important meds to know

Heparin (Calciparine)

🩺 Class

Anticoagulant (“blood thinner”)

💊 Use

• Prevents and treats DVT, PE, MI, stroke

• Prevents blood clots

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Works immediately

• Given SQ or IV (❌ NEVER IM)

• Monitor aPTT (goal: about 1.5–2.5× normal)

• Assess for bleeding

• Use electric razor & soft toothbrush

🚨 Major Side Effects

• Bleeding

• Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)

🆘 Antidote

Protamine sulfate

🧠 Memory Trick

“HEParin = Happens immediately.”
PROTamine PROTECTS from Heparin.

Warfarin (Coumadin)

🩺 Class

Anticoagulant

💊 Use

Long-term prevention of blood clots

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Takes 3–5 days to work

• Monitor INR

• Therapeutic INR:

  • 2–3 (most patients)

  • 2.5–3.5 (mechanical valves)

• Avoid sudden increases in Vitamin K foods

• Avoid pregnancy

🚨 Side Effects

• Bleeding

🆘 Antidote

Vitamin K (Phytonadione/AquaMEPHYTON)

🧠 Memory Trick

WARfarin = WAR on Vitamin K

Vitamin K (Phytonadione)

💊 Use

Reverses Warfarin overdose

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Helps liver make clotting factors

• Not used to reverse Heparin

🧠 Memory Trick

K = Klots (clots)

Protamine Sulfate

💊 Use

Reverses Heparin overdose

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Emergency antidote

• Monitor bleeding afterward

🧠 Memory Trick

PROTamine PROTECTS against Heparin

Digoxin (Lanoxin)

🩺 Class

Cardiac glycoside

💊 Use

• Heart failure

• Atrial fibrillation

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

✅ Check apical pulse for 1 full minute

• Hold if HR <60 bpm (adults)

Monitor:

• Digoxin level

• Potassium

🚨 Toxicity Signs

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Yellow/green vision

• Blurred vision

• Bradycardia

⚠ Important

Low potassium = Digoxin toxicity increases

🧠 Memory Trick

DIG = Dig slows the heart.
Yellow vision = Digoxin toxicity.

Furosemide (Lasix)

🩺 Class

Loop diuretic

💊 Use

• Edema

• Heart failure

• Hypertension

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

Monitor:

• Potassium

• Blood pressure

• Daily weight

• Intake & output

Give in morning

🚨 Side Effects

• Low potassium

• Dehydration

• Hypotension

🧠 Memory Trick

LASIX = “Lasts in the bathroom.” 🚽

Nitroglycerin (Nitrostat)

🩺 Class

Nitrate

💊 Use

Chest pain (angina)

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Sit before taking

• One tablet under tongue

• Every 5 minutes

• Maximum 3 doses

• Call EMS after first dose if pain continues

🚨 Side Effects

• Headache

• Hypotension

• Dizziness

⚠ Never Take With

Sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil, vardenafil
➡ Severe hypotension

🧠 Memory Trick

NITRO = Opens blood vessels like opening a fire hydrant.

Nifedipine (Procardia)

Class

Calcium channel blocker

💊 Use

• Hypertension

• Angina

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Lowers BP

• Relaxes blood vessels

• Monitor BP before giving

🚨 Side Effects

• Hypotension

• Dizziness

• Peripheral edema

• Headache

⚠ Avoid

Grapefruit juice

🧠 Memory Trick

“NIFE = Nice Flexible arteries.”

Albuterol (Proventil)

🩺 Class

Short-acting bronchodilator (SABA)

💊 Use

Asthma attack

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Rescue inhaler

• Opens airways quickly

🚨 Side Effects

• Tremors

• Tachycardia

• Nervousness

ATI Tip

Use before inhaled corticosteroids.

🧠 Memory Trick

ALBUTEROL = “Air Better.”

Prednisone (Deltasone)

🩺 Class

Corticosteroid

💊 Use

• Asthma

• Allergic reactions

• Autoimmune disorders

• Inflammation

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

Take:

• With food

• In morning

Never stop suddenly
➡ Must taper

🚨 Side Effects

• High blood sugar

• Infection risk

• Weight gain

• Mood changes

• Osteoporosis

🧠 Memory Trick

PREDnisone = Puffy face + Predisposed to infection.

Aspirin

🩺 Class

Antiplatelet

💊 Use

• Prevents heart attack

• Prevents stroke

• Pain/fever

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

Monitor:

• Bleeding

• Tarry stools

• Bruising

🚨 Toxicity

Tinnitus (ringing in ears)

⚠ Avoid

Children with viral illness (Reye syndrome)

🧠 Memory Trick

Aspirin keeps platelets from “sticking together.”

Rapid (Lispro, Aspart)

Onset: 5-15 mins

Peak: 30mins

Duration: 3-5 hrs

* Give with food RUNS FAST

Short (Regular)

Onset: 30-40 mins

Peak: 90-120 mins

'

Duration: 6-8 hrs

*May be given through IV

Intermediate (NPH)

Onset: 1-2 hours

Peak: 6-14 hours

Duration: 16-24 hours

NPH:Not Particularly in a Hurry

Long (Glargine, Detemir)

Onset: 1-2 hrs, Peak: None, Duration: 12-24 hrs.

Hypoglycemia

hunger, fatigue, weakness, sweating, headache, dizziness, low bp, cold or clammy skin

Ferrous Sulfate

🩺 Class

Iron supplement

💊 Use

Iron-deficiency anemia

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

Take:

• With Vitamin C (better absorption)

• On empty stomach if tolerated

Avoid:

• Milk

• Calcium

• Antacids

🚨 Side Effects

• Constipation

• Dark/black stools

🧠 Memory Trick

IRON + Orange juice = Better absorption. 🍊

Morphine Sulfate

🩺 Class

Opioid analgesic

💊 Use

Moderate to severe pain

⭐ ATI/NCLEX Must Know

Monitor:

• Respiratory rate

• Blood pressure

• Level of consciousness

Hold if:
RR <12/min (follow facility policy)

🚨 Side Effects

• Respiratory depression

• Sedation

• Constipation

• Hypotension

🆘 Antidote

Naloxone (Narcan)

🧠 Memory Trick

MORPHINE = Makes breathing slow.
NALOXONE knocks narcotics off receptors.

-pril

Drug Class: ACE Inhibitors

What does ACE mean?
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme inhibitor

ACE is an enzyme that normally makes angiotensin II, a chemical that tightens blood vessels and increases blood pressure.

ACE inhibitors block this enzyme, so:

• Blood vessels relax (vasodilation)

• Blood pressure decreases

• Heart doesn’t have to work as hard

• Protects the kidneys (especially in diabetes)

Examples:

• Lisinopril

• Enalapril

• Ramipril

ATI/NCLEX Must Know

• Dry cough 🚨

• Hyperkalemia

• Angioedema (medical emergency)

• Never use during pregnancy

Remember:
💡 “PRIL = Pressure Relaxes In the Lungs”

-sartan

Drug Class: ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers)

What does it mean?
Instead of stopping the body from making angiotensin II, ARBs block where angiotensin II attaches (its receptor).

Result:

• Blood vessels relax

• Blood pressure decreases

• Less strain on the heart

Examples:

• Losartan

• Valsartan

• Irbesartan

Remember:
💡 “SARTAN Stops Angiotensin’s Action.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Hyperkalemia

• Less cough than ACE inhibitors

• Avoid pregnancy

-olol

Drug Class: Beta Blockers

What does Beta mean?
Beta receptors respond to adrenaline.

Beta blockers block adrenaline, causing:

• Slower heart rate

• Lower blood pressure

• Less work for the heart

Examples

• Metoprolol

• Atenolol

• Propranolol

Remember
💡 “OLOL = Oh! Low heart rate.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Bradycardia

• Do NOT stop suddenly

• Can hide hypoglycemia symptoms

• Check pulse before giving

-dipine

Drug Class: Calcium Channel Blockers (DHP)

What does it mean?
Calcium helps muscles squeeze.

These drugs stop calcium from entering blood vessel muscles.

Result:

• Blood vessels relax

• Blood pressure lowers

Examples

• Amlodipine

• Nifedipine

Remember
💡 “DIP = vessels dip open.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Peripheral edema

• Dizziness

• Headache

• Avoid grapefruit juice

-zem / -amil

Drug Class: Non-DHP Calcium Channel Blockers

These affect both:

• Heart

• Blood vessels

Result:

• Slow heart rate

• Lower blood pressure

Examples

• Diltiazem

• Verapamil

ATI/NCLEX

• Bradycardia

• Constipation (especially verapamil)

-statin

Drug Class: Statins

What do they do?
Block an enzyme in the liver that makes cholesterol.

Result:

• Lower LDL (“bad cholesterol”)

• Lower risk of heart attack and stroke

Examples

• Atorvastatin

• Simvastatin

• Rosuvastatin

Remember
💡 “STATIN Stops cholesterol production.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Muscle pain = possible rhabdomyolysis

• Liver toxicity

• Avoid grapefruit (some statins)

-parin

Drug Class: Heparins (Anticoagulants)

What does anticoagulant mean?
Prevents blood from forming new clots.

It does NOT break apart existing clots.

Examples

• Heparin

• Dalteparin

• Enoxaparin

Remember
💡 “PARIN Prevents clots.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Monitor aPTT (unfractionated heparin)

• Antidote = Protamine sulfate

• Watch for bleeding

-xaban

Back:
Drug Class: Factor Xa Inhibitors

What does Factor Xa do?
Factor Xa is a clotting protein.

These drugs block it, preventing clot formation.

Examples

• Apixaban

• Rivaroxaban

• Edoxaban

ATI/NCLEX

• Bleeding

• No INR monitoring

• Antidote: Andexanet alfa (for some Xa inhibitors)

-mycin / -micin

Drug Class: Antibiotics

⚠ Not all drugs ending in these suffixes are the same class.

Common examples:

• Vancomycin

• Gentamicin

• Tobramycin

ATI/NCLEX
Think:

• Kidney toxicity

• Hearing damage (especially aminoglycosides)

-cycline

Drug Class: Tetracycline Antibiotics

Examples

• Doxycycline

• Minocycline

ATI/NCLEX

• Photosensitivity ☀

• Don’t take with dairy, calcium, or iron

• Avoid in pregnancy and children under 8

-cillin

Drug Class: Penicillins

Kill bacteria by destroying the bacterial cell wall.

Examples

• Amoxicillin

• Penicillin

• Ampicillin

ATI/NCLEX

• Allergy risk

• Can decrease effectiveness of oral contraceptives

cef- / ceph-

Drug Class: Cephalosporins

Also destroy bacterial cell walls.

Examples

• Cefazolin

• Ceftriaxone

• Cephalexin

ATI/NCLEX

• Cross-allergy with penicillin (some patients)

• Finish the full antibiotic course

-prazole

Drug Class: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

What is a proton pump?
A proton pump is a protein in stomach cells that releases acid (H⁺ ions) into the stomach.

PPIs block this pump, so:

• Much less stomach acid is made

• Ulcers and GERD can heal

Examples

• Omeprazole

• Pantoprazole

• Esomeprazole

Remember
💡 “PRAZOLE = Protects the stomach.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Take before meals

• Long-term use can increase fracture risk and lower magnesium/B12

-setron

Drug Class: Antiemetics

What does antiemetic mean?
A medication that prevents or treats nausea and vomiting.

These drugs block serotonin (5-HT₃) receptors, especially in the gut and brain, reducing the vomiting reflex.

Examples

• Ondansetron

• Granisetron

Remember
💡 “SETRON Stops throwing up.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Monitor for QT prolongation

• Can cause headache and constipation

-pam / -lam

Drug Class: Benzodiazepines

They increase the calming effects of GABA, a neurotransmitter that slows brain activity.

Result:

• Reduced anxiety

• Sedation

• Muscle relaxation

• Seizure control

Examples

• Diazepam

• Lorazepam

• Alprazolam

Remember
💡 “PAM = Peace And Muscle relaxation.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Sedation

• Respiratory depression (especially with opioids)

• Fall risk

• Antidote = Flumazenil

-floxacin

Drug Class: Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

They kill bacteria by blocking enzymes needed for bacterial DNA replication.

Examples

• Ciprofloxacin

• Levofloxacin

• Moxifloxacin

Remember
💡 “FLOX = Fixes bacterial DNA.”

ATI/NCLEX

• Tendon rupture risk

• Photosensitivity

• Avoid taking with calcium, iron, magnesium, or antacids