You routinely administer combination drugs...

Nursing, Aug 2002 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 II

a. hydrocodone bitartrate, 7.5 mg; ibuprofen, 200 mg

Used for short-term acute pain, this combination contains hydrocodone, an opioid analgesic, and ibuprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). Tell your patient not to take any products that contain NSAIDs while using this medication and that taking this drug could make him feel drowsy or dizzy.

b. calcium carbonate, 700 mg; magnesium hydroxide, 300 mg

Containing the antacids calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide, this combination helps relieve heartburn and indigestion. Tell your patient to thoroughly chew 2 to 4 tablets between meals and at bedtime. Remind her to take her prescription medications 1 hour before or 2 hours after the antacid to prevent drug interactions.

c. lovastatin, 20 mg; niacin, 500 mg, 750 mg, or 1,000 mg

This combination may be prescribed for someone who's taking cholesterol-lowering lovastatin but needs to reduce triglyceride or increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels. Lovastatin is more effective in lowering low-density lipoprotein and niacin is more effective in raising HDL. Warn your patient to contact his primary care provider if he develops intolerable facial flushing.

d. rifampin, 300 mg; isoniazid, 150 mg

Prescribed to treat tuberculosis, this combination contains the antibiotics rifampin and isoniazid. Both can cause severe liver dysfunction, so tell your patient to report such signs as weight loss, nausea, weakness, or jaundice.

e. naphazoline HCI, 0.05%; antazoline phosphate, 0.5%

A patient may buy these eyedrops to relieve allergy symptoms. Naphazoline, a vasoconstrictor, soothes irritation and removes redness; antazoline, an antihistamine, relieves itching. Tell him to stop using the drops if he has eye pain or vision changes and to report the problem to his primary care provider or eye care specialist.

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

Marcy Portnoff Gever is an independent pharmacist consultant and educator in Ringoes, N.J.