Interesting things about amiodorone

[Noney]

Hi every one.

I thought it might fun to list things we've observed or learned the hard way about different drugs. I thought we could start with amiodorone (sp). Then go on to something else.

1. Be careful if the patient is also on digoxin because Amio. Can increase a dig level by 100% in a few days.

2. When Amio infiltrates it isn't pretty

Everyone add something they experienced

[jnette, ASN, EMT-I]

Good idea for a thread ! I like this...good way to learn and refresh.

Keep it coming. :)

[purplemania, BSN, RN]

Gave Demerol/Phenergan IV once to adolescent female who then had psychotic episode lasting only a few minutes. Had been on Demerol PCA day before, so I blamed it on the Phenergan. Nurses in post-partum (where young females are pt) say this occurs with Phenergan rarely, but nurse needs to observe pt for safety reasons after IV push.

[dprayvd]

aaaaa

[dprayvd]

aaaaa.

[Noney]

Interesting about the phenergan.

I took an order for quininine once but wrote it for quindine. thought it was the same med. Scary huh?

Maybe someone else can learn from my mistake.

[ERNurse752, RN]

Going back to Amiodarone for a second...

Had a guy in the ER once who had been on it, and had exposure to a lot of sunlight while on it. Turned the skin on his face blue - permanently.

So he looks cyanotic...freaks people out if they haven't seen him before.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

I've heard about the blue skin and blue nose side effect from amiodarone. Can also cause pulmonary fibrosis, so patients SHOULD have a lung function test before going on it. Can cause bradycardia and hypotension. As you are well aware, amiodarone is now part of ACLS, having replaced lidocaine. In cardiac/ACLS circles, it's treated as if it's a new wonder drug (will treat both a-fib and v-tach), but it's been around for a long time and can have very serious side effects, much worse than lidocaine or cardizem.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Anybody want to mention Ambien and little old ladies

[live4today, RN]

Originally posted by VickyRN

Anybody want to mention Ambien and little old ladies

I could use an Ambien sometimes myself. :chuckle My husband was on it for a time when he was in a lot of backpain before his back surgery. He said he had the best sleep ever! He did say it knocked him out QUICK which he didn't like being put to sleep that fast from a pill.

The "little old ladies" I take care of at work who are on Ambien (and what patient isn't these days:rolleyes: )...anyway, they always ask for their "Ambien to help them sleep". :)

[renerian, BSN, RN]

I had a client who developed heparin antibodies from heparin. She died.

renerian

[Noney]

This is great. I never heard of the bluish skin from amiodarone.

Renerian, tell me more about the heparin antibdies.

I 'v seen aricept set older females off at night.