Full Answer
What do we take medications for?
We take medications to diagnose, treat, or prevent illness. They come in lots of different forms and we take them in many different ways. You may take a drug yourself, or a healthcare provider may give it to you.
How are medications prescribed for addiction treatment?
Medications for addiction treatment may be prescribed as part of an inpatient or outpatient rehab program. Doctors may adjust dosages during the course of treatment to ensure that those with a substance use disorder (SUD) have the best chance of achieving sobriety.
Why is it important to know the correct dosage of medication?
It’s important to take only the dosage described in the prescription label or other instructions. Dosage is carefully determined by your doctor and can be affected by your age, weight, kidney and liver health, and other health conditions. For some medications, dosage must be determined by trial and error.
What are the different ways of medication administration?
There are several different ways drugs can be administered. You’re probably familiar with injections and pills that you swallow, but medications can be given in many other ways as well. Routes of medication administration are described in the table below. The route used to give a drug depends on three main factors:
What is it called when you take medication regularly?
8 Tips to Sticking to Your Medication Routine. Sticking to your medication routine (or medication adherence) means taking your medications as prescribed – the right dose, at the right time, in the right way and frequency.
How many types of medicine treatments are there?
Three principal types of medical treatment Curative – to cure a patient of an illness. Palliative – to relieve symptoms from an illness. Preventative – to avoid the onset of an illness.
What does it mean to administer medication?
Medication administration: the direct application of a prescribed medication—whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or other means—to the body of the individual by an individual legally authorized to do so.
What is prescription regimen?
A Drug Regimen is a prescribed systematic form of treatment for a course of drug(s).
What are types of treatment?
Types of Treatment MethodsTargeted Therapies: A targeted therapy is designed to treat only the cancer cells and minimize damage to normal, healthy cells. ... Chemotherapy: ... Surgery: ... Radiation Therapies: ... Biological Therapy: ... Hormonal Therapy:
What is treatment in medicine?
Definition of medical treatment. Medical treatment means the management and care of a patient to combat disease or disorder. Medical treatment includes: All treatment not otherwise excluded (below). Using prescription medications, or use of a non-prescription drug at prescription strength.
What is the difference between dispensing and administering medication?
"Administer" means the direct application of a drug to the body of a patient by injection, inhalation, ingestion or other means. "Dispense" means preparing and packaging a prescription drug or device in a container and labeling the container with information required by state and federal law.
What is oral medication administration?
Oral administration is a route of administration where a substance is taken through the mouth. Per os abbreviated to P.O. is sometimes used as a direction for medication to be taken orally.
What is medication administration in nursing?
Administering and Documenting Medications Given by a Common Route. Documenting Medications Given Using All Routes. Participating in the Medication Reconciliation Process. Titrating the Dosage of a Medication Based on the Assessment and Ordered Parameters.
When do you use regime or regimen?
Even though regimen and regime are both nouns, they are not interchangeable in any context.Regime refers to a government, especially an authoritarian one.Regimen is a set course of trainings or treatments.
What is a Schedule 4 medication?
Schedule 4 substances are labelled 'Prescription Only Medicine'. They are medicines that are obtained from a pharmacist on prescription. Some S4 medicines are subject to special requirements regarding their supply.
What is drug complexity?
The complexity of a medication regimen can be defined by the number of medications (polypharmacy) and the number of times per day or “doses” that the patient takes a medication (multiple dosing schedules).
What are the best medications for alcohol addiction?
Medications for alcohol addiction include: 1 Naltrexone (Vivitrol)#N#Naltrexone blocks receptors in the brain that produce alcohol’s pleasurable effects. It also subdues the urge to drink. Naltrexone may cause some nausea or headaches. It may be given via injection every four weeks. 2 Acamprosate (Campral)#N#This medication relieves emotional and physical distress caused by alcohol addiction. Recovering alcoholics can start taking acamprosate after completing detox. Acamprosate reduces the urge to drink by preventing negative feelings like anxiety and depression. 3 Disulfiram (Antabuse)#N#Disulfiram was the first medication approved for alcoholism. If a person taking disulfiram drinks, the medication causes side effects such as nausea and vomiting. The idea is that those taking disulfiram won’t drink if it makes them sick.
What are the drugs that are used in detox?
Some of the drugs that physicians prescribe in detox include: Benzodiazepines. These drugs reduce anxiety and irritability. Anxiety is a common symptom of withdrawal from many drugs, including cocaine and opiates like heroin. Benzos have a sedative effect, which helps ease alcohol withdrawals.
How long does heroin withdrawal last?
Some people experience heroin and opiate withdrawal for as little as a week. Others may have long-term withdrawal symptoms. The symptoms of withdrawal can last for months or years in some cases. Long-term replacement medications can stop cravings and PAWS.
What is the best drug for heroin addiction?
Addiction medications for heroin and painkillers include: Methadone. Methadone is an opiate used for moderate to severe opiate addictions. It works by binding to the same receptors in the brain as heroin and painkillers, but methadone doesn’t get the user high. This helps suppress cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
How long does it take to detox from a drug rehab?
Detox is often a part of inpatient rehabs. In most cases, inpatient rehab takes 30 to 90 days. The first week consists of closely observed detox.
What is the best way to get sober?
Medical detox is the best way to get sober in a safe, comfortable environment. For those addicted to alcohol or benzos, medical detox is a must. A supervised detox is the first step to treating any type of addiction. A supervised detox can alleviate health issues.
How long does a drug detox last?
This is called the detox period. Detox can last several days to several weeks depending on the drug. Coping with withdrawal symptoms is often the most challenging part of detox. During detox, former drug users experience many uncomfortable symptoms.
Allergies and Hayfever Center
Allergies and allergic disorders are among the most common of medical conditions, affecting more than 20 percent of all Americans.
Bipolar Disorder Center
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition that can affect both how you feel and how you act. It is a mood disorder thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain that can result in extreme swings in mood – from manic highs to depressive lows.
Cancer Center
"Cancer" is the term given to a large group of diseases that vary in type and location but have one thing in common: abnormal cells growing out of control. This center contains information on the various causes of cancer, methods of diagnosis and the variety of drugs and treatment options that are available.
Cholesterol Center
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Generally speaking, high levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) are associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease, whereas high levels of HDL (good cholesterol) are associated with a decreased risk.
Diabetes Center
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by high glucose (sugar) levels in the blood. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, regulates the amount of glucose in the blood.
Gastro Center
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is a condition resulting from stomach acid moving backward from the stomach into the esophagus (the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach). The acid causes heartburn and can eventually damage the lining of the esophagus causing inflammation and pain.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is related to the tendency of hair follicles to stop producing hair growth. This center describes the treatments available for reducing the rate of hair loss.
What is the first general principle of medication administration?
Proper preparation and medication administration. One of the first general principles in medication administration that a nurse must adhere to is to personally prepare any medications properly ordered for a patient and to personally administer those medications.
Can a nurse falsify medication?
In contrast, if the nurse who administered the medication that you prepared documents the medication as given, your nurse colleague also has falsified the entry, since he or she did not prepare the medication. Falsification of any record is a serious allegation that can result in an employee being fired or reported to the state board of nursing.
Is it safe to administer medication that another nurse has prepared?
Nor is it acceptable practice to administer a medication that another has prepared. The reasons for this strict rule are numerous. First and foremost, because preparation and administration are fraught with potential for error, relying on another nurse to prepare a medication that you administer is dangerous at best.
Can you give medication to more than one person?
Although there may be instances in which more than one healthcare provider may be required to administer a single medication, such as in a code, it is not generally acceptable practice to prepare any type of medication for another person to administer.
Can you administer a medication you did not personally prepare?
In addition, since you administered a medication you did not personally prepare, you will need to overcome the testimony of a nurse expert that a general, cardinal rule in administering medications is that one never administers a drug not personally prepared.
What is a nursing diagnosis applicable to a client's medication administration?
A nursing diagnosis applicable to a client's medication administration is: Knowledge deficit related to adverse effects of medication as indicated by client's verbalization.
How many components are in a medication order?
A medication order must contain seven basic components. Five of the seven components include the following: the patient's name, the date and time the order was written, the drug name, the physician or health care provider's signature, and the frequency of administration.
What is the study of the effect of genetic differences and responses to medications?
Pharmacogenetics is the study of the effect of genetic differences and responses to medications. Pharmacogenetics are always the same between all races and ethnic groups. Pharmacogenetics is the study of the genetic ability to produce enzymes that affect drug metabolism.
What are the physiological changes that affect medication administration?
Older adults have decreased gastric motility and decreased gastric acid production and blood flow, which impair drug absorption. A decreased number of protein-binding sites are present in the older adult, as is decreased liver ...
What does "drug label" mean?
reflects the pharmacological or chemical characteristics of the medication. Several manufacturers can produce and distribute medications by this name. Form (drug label) Medications can come in a variety of forms (tablets, capsules etc..) dosage (drug labels) reflects the strength of the medication per drug form.
How does illness affect the action of drugs?
Illness and disease affect the action of drugs. Drug action is altered in clients with circulatory , liver, or kidney dysfunction. The time of administration of oral medications affects the relative speed of action. Some oral medications are absorbed more quickly if the stomach is empty.
What are the components of a drug label?
Components of a drug label. Lot number, expiration date, directions, drug information, dosage, manufacturer, form, generic name, trade name, bar code, and the NDC number. A patient asks the nurse what the generic name on a drug label means. The best answer is:
Drugs used to treat Cancer
The following list of medications are in some way related to, or used in the treatment of this condition.
Alternative treatments for Cancer
The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Cancer. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Cancer.
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Why is it important to review a medication?
Reviewing this will help patients take their medication appropriately. This is particularly important for medications intended to treat the onset of symptoms , such as headache, nausea, or diarrhea. 2.
What happens if you don't follow prescription instructions?
Instructions. When patients fail to properly follow a prescription's instructions, they risk experiencing the effects of under- or over-dosing. Review new prescription instructions with patients before they complete their visit, then encourage patients to always review instructions before taking medications. Remind patients of the importance of ...
How many Americans call poison control centers?
March 19, 2019. It's easy for patients to make significant mistakes with their medications. We know this because statistics show that every minute, around three Americans call a poison control center because they have done just that. Furthermore, data shows that the rate of serious mistakes is on the rise, with many errors leading ...
Can medication cause side effects?
Responding to Side Effects. Any medication can cause side effects. As noted earlier, patients should understand what side effects are commonly associated with their medication. They should also know what to do and not do if they experience any side effects, including stopping a medication or taking other medications.
Can a clinician be intimidating?
It can feel even more overwhelming when a clinician is prescribing medications with names patients have never heard of and possibly for significant health reasons. On top of this, some patients may be intimidated by clinicians.
What is a dose in medical terms?
A dose refers to a specified amount of medication taken at one time.
What is the difference between a dose and a dosage?
In other words, a dose is simply an amount (think weight) of a medication that is administered at one specific time. Whereas, the dosage is the dose, or amount of drug, attached to a time-frequency. A dosage guides a drug regimen.
How many Tylenol tablets should I take for pain?
Choice of which specific type, or dose, of Tylenol, depends on the condition being treated. Dosages also vary by the condition being treated. For minor aches and pains, take 2 tablets of Regular Strength Tylenol (dose 325 mg each tablet) ...
How many Tylenol capsules should I take for arthritis pain?
Do not exceed more than 6 caplets a day. If pain persists for more than a day or two, see a physician. For arthritis pain, take 2 Tylenol Arthritis Pain caplets (dose 650 mg each caplet) every 8 hours as needed. Do not exceed more than 6 caplets a day.
What is Pfizer's new drug?
authorized COVID-19 vaccine in partnership with BioNTech. Now they're making strides in COVID-19 treatment. The new drug, called PF-07321332, is currently undergoing clinical trials. The company is also developing an antiviral COVID-19 treatment that would be administered intravenously.
Can Pfizer be administered orally?
The Pfizer drug was first tested using intravenous delivery. Chavez says it’s more challenging to create a treatment that can be delivered orally. But developing an option that would allow people to self-treat at home would make it easier to treat a larger population.
Is Pfizer intravenous antiviral a novel treatment?
At the same time, Pfizer’s intravenous antiviral candidate is a potential novel treatment option for hospitalized patients. Together, the two have the potential to create an end to end treatment paradigm that complements vaccination in cases where disease still occurs.”.
Can oral antiviral drugs stop the virus from replicating?
The oral drug deals with a different component of the virus’s life cycle. By inhibiting the protease, scientists think this antiviral treatment can stop the virus from replicating, regardless of the variation in its spike protein. Protease inhibitor drugs and COVID-19 vaccines, then, will likely support each other in the goal ...
Which osteoporosis medication is usually tried first?
Which osteoporosis medications are usually tried first? Bisphosphonates are usually the first choice for osteoporosis treatment. These include: Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill. Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill. Ibandronate (Boniva), a monthly pill or quarterly intravenous (IV) infusion.
How often is romosozumab given?
Romosozumab is given as a monthly injection at your doctor's office. It is a new drug and less is known about long-term side effects, but it is not given to people who have recently had a stroke or heart attack. Treatment stops after 12 monthly doses.
What is the best treatment for osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates are usually the first choice for osteoporosis treatment. These include: 1 Alendronate (Fosamax), a weekly pill 2 Risedronate (Actonel), a weekly or monthly pill 3 Ibandronate (Boniva), a monthly pill or quarterly intravenous (IV) infusion 4 Zoledronic acid (Reclast), an annual IV infusion
How does osteoporosis medication work?
Because bone rebuilding cannot keep pace, bones deteriorate and become weaker. Most osteoporosis medications work by reducing the rate at which your bones break down. Some work by speeding up the bone-building process. Either mechanism strengthens bone and reduces your risk of fractures.
How long can you take bisphosphonate?
These bone-building drugs can be taken for only one or two years and the benefits begin disappearing quickly after you stop. To protect the bone that's been built up, you'll need to start taking a bone-stabilizing medication such as a bisphosphonate.
Can you take denosumab indefinitely?
If you take denosumab, you might have to do so indefinitely unless your doctor transitions you to another medication. Recent research indicates that there could be a high risk of spinal fractures after stopping the drug, so it's important that you take it consistently.
Can you stop taking bisphosphonate?
So your doctor might suggest that you temporarily stop taking this type of drug. This practice is known as a drug holiday. However, even if you stop taking the medication, its positive effects can persist. That's because after taking a bisphosphonate for several years, the medicine remains in your bone.
