Most common LTC meds

Published

I am looking to compile a list of some of the more common meds seen in LTC. I want to do some studying and brushing up before I have my interview for a LTC RN position.

Also if you can share anything else that is fairly common in a LTC facility that I should review please let me know!

MANY thanks in advance for taking the time to respond

Specializes in LTC, Acute Care.
OMG... I forgot.... Of course every little elderly person is on the biggest pill ever made for their little throats.... Potassium....

:lol2::lol2::lol2:This is why we switched to liquid Potassium for most if not all of them.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in hospice, ortho,clinical review.

If you need to give potassium (pill form) and also have other meds you need to crush and they prefer pudding, you can melt down the potassium in a tiny bit of water. It will melt down while you're prepping the other meds then just had the other crushed pills/pudding. I found it simplier/quicker than to mix up seperate concoctions!

OP, The meds people have listed are what I see too. Besides learning what the meds ar for, I can remember when I started, one of the nurses told me that I'll eventually be able to just look at the meds and be able to identify them by appearance. I was thinking NO WAY! And it's funny she was right, a few weeks after she said that I could....you will too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
If you need to give potassium (pill form) and also have other meds you need to crush and they prefer pudding, you can melt down the potassium in a tiny bit of water. It will melt down while you're prepping the other meds then just had the other crushed pills/pudding. I found it simplier/quicker than to mix up seperate concoctions!

OP, The meds people have listed are what I see too. Besides learning what the meds ar for, I can remember when I started, one of the nurses told me that I'll eventually be able to just look at the meds and be able to identify them by appearance. I was thinking NO WAY! And it's funny she was right, a few weeks after she said that I could....you will too!

I have one patient on K-dur who I refuse to give it to whole. I did once the first time I had her and I was weary about it and she had a hard time swallowing it. So I came home and read on here that if you let it sit in applesauce it will dissolve but the crystals will stay intact or something. I tried it when I had her again and it worked .. and it even thickened the applesauce a bit too because she likes her meds crushed in pudding and it made the applesauce almost a pudding consistency. I told her that its her potassium pill mixed in applesauce and why I put it in there and she said "Oh thank you honey.. I hate swallowing those ******* pills" Shes so cute. lol

And yes after 3 months I can now recognize the appearance of pills.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Professional Development Specialist.

You've gotten great advice. :D All the meds I give daily have been listed. We give potassium and our pharmacy sends capsules. We don't have to crush and it's easy to open the capsule and pour it into applesauce. :D

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
You've gotten great advice. :D All the meds I give daily have been listed. We give potassium and our pharmacy sends capsules. We don't have to crush and it's easy to open the capsule and pour it into applesauce. :D

Most have capsules. I wish all the residents on potassium did. I really would like to find the inventor of K-Dur and ask them why? why would you make a little old lady swallow this tootsie roll size pill

Up Vote Up Vote ×

dont forget about coumadin!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in OB, Peds, Med Surg and Geriatric Nsg.

Aricept, Namenda, Baclofen, Lisinopril, Enalapril, Metoprolol, Potassium, Calcium, Coumadin, Colace, Benefiber, Miralax, Senna, Bisacodyl, Nephrocaps, Vicodin, Percocet, Darvocet, Ambien, MS Contin, Clonazepam, Roxanol, Xanax, Omeprazole, Trazodone, Oxybutynin, Simvastatin, Nitrofurantoin, Meclizine, Metoclopramide, Neb treatments, Insulins, Ativan, Phenergan, Fentanyl patches, Finasteride, Lasix, Atenolol, Digoxin, Singulair, Gabapentin.. ATB is usually Levaquin, Ciprofloxacin, Cephalexin and Zyvox

@Dajuliness: I totally agree with you! I have a resident that always ask me to break the big pill into half because they are hard to swallow.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family practice.

You people are great. I am a new grad and got a position in LTC. This was a great list for me! Thanks all!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I need to brush up on some of these meds! What about iron? I don't think we are supposed to crush those either. For potassium I let it melt in a little bit of water and then mix with apple sauce.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC.
I need to brush up on some of these meds! What about iron? I don't think we are supposed to crush those either. For potassium I let it melt in a little bit of water and then mix with apple sauce.

You can just put the K-Dur in a little applesauce and let it sit for a minute.

You aren't supposed to crush Iron.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LTC/Skilled Care/Rehab.

I never tried letting it sit in applesauce. I will try that!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ASC, Infection Control.

This thread is FABULOUS. i scoured the web by googling "common geriatric meds" and came up with nothing. then i remembered allnurses...of course the answers i seek can be found here :) thanks to everyone who posted meds on here, it helps a lot of us new grads!!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment