Disease and s/s

[peridotgirl]

Hey there. I'm an Student Practical Nurse in training. In my course, as I'm sure in others, it is required for us to know some of the common diseases and the s/s associated with it. Now, in testing, I can identity the disease and the s/s; but for some reason, when I am asked later on about a disease, I can't remeber it's s/s. How do you guys learn and retain the information for all the diseases? (it sure is a lot!) thank you. :):)

[agldragonRN]

so if you can give both drugs together than why did the website (i was looking up drug to drug interactions) contraindicate it?

hmmm...i do not know. all i know was i gave 'em together and it was fine. also, i did not see anything about not giving them together when i was doing my drug cards. like what i said, it was ordered by the md, and my instructor did not say anything and i looked them up and my drug book didn't say anything about contraindications to each other.

what's the website??

angel

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Giving Lanoxin and potassium together isn't contraindicated, but caution is recommended.

The cardiac glycosides (like digoxin/Lanoxin) act on the sodium-potassium pump, so they can put a patient at risk for electrolyte disturbances, especially at high doses. If you're giving them to a patient who is already hypokalemic (and therefore on potassium), it requires frequent electrolyte monitoring.

[agldragonRN]

giving lanoxin and potassium together isn't contraindicated, but caution is recommended.

actually she said lanoxin and lasix together.

[EricJRN, MSN, RN]

Wow - completely misread that one. Sorry guys.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

so if you can give both drugs together than why did the website (I was looking up drug to drug interactions) contraindicate it?

What website were you looking at?

Giving digoxin and furosemide together is not contraindicated, but caution is required. The reason for this is that low potassium levels can increase digoxin toxicity, and furosemide can cause low potassium levels.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

I don't have a pathophys book, but I have been taught those s/s asociated with an MI.

Don't forget about silent MI's.

[peridotgirl]

hmmm...i do not know. all i know was i gave 'em together and it was fine. also, i did not see anything about not giving them together when i was doing my drug cards. like what i said, it was ordered by the md, and my instructor did not say anything and i looked them up and my drug book didn't say anything about contraindications to each other.

what's the website??

angel

the website is http://www.medicinenet.com/digoxin/article.htm. however, i looked on there, you guys are right. lasix and lanoxin can be adminsitered together. there are some precautions to take when administering it and i knew that. i wasn't sure whether the drugs could be taken together. i guess they can. thank so so much for your help. :):):)

[peridotgirl]

Don't forget about silent MI's.

oh yea... but what are the S/S for a silent MI if it's silent?

[peridotgirl]

What website were you looking at?

Giving digoxin and furosemide together is not contraindicated, but caution is required. The reason for this is that low potassium levels can increase digoxin toxicity, and furosemide can cause low potassium levels.

hi NancyNurse08. I looked at the website and I found out that I was mistaken. furosemide and digoxin CAN be administered together. Now that I know that; I want to know what ARE the drug-drug interactions for digoxin and furosemide?

the website was: http://www.medicinenet.com/digoxin/article.htm :):):)

[peridotgirl]

okay, well I found out the drug-to-drug interactions for digoxin and furosemide. thanks for all your help. Now all I have to do is memeorize it; which wil be a little hard to do. I've gotten everything down about the meds except for the dug interactions.

[sharona97, BSN, RN]

oh yea... but what are the S/S for a silent MI if it's silent?

Generally happens with diabetics, not always though. An EKG can give the info if an MI has occurred. Patients are usually unaware they are having the MI. So it's kinda like a double edged sword..

I think of family history, any previous MI's in family or patient and Pay attention to the EKG's. More of a history taking plug for you. Hope it helps. Also I found diabetics with many complications (due to non compliance or just plain severley ill with the disease), I try to check all areas that diabetics with complications may have.

Lots to learn with Diabetes, that's for sure.

Check out American Association of Diabetics.

[lil' girl, LPN]

thanks for your information. I knew that I had to monitor the apical rate and the postassium level before giving either drug. I just didn't know whether they could be given together or not.

I'm sorry peridotgirl, I didn't make my post more clear. That was the point I was trying to make that giving or not giving together didn't really matter but that the potassium level was the "thing" about these drugs. Next time I will try to be clearer.