Anti-neoplastics: Side and Adverse Effects
This common chemotherapy side effect results in hair loss due to the destruction of rapidly dividing hair follicle cells.
What is alopecia?
When administering chemotherapy drugs, especially those that are vesicants, nurses should wear this protective equipment to avoid accidental exposure.
What are chemotherapy gloves, gowns, and eye protection?
Beta blockers are commonly prescribed for this type of chest pain caused by insufficient oxygen supply to the heart muscle.
What is angina?
When administering a beta blocker, the nurse should monitor the patient’s heart rate. If the pulse drops below this rate, the medication may need to be withheld.
What is 60 beats per minute?
Alpha-1 agonists, such as oxymetazoline, are often found in nasal sprays for this condition, helping to reduce swelling and congestion.
What is rhinitis (or nasal congestion)?
Bone marrow suppression from chemotherapy can lead to this condition, which increases the risk of infection due to a decreased white blood cell count.
What is neutropenia?
When administering chemotherapy drugs via IV, healthcare workers must ensure the drug does not leak into surrounding tissues, a complication known as this.
What is extravasation?
Beta blockers are used in the management of this chronic condition in which the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened, helping to reduce symptoms and improve outcomes.
What is heart failure?
When discontinuing beta blockers, patients must be gradually tapered off the medication to avoid this potentially dangerous phenomenon, where the heart rate and blood pressure increase abruptly.
What is rebound hypertension?
Alpha agonists, particularly alpha-1 agonists, can be used to treat this eye condition, where the pressure inside the eye increases, potentially leading to vision loss.
What is glaucoma?
Methotrexate and other antimetabolites can cause this blood-related side effect, leading to symptoms like fatigue, bruising, or unusual bleeding.
What is thrombocytopenia (low platelet count)?
Patients undergoing chemotherapy should be educated about the importance of staying hydrated to prevent this potential toxicity caused by chemotherapy drugs.
What is renal toxicity?
In patients with this condition, beta blockers are used to regulate the heart rate and reduce symptoms like palpitations.
What is atrial fibrillation?
Beta blockers should be used cautiously or avoided in patients with this respiratory condition, as they can worsen bronchoconstriction.
What is asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)?
In addition to hypertension, clonidine can be prescribed off-label to manage withdrawal symptoms from these substances.
What are opioids or alcohol?
Vincristine, a mitotic inhibitor, can cause this severe nervous system side effect, leading to tingling, numbness, and loss of reflexes.
What is peripheral neuropathy?
Patients receiving chemotherapy should be instructed to report signs of infection immediately. These include fever, chills, and this specific infection often found in the mouth.
What is mucositis (or stomatitis)?
Beta blockers are sometimes used to prevent this type of headache, which is often recurrent and characterized by severe pain, nausea, and light sensitivity.
What are migraines?
Beta blockers can have a significant interaction with these drugs, increasing the risk of heart block or bradycardia, particularly when both are used together.
What are calcium channel blockers?
This alpha-1 agonist is used during certain types of surgeries to control bleeding by constricting blood vessels in the surgical area.
What is epinephrine?
Some chemotherapy drugs, like cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, can cause this condition, characterized by inflammation and bleeding of the bladder, which may be prevented with the drug mesna.
What is hemorrhagic cystitis?
Chemotherapy drugs such as anthracyclines should be administered via this method to reduce the risk of tissue damage in case of extravasation.
What is intravenous (IV) administration with careful monitoring or central venous access?
This condition, involving frequent arrhythmias or irregular heartbeats originating from the ventricles, can be treated with beta blockers to prevent dangerous episodes.
What is ventricular tachycardia?
Beta blockers should be avoided in patients with this heart condition, as they can worsen the blockage and potentially lead to a life-threatening situation.
What is heart block (specifically second- or third-degree)?
In emergency medicine, alpha-1 agonists like norepinephrine are used to treat this life-threatening condition, which involves low blood pressure and poor tissue perfusion.
What is shock (especially septic shock)?