ other
drugs or herbal
products the patient
may be taking
especially anything that
may impact blood
pressure before start
treatment.
Monitor patients closely
during and following
infusions.Observe
orthostatic precautions

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic Name

Trade
Name

Ritodrine HCL

Yutopar

Frequency/ Route/ Side effects

IV:

Classification/
Action

Nursing consideration

Tocolytic drug

Monitor maternal P, R
closely; persistent

at least 12 h after uterine contractions cease.

Maternal Effects
CNS: Headache, weakness, tremor,
nervousness, restlessness, emotional upset,
anxiety, malaise
GI: Nausea, vomiting, ileus, constipation,
diarrhea
CV: Increase in heart rate, increase in systolic
BP, decrease in diastolic BP, palpitations, chest
pain, supraventricular tachycardia, sinus
bradycardia with withdrawal of drug
Respiratory: Dyspnea,
hyperventilation, postpartum pulmonary
edema (sometimes fatal)
Hypersensitivity: Anaphylactic shock, rash
Fetal Effects
GI: Ileus
CV: Fetal heart rate increase, hypotension in
neonates whose mothers were given other adrenergic agonist

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY

(uterine relaxant)
-relaxes uterine
smooth muscles to
arrest premature
labor

maternal P > 140

beats/min or persistent
tachypnea (R > 20/min)
may be signs of
impending pulmonary
edema.
Avoid fluid overload;
serial hemograms may
indicate state of
hydration.
Maintain patient in left
lateral position during the
infusion to minimize
hypotension.

Generic Name

Trade Name

Frequency/ Route/ Side

effects

Syntocinon

Oxytocin

0 units/ml in1ml ampule,

vialor syringe incompatible
IVsolution.
CV:
Hypertension,increased
heartrate, systemicvenous
return,cardiac output

Classification/ Action

Uterine active
agent

Nursing consideration

Continuously monitor
contractions, fetal
and maternal heart
rate, and maternal
blood pressure and
ECG. Discontinue
infusion if uterine
hyperactivity occurs.

Monitor patient
extremely closely
during first and
second stages of
labor because of
riskof cervical
laceration,uterine
rupture and maternal
and fetaldeath.

Assess fluid intake

and output. Watch for
signs and symptoms
of water intoxication.

To induce or stimulate
labor.

GI:
Nausea,vomiting
RESPIRATORY:
Anoxia, asphyxia
OTHERS:
Low APGARscore at 5 mins.

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic Name
Isoxsuprine

Trade Name

Duvadilan

Frequency/ Route/ Side effects

-

P.O- 4 times a day

Transient flushing
Hypotension
Rashes
Gastrointestinal(GI)disturbances
Maternal pulmonary edema
Fetal tachycardia
Transient palpitations
Dizziness

Classification/ Action
-

Vasolidator

Labor (premature)
inhibitor and
antidysmenorrheal
Isoxsuprine produces
uterine relaxation
through a direct effect
on smooth muscles

Nursing consideration
-

Assess
patientsconditio
n beforetherapy.
Assesspotential
benefitsfrom
drug therapy.

- Monitor for
possibledrug
inducedadverse
reactions:
Hypotension
Tachycardia
Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Severe rash
- Inform the
patient about
possible side
effects , adverse
symptoms to
report

MARY CHILES COLLEGE

DRUG STUDY
Generic Name

Trade Name

Terbutaline Sulfate

Brethine

Frequency/ Route/ Side

effects
-

P.O
Subcutaneous

Minimum Dose
5 mg at 6-hrintervals tid
Maximum Dose
15 mg/day
CNS:
Restlessness,apprehension,
anxiety, fear,CNS stimulation,
hyperkinesia,insomnia, tremor,
drowsiness,irritability,
weakness, vertigo,headache,
seizures
CV:
Cardiac
arrhythmias,palpitations,
angina pain,changes in BP
and ECG
GI:
Nausea, vomiting,heartburn,
unusual or bad tastein mouth
Respiratory:
Respiratorydifficulties,
pulmonary edema,coughing,
bronchospasm

Classification/ Action

Beta2selective
Adrenergic
antagonist

in low doses, acts

relativelyselectively at
beta2-adrenergic
receptors to cause
bronchodilation and relax
the pregnant uterus; At
higher doses, beta2
selectively is lost and the
drug acts at beta1
receptors to cause typical
sympathomimetic cardiac
effects

Nursing consideration

-Monitor client for at least

30minutes.
- Arrange for regular followup,including blood tests,
toevaluate effects.
- Instruct to report chest
pain,dizziness, insomnia,
weakness,tremor or
irregular heartbeat,failure to
respond to usualdosage.Instruct to take medication
asdirected for the full course
of therapy, even if feeling
better.
- Do not double dose.
- Do proper documentation