Gastrointestinal Medications
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Answer in 25 words or less if possible.
Use your own words only.
ANTACIDS
What are antacids?
How does it work in the body?
What is a medical condition that it is used to treat?
Give two examples.
Name one contraindication for antacids.
What patient education do you provide with this class of medication?
Describe how it affects stomach pH and urinary pH.
What is the interaction between antacids and other drugs?
Describe one nursing implication of antacids.
H2-RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS
What are H2-receptor antagonists?
How does it work in the body?
What is a medical condition that it is used to treat?
Give two examples.
Name one contraindication for H2-receptor antagonists.
What patient education do you provide with this class of medications?
Describe one nursing implication of H2-receptor antagonists.
PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS
What are proton pump inhibitors?
How does it work in the body?
What is a medical condition that it is used to treat?
Give two examples.
Name one contraindication for a proton pump inhibitor.
What patient education do you provide with this class of medications?
Describe one nursing implication of proton pump inhibitors.
LAXATIVES and STOOL SOFTENERS
Describe the difference between laxatives and stool softeners.
Describe the following and give an example of each:
| Description | Example | |
| Bulk forming | ||
| Chemical irritants | ||
| Osmotic |
ANTI-EMETICS
What is the mechanism of action for anti-emetics?
Name one contraindication for an anti-emetic.
What type of patient education do you provide with this class of medications?
ANTI-DIARRHEALS
What is the mechanism of action for anti-diarrheal?
Name one contraindication for an anti-diarrheal.
What patient education do you provide with this class of medications?
PARENTERAL NUTRITION
As a home health nurse you are responsible for providing instructions for parenteral nutrition. Describe in detail what specific instructions you would provide to a caregiver who will be administering parenteral nutrition in the home.
Describe each medication using the tables below:
| Flagyl | Descriptions |
| Classification | |
| Generic Name | |
| Indications | |
| Action | |
| Therapeutic Effect | |
| Most frequent side effect | |
| Nursing intervention |
| Tagamet | Descriptions |
| Classification | |
| Generic Name | |
| Indications | |
| Action | |
| Therapeutic Effect | |
| Most frequent side effect | |
| Nursing intervention |
| Milk of Magnesia | Descriptions |
| Classification | |
| Generic Name | |
| Indications | |
| Action | |
| Therapeutic Effect | |
| Most frequent side effect | |
| Nursing intervention |
| Protonix | Descriptions |
| Classification | |
| Generic Name | |
| Indications | |
| Action | |
| Therapeutic Effect | |
| Most frequent side effect | |
| Nursing intervention |
| Zofran | Descriptions |
| Classification | |
| Generic Name | |
| Indications | |
| Action | |
| Therapeutic Effect | |
| Most frequent side effect | |
| Nursing intervention |