Drug challenge

Nursing, Jul 2001 by Gever, Marcy Portnoff

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

SECTION I

1. Tylenol No. 4 (Ortho-McNeil)

2. Lexxel (AstraZeneca)

3. Extra-Strength Maalox (Novartis)

4. Combivent (Boehringer Ingelheim)

5. Bactrim DS (Roche)

SECTION II

a. trimethoprim, 160 mg; sulfamethoxazole, 800 mg This combination of the antibiotics trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole is prescribed to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Tell the patient to take each dose with a full glass of water to reduce the risk of developing urine crystals that can form stones. Warn him to notify the health care provider right away if he develops a rash.

b. acetaminophen, 300 mg; codeine phosphate, 60 mg Used to relieve moderate pain, this drug contains acetaminophen, a nonopioid analgesic, and codeine, an opioid analgesic. Tell your patient to use a stool softener if it causes constipation.

c. enalapril maleate, 5 mg; felodipine, 2.5 mg, 5 mg This extended-release tablet contains enalapril, an ACE inhibitor, and felodipine, a calcium channel blocker that combats hypertension. Tell your patient to swallow the tablets whole because chewing or crushing could alter their time release.

d. each 5 ml contains: aluminum hydroxide, 500 mg; magnesium hydroxide, 450 mg; simethicone, 40 mg A suspension containing the antacids aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide and the antiflatulent simethicone, this drug helps relieve hyperacidity and gas. Tell your patient to take other medications 1 hour before or 2 hours after this drug because it could decrease the effectiveness of his other medications.

e. each actuation delivers: ipratropium bromide, 18 mcg; albuterol sulfate, 103 mcg This inhalation aerosol may be used to control bronchospasm of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Ipratropium is an anticholinergic and albuterol is a sympathomimetic. Warn your patient that if the spray gets into his eyes, it could cause pain and temporary blurring and he should call the health care provider immediately.

ANSWERS: 1b,2c,3d,4e,5a.

Marcy Portnoff Gever, RPh, MEd, author of Drug Challenge, is an independent pharmacist consultant and educator in Voorhees, N.J.