MEDICATION CHECK OFF

0.9% NaCl eye drops (saline)

• Action: Isotonic salt water. It matches the eye’s natural fluid, so it moisturizes and rinses without stinging.

• Use: Dry or irritated eyes, flushing out debris.

• Complications: Very few. Mild irritation, or infection if the dropper tip touches the eye or lashes.

Bisacodyl, 10 mg rectal

• Action: Stimulant laxative. It irritates the bowel lining and pushes the colon to contract.

• Use: Constipation, bowel prep before procedures.

• Complications: Cramping, diarrhea, rectal irritation, and fluid or electrolyte loss with overuse.

Ciprofloxacin + dexamethasone, otic

• Action: Two drugs in one. Ciprofloxacin kills bacteria, and dexamethasone (a steroid) reduces swelling and inflammation.

• Use: Ear infections, such as swimmer’s ear or infection with ear tubes.

• Complications: Ear itching or irritation. Long use can cause a fungal overgrowth.

Fentanyl patch, 25 mcg/hr

• Action: Strong opioid. It blocks pain signals in the brain and spinal cord, and the patch releases it slowly through the skin.

• Use: Severe, ongoing pain in patients already tolerant to opioids.

• Complications: Slowed or stopped breathing, sedation, constipation, nausea, low blood pressure.

Regular insulin, 4 units

• Action: Short-acting insulin that moves sugar from the blood into cells.

• Use: Controlling blood sugar in diabetes, especially around meals.

• Complications: Low blood sugar (shaky, sweaty, confused), injection-site changes, low potassium.

Ipratropium + albuterol, inhaled

• Action: Both open the airways. Albuterol relaxes the airway muscles, and ipratropium blocks signals that tighten them.

• Use: COPD and wheezing or bronchospasm.

• Complications: Fast heart rate, tremors, nervousness, dry mouth, low potassium.

Metoprolol, 25 mg

• Action: Beta-blocker. It slows the heart rate and lowers blood pressure, so the heart works less hard.

• Use: High blood pressure, angina, heart failure, after a heart attack, irregular rhythms.

• Complications: Slow heart rate, low blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, wheezing in asthma or COPD.

Miconazole, vaginal

• Action: Antifungal. It damages the fungus’s cell membrane, which kills it.

• Use: Vaginal yeast infections.

• Complications: Local burning, itching, irritation.

Nitroglycerin, 0.4 mg sublingual

• Action: Widens blood vessels, which lowers the heart’s workload and improves blood flow to the heart.

• Use: Relieving acute chest pain (angina).

• Complications: Headache, low blood pressure, dizziness, flushing, fast heart rate.

NPH insulin, 10 units

• Action: Intermediate-acting insulin. It works slowly and steadily to lower blood sugar.

• Use: Background blood sugar control in diabetes.

• Complications: Low blood sugar, especially at its peak, along with the same side effects as other insulins.

Penicillin G sodium, 5,000,000 units IM

• Action: Antibiotic. It blocks bacteria from building their cell walls, so they burst and die.

• Use: Serious bacterial infections such as strep and syphilis.

• Complications: Allergic reaction up to anaphylaxis, rash, diarrhea, injection-site pain, and a sodium load that matters in heart failure or kidney disease.

Tuberculin PPD, 5 units intradermal

• Action: Not a treatment. It contains a small amount of TB protein, and the immune system of someone exposed to TB reacts to it within 2 to 3 days.

• Use: Screening for TB infection.

• Complications: Local itching, swelling, or soreness. Rarely, blistering or a severe allergic reaction.