Drug challenge

Nursing, Oct 1996 by Gever, Marcy Portnoff

You routinely administer combination drugs...but do you know what's in them? Drug Challenge can help you find out. Just match each combination of ingredients in Section II with its correct name in Section I.

SECTION I

___ 1. Versiclear (Hope Pharmaceuticals)

___ 2. Excedrin PM Liquigels (Bristol-Myers)

___ 3. Estratest (Solvay)

___ 4. Marax (Roerig)

___ 5. Butibel (Wallace)

SECTION II

a. esterified estrogens, 1.25 mg; methyltestosterone, 2.5 mg Hot flashes and night sweats are symptoms of menopause this drug relieves. Esterified estrogens reduce vasomotor menopausal symptoms. Methyltestosterone, an androgen, may help lessen symptoms in women who don't respond adequately to estrogens alone. Have your patient contact her physician if she develops androgenic adverse reactions such as hoarseness, acne, or facial hair.

b. belladonna extract, IS mg; butabarbital, IS mg This drug relieves gastrointestinal spasms. Belladonna extract, a natural source of several anticholinergic alkaloids, is an antispasmodic. Butabarbital, a barbiturate, is a sedative. Warn your patient to use this potentially habit-forming drug as prescribed.

c. acetaminophen, 500 mg; diphenhydramine HCI, 25 mg A patient may select this drug to relieve a headache at bedtime. Acetaminophen is a nonopioid analgesic; diphenhydramine HCI, a sedating antihistamine, promotes sleep. Many nonprescription drugs contain analgesics and antihistamines, so tell your patient to consult her pharmacist before taking this drug with other medications.

d. sodium thiosulfate, 25%; salicylic acid, 1%; isopropyl alcohol, 10% This lotion is prescribed for fungal skin infections. Sodium thiosulfate is an antifungal. Salicylic acid, a topical keratolytic, helps slough damaged skin. Isopropyl alcohol is an antiseptic and drying agent. Tell your patient to complete treatment to prevent a relapse.

e. theophylline, 130 mg; ephedrine sulfate, 25 mg; hydroxyzine HCI, 10 mg A physician may prescribe this drug for bronchial asthma. Theophylline is a xanthine bronchodilator. Ephedrine sulfate, a vasoconstrictor, relieves congestion from asthma. Hydroxyzine HCI, a sedating antihistamine, reduces anxiety. Have your patient take this drug with food.

Marcy Portnoff Gever, HHh, MId, author of Drug Challenge, is Drug Information Editor for Nursing96.