I'm trying to compile a rough top-ten (or top whatever number) list of the most controversial/dangerous/questionable medications of recent history. They can still be in use or were recalled. Here is a partial list I considered:
1. RU486
2. Rhogam
3. Potassium infusions
4. Heparin Therapy
5. COX-2 Inhibitors
That's by no means complete or even valid so I welcome discussion here. There are some really controversial ones I'm not aware of because their administration would be out of my scope of practice. So I trust this will be interesting.
Seroquel. A lot of side effects r/t metabolic syndrome, severe weight gain, etc (and a lot of those psych drugs). Seems like with psych drugs, there is a real balancing act between helping the patient psychologically and hurting them with the physical side effects. Like, what are those ones that cause tardive dyskinesia (sorry I'm sleepy this morning)?
Antipsychotics. Typical antipsychotics, such as Haldol and Thorazine, carry a bigger risk of TD than Atypical ones.
Clozapine is a controversial drug in psych...well in some places, don't want to generalize. :)
Specializes in Oncology from a students perspective.
I am not sure if you are including Vaccines ? I think Anthrax is very controversial. I had four of the 6 or 7 and made my arm extremely red , swelled like a softball and hard. It was the most painful vaccine/shot i have ever received. (I was in the Navy for 6 years before becoming a Nurse) I am presently a GN
Specializes in ED (Level 1, Pediatric), ICU/CCU/STICU.
Unfortunatly, whatever is in the media spotlight for the moment...
While the OP has a good topic / thought, your responses can / will be as diffuse as the individuals posting and whatever aspect of nursing they practice in.
In reality, any medication can become controversial. Pharmacology is an ongoing science, and things that were accepted as standard of care, can fall out of favor due to resulted studies. Add to that, any negative and sensational event will make the news, and then that therapy is in the spotlight (see recent events regarding heparin and NICU). Any time you give a medication, it has that possiblity to become "controversial". Include personal, religeous, psychological beliefs (or biases) to that and off you go.... :)
I just recently had a women OD on wellbutrin extended release. She took like 8 times the normal dosage. We had to monitor for QTC widing. If it got to large she could go into v-tach. I'm not sure if it causes any irrversable damage though.
MaryAnn_RN
478 Posts
drotrecogin alpha 'Xygris' http://xigris.com/index.jsp used in severe sepsis, had a nasty experience with that