A nurse has an all-round duty. They spend a lot of time taking care of the patients and making sure that they are improving physically and mentally. Medicines are as important as the procedures that you need to do for the patient. It is critical to understand your medications in order to pass the NCLEX and practice safe nursing. It’s also the most difficult, dry, and daunting component of studying for your licensing exam.
It’s easy to understand why each medication has a seemingly limitless array of side effects, technical jargon, and nursing considerations. One of the current drugs. The good news is that some medication facts must be memorized while others can be avoided. In this blog, we’ll go over the top 7 medications you need to know for the NCLEX.
1. Beta Blockers
As a class of medications, beta-blockers are generally used for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses. Tachycardia, hypertension, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, hyperthyroidism, essential tremor, aortic dissection, portal hypertension, glaucoma, migraine prophylaxis, and other conditions have been recommended and approved for treatment with beta-blockers. They are also used to treat disorders that are less common, such as long QT syndrome and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. This activity covers the uses, process of action, safe administration, adverse effects, contraindications, toxicity, and monitoring the wide range of physiological possibilities that might occur when utilizing beta-blockers in the clinical environment.
Beta-blockers, also known as beta-adrenergic blocking medications, are a type of medication that prevents the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine from binding to receptors. Beta receptors are classified into three types: beta1 receptors, beta2 receptors, and beta3 receptors.
When neurotransmitters are stopped from attaching to receptors, the impact of adrenaline (epinephrine) is hindered. This movement permits the heart to relax and beat more slowly, lowering the volume of blood that the heart must pump. This action, over time, enhances the heart’s pumping function.
Beta-blockers medications are the ones that usually end with -LOL like:
- Propranolol
- Nadolol
- Timolol
- Bisoprolol Fumarate
- Metoprolol
- Esmolol Hydrochloride
2. Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers are a class of drugs that restrict how your body uses calcium. These drugs can lower your blood pressure, prevent cardiac rhythm problems, and do other things by slowing down how your cells use calcium.
Calcium is an electrolyte, which means that when it dissolves in water, it has a positive charge. Ions (atoms with an electrical charge) in electrolytes are used by your body to transfer substances into and out of your cells. Your body is constantly attempting to restore balance. This indicates that when calcium ions enter a cell, sodium ions exit and vice versa.
Calcium channel blockers are primarily used to treat cardiac and circulation problems. They have previously been approved in the United States to treat the following conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat rhythms), chest pain (Angina), coronary artery spasm, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart), pulmonary hypertension, and subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Calcium channel blockers are classified into two categories.
Dihydropyridines are a kind of pyridine. These drugs attack blood arteries and relax them, which is why they are so effective in treating high blood pressure (with the exception of nimodipine, which treats subarachnoid hemorrhage).
Non-dihydropyridines These drugs work to address heart rhythm issues by targeting both the heart muscle and the blood arteries.
Calcium channel blockers are medications that usually end with -DIPINE such as:
- Amlodipine
- Felodipine
- Nicardipine
3. Cardiac Glycoside
Cardiac glycosides are a type of drug derived from the foxglove plants Digitalis lanata and Digitalis purpurea. Digoxin is the most often administered cardiac glycoside.
Cardiac glycosides are used to treat atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter in individuals. Furthermore, they might be used for congestive heart failure when other drugs have failed.
Cardiovascular glycosides work by blocking the Na+ K+ ATPase enzyme, also known as the sodium-potassium pump. This causes sodium to accumulate inside heart cells, reducing the ability of the sodium-calcium exchanger to transport calcium out of the cells and, as a result, calcium to accumulate in the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Increased intracellular calcium produces a positive inotropic effect, which increases the force of the heart’s contractions.
Digoxin binds to a receptor site on the Na+ K+ ATPase enzyme in a reversible manner, blocking its function of exchanging sodium and potassium across the cell membrane.
4. Antidepressants
An antidepressant is a medication that can help treat depression symptoms such as poor mood, anxiety, and worthlessness.
Antidepressants aid in the relief of depression and anxiety symptoms. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac), and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine (Cymbalta), are common examples.
Antidepressants are classified by doctors into several categories.
SSRIs (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors)
SSRIs are the first-line therapeutic choice for depression. SSRIs include the following medications:
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
- Fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem)
- Paroxetine (Paxil)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
SNRIs (Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors)
When compared to SSRIs, SNRIs are a newer kind of antidepressant. They do, however, function in a similar manner.SNRIs may be prescribed by doctors for the following: Attenbsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety disorders, menopausal symptoms, fibromyalgia, and chronic neuropathic pain. Examples of SNRIs include:
- Duloxetine
- Venlafaxine
- Desvenlafaxine
TCAs (Tricyclic antidepressants)
TCAs may be prescribed by doctors for depression, fibromyalgia, some types of anxiety, and chronic pain. They include medications like:
- Amitriptyline
- Amoxapine
- Clomipramine (Anafranil)
- Desipramine (Norpramine)
- Doxepin (Sinequan)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)
Because of its negative side effects and drug-drug interactions, clinicians rarely recommend MAOIs as a first-line therapeutic choice for depression. They may, however, be an alternative if SSRIs do not work for depression. Here are several examples:
- Tranylcypromine (Parnate)
- Phenelzine (Nardil)
- Marplan (isocarboxazid)
- Selegiline (Emsam, Eldepryl)
NaSSAs (Specific serotoninergic antidepressants) and noradrenaline
NaSSAs are used by doctors for the treatment of anxiety disorders and depression. Here are two examples of NaSSAs:
- Mianserin (Tolvon)
- Mirtazapine (Remeron, Avanza, Zispin)
5. Anti-anxiety
Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medications for anxiety. Along with antidepressants, various additional types of drugs include anxiolytics, also known as anti-anxiety pills. They are effective and function best when combined with therapy. Anxiety is thought to be produced by a combination of hereditary, environmental, and brain chemistry variables.
Anti-anxiety drugs serve to alleviate anxiety feelings, whilst antidepressants impact neurotransmitters in the brain. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that help our brains operate while also influencing our moods. Neurotransmitter deficiency or imbalance may lead to various mental health problems such as sadness and anxiety. Antidepressants can aid by raising neurotransmitter levels in the brain, such as serotonin.
Benzodiazepines
This family of medications is suitable to treat any type of anxiety. If you have significant or chronic anxiety, benzodiazepines are often prescribed for short-term use alongside a maintenance medicine (such as an antidepressant).
If you have severe anxiety or panic attacks in particular situations, like traveling or visiting the dentist, your doctor may prescribe a benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines reduce nerve activity by altering neurotransmitters in the brain, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Buspirone
Buspirone(BuSpar) can help with anxiety in the short and long term. It is most typically used to treat anxiety disorders. It reduces anxiety by raising serotonin levels. Because it takes time to build up in your system, it’s usually not the ideal option if you have a condition that demands immediate relief, such as a panic attack.
6. Anti-anginals
Antianginal refers to a class of oral medications used to prevent or treat stable angina, also known as angina pectoris, a condition caused by decreased coronary blood flow to the heart that causes chest discomfort. Unstable angina is a more dangerous vascular illness that should be handled as a medical emergency.
The drug treatment for angina relies on two pharmacological actions: 1) improving oxygen delivery to the heart from the coronary artery and 2) decreasing the heart’s oxygen demand. To achieve these goals, different antianginal drugs use distinct modes of action:
- Nitrates (e.g. nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, and isosorbide mononitrate) work as vasodilators by relaxing the smooth muscles within blood arteries, allowing blood and oxygen to reach the heart more easily.
- Along with calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers (e.g., propranolol, atenolol, pindolol, and metoprolol) are considered first-line therapy for angina. They inhibit the effects of adrenaline, which slows the heart, reducing how hard it has to work and its need for oxygen. Beta-blockers also aid in the dilation of blood arteries leading to the heart.
- Calcium channel blockers, also known as calcium antagonists (e.g., diltiazem, nifedipine, nimodipine, and verapamil), inhibit calcium from transferring into blood vessel cells, allowing them to relax and open, increasing the amount of blood and oxygen reaching the heart. Calcium channel blockers and beta blockers are first-line treatments for angina.
- Ranolazine is a novel drug with an uncertain mechanism of action. It is believed that ranolazine improves the metabolism of the heart muscles, resulting in reduced angina symptoms.
7. Insulins
Insulin is a hormone generated by the pancreas that aids in the metabolism of food and its usage as energy throughout the body. The pancreas, a gland-like organ tucked in the curve of the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), right after the stomach, produces insulin. The pancreas works as both an exocrine and an endocrine gland. This is an important biological function. A problem with insulin can have a wide-ranging impact on your tissues, organs, and systems.
Insulin is the hormone that stores energy. It aids the cells in using carbs, lipids, and protein when needed and storing what is left (mostly as fat) for the future. These nutrients are broken down by the body into sugar molecules, amino acid molecules, and lipid molecules, in that order. These molecules are also stored and reassembled by the body into more complex forms.
Insulin is essential for good health and life. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and diabetes can all come from issues with insulin synthesis or function.
Medications in NCLEX
Medications can be difficult with different names and uses. But, it’s vital to know this by heart and mind for your patient’s life is at risk if you administered the wrong medication. During the NCLEX, you will be assessed if you are familiar with these medicines and you can administer them correctly.
AuRNPathway will help you with that. With our lessons, we will help you remember and use these medications appropriately. Our lecturers are experienced and we can guarantee you that you will be confident in no time and be ready to pass your NCLEX. So what are you waiting for? Enrol now and start your pathway to acing your NCLEX.
References
All About Antidepressants n.d. retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/248320#types
Antianginals: Uses, common brands, and safety info n.d. retrieved from
https://www.singlecare.com/drug-classes/antianginals
Antidepressants n.d. retrieved from https://www.drugs.com/drug-class/antidepressants.html
Beta blockers n.d. retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK532906/
Beta blockers. https://www.rxlist.com/beta_blockers/drug-class.htm
Calcium Channel Blockers n.d. retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22316-calcium-channel-blockers
Cardiac Glycosides What Are They, What Are They Used For, How Do They Work, Side Effects, and More n.d. retrieved from https://www.osmosis.org/answers/cardiac-glycosides
What is insulin?n.d. retrieved from https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-insulin-works-in-the-body-1087716
Your Guide to Anti Anxiety Meds n.d. retrieved from https://psychcentral.com/anxiety/medication-and-anxiety#getting-a-prescription
