Autonomic Basics
This prototype muscarinic agonist is primarily used to treat non-obstructive urinary retention postoperatively or postpartum.
What is Bethanechol
This local anesthetic is frequently co-administered with epinephrine to prolong its duration of action and reduce localized bleeding.
What is Lidocaine
This is the most serious and life-threatening adverse effect of opioid analgesics, requiring the nurse to withhold the medication if the patient's respiratory rate drops below 10–12 breaths per minute.
What is Respiratory Depression?
This combination drug is the gold standard for Parkinson's disease because one component converts to dopamine in the brain while the other prevents its breakdown in the periphery.
What is Levodopa/Carbidopa?
Chronic administration of the antiepileptic drug phenytoin frequently causes this oral side effect, highlighting the critical need for meticulous dental hygiene education.
What is Gingival Hyperplasia?
This acronym represents the classic toxicological presentation of a cholinergic crisis (muscarinic agonist overdose).
What is SLUDGE (Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation, GI distress, Emesis) or DUMBBELS?
This vital nursing assessment is the highest priority when monitoring a patient recovering from a neuromuscular blocking agent like succinylcholine or vecuronium
What is Respiratory Status (or ventilation/breathing)? [1]
Unlike other opioid side effects, patients do not develop a tolerance to this GI issue, making proactive stool softeners a standard part of care.
What is Constipation?
This class of drugs, including donepezil and rivastigmine, is used to treat mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease by preventing the breakdown of a key neurotransmitter.
What are Cholinesterase Inhibitors?
This class of fast-acting medications (such as diazepam or lorazepam) is the first-line choice for stopping an active, prolonged seizure.
What are Benzodiazepines?
This standard antidote is administered intravenously to reverse severe muscarinic agonist toxicity or poisoning from certain mushrooms.
What is Atropine
This rare, life-threatening genetic reaction to volatile inhalation anesthetics (like succinylcholine or isoflurane) causes muscle rigidity and a profound spike in body temperature.
What is Malignant Hyperthermia?
This immediate-acting opioid antagonist is administered to reverse the respiratory depression caused by an opioid overdose.
What is Naloxone (Narcan)?
Patients on long-term levodopa therapy may experience this frustrating phenomenon where the drug loses effectiveness before the next scheduled dose is due.
What is the "Wearing-Off" effect (or End-of-Dose Akinesia)?
Phenytoin has a very narrow therapeutic index, meaning the nurse must closely monitor lab values to ensure the patient's serum level stays within this standard target range.
What is 10 to 20 mcg/mL?
An anticholinergic drug like atropine is contraindicated in patients with this specific ocular condition because it can dangerously increase intraocular pressure.
What is Narrow-Angle Glaucoma (or Closed-Angle Glaucoma)
This specific drug is the definitive antidote required to treat malignant hyperthermia by relaxing skeletal muscles.
What is Dantrolene?
When administering an IV opioid like morphine, the nurse should instruct the patient to call for assistance before getting out of bed to prevent injury from this cardiovascular side effect.
What is Orthostatic Hypotension?
Nursing education for a patient taking levodopa/carbidopa must include avoiding meals that are very high in this macronutrient, as it competes with the drug for GI absorption.
What is Protein?
This broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug is highly effective but carries a black box warning for severe hepatotoxicity and pancreatitis, requiring regular liver function tests (LFTs).
What is Valproic Acid?
A patient taking an anticholinergic drug like oxybutynin for overactive bladder reports dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation. The nurse identifies these as this type of effect.
What are Anticholinergic side effects?
Neuromuscular blocking drugs like pancuronium paralyze skeletal muscles but do not provide these two clinical therapeutic components, meaning sedatives and analgesics must also be given.
What are Sedation (unconsciousness) and Analgesia (pain relief)?
This classic diagnostic triad strongly points to a severe opioid overdose.
What are Coma, Respiratory Depression, and Pinpoint Pupils (miosis)?
This NMDA receptor antagonist is used for moderate-to-severe Alzheimer's disease and works by regulating the influx of calcium caused by excess glutamate.
What is Memantine?
Due to the severe risk of hypotension and tissue necrosis if it extravasates, IV phenytoin must only be diluted and flushed with this specific intravenous solution.
What is Normal Saline (0.9% Sodium Chloride)?