NCLEX Medications

Insulin, Coumadin, Heparin, antihypertensives, viagra, digitalis, ritalin, actonel, accutane, anti-ulcer medications, nitroglycern, to name a few. Try to look at the suffixes:

ace inhibitors end with 'pril (eg: captopril) *note that this drug increases potassium in the blood,

angiotensinogen 2 inhibitors end in 'sartan (eg: losartan),

beta blockers end with 'olol (eg: metoprolol) *caution with patients who are diabetic or who are asthmatic,

cholesterol reducing drugs usually end with 'statin (eg: atorvastatin) * note that if the patient experiences muscular pain, they should stop immediately and report it to the doctor, also not to consume grapefruit juice,

impotence drugs end with "defil (eg: sildenefil-hope I spelled it correctly...if not please excuse the typo) *note that you cannot take this drug if you are taking nitrates such as nitroglycerin or isosorbide and go to the doctor if an erection last longer than 4 hours,

accutane is an acne drug, where a pregnancy test must be done on females before prescribing them

actonel (again, this may be a typo) cannot be taken unless a person is able to sit up for at least 1/2 hour to an hour after adminstration.

Know the acting times of insulin, which is fast acting, long acting or the lente. They may ask when will a person become hypoglycemic, and that would be during peak hours.

penicillin: if a person has an allergy to penicillin, they may be at risk for an allergy to a cephalosporin, in that case suggest a macrolide such as clarithromycin. Macrolides are known to cause severe stomach pain for some people. Also, if a nurse administers penicillin or cephalosporin, that the patient should remain with the nurse for 1/2 hour afterwards to intervene with allergic reactions.

Most drugs that end with 'mycin may cause nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity

Parameters for digitalis administration, and also that if potassium is low and calcium and magnesium is high, there is a higher chance for digitalis toxicity.

corticosteriods usually end with 'sone (eg: predinsone), may cause medication related diabetes, increase chances of infection, cause Cushoid symptoms (buffalo hump in back, thin skin, easy to bruise, etc...)

Aspirin should not be consumed with alcohol, increases bleeding, causes ulcers, should be taken with food to diminish gastric distress

Antidote for tylenol is Mucomyst.

There may be many more and also, there is a high chance that many drugs that you never heard of may be on the NCLEX exam. I was fortunate, I knew most of the drugs except two (had 11 drug questions, one calculations question), but, I know many that saw 'drugs prescribed in planet Mars" A good summary of the drugs and the suffixes I mentioned are in Delmar's Comprehensive Exam Review for NCLEX LPN or RN. I heard that the RNs got some chemotherapeutic drugs. I hope that this helped. Pharmacology was a major nightmare for me as well. It was never explained to me in this manner and I didn't discover this until I took a review course specific for pharmacology as well as purchasing the Delmar's book I mentioned. Now, pharmacology has almost become an obsession for me. I carry my PDA everywhere I go to work. Good luck! I know this was long (sorry about that)

Oh, and the reason why they give several medications to combat tuberculosis is because it is meant to combat the organism. If not, a medication resistant TB may arise.

INH: must be given with vitamin B-6 to prevent neuropathy

rinfampin: causes red/orange colored urine, feces, tear and sweat (give on empty stomach)

ethambutol: get eye check ups

tetracycline: do not administer with dairy products, do not administer to pregnant women or children below the age of (I forgot, it is either 8 or 10 years old) because it can permanently damage teeth

I appreciate that very much! thank you :)

Pagandeva2000,

You always take alot of time and effort in your answers so I just wanted to thank you in a more forthright manner.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! Very kind of you. You are awesome, really.

Pagandeva, thanks so much for that awesome post! You ROCK!

Wow, this is very helpful. I'll have to check out that book. Thanks!

Thank you all very much for the compliments! It means alot to me because knowledge is not worth anything if it is not shared. I have always done the very best that I can to make information as simple for myself as possible so that I can better explain things to others, especially the patients. I deal with a population that does not have medical insurance, many are foreigners who are just learning about their illnesses and dealing with medications and treatments for the first time. I continue to do a great deal of reading to basically get to the point without all of the frills in between.

You guys rock, too!

wish i had known this thread before i gave my test...on 18th yesterday!!

but even though it is very helpful though.

Thanks a bunch!!!

WOW! Thank you so much for this valuable information.

I will be taking nclex in about four months. I am always looking or test taking tips and info about nclex. I am really nervous about. I am trying to get a heads up on it now.

Thanks, again.

hi pagan deva 2000,

this post is awesome.... i am going to copy it to one of the nclex support groups, hope that is ok with you...

Insulin, Coumadin, Heparin, antihypertensives, viagra, digitalis, ritalin, actonel, accutane, anti-ulcer medications, nitroglycern, to name a few. Try to look at the suffixes:

ace inhibitors end with 'pril (eg: captopril) *note that this drug increases potassium in the blood,

angiotensinogen 2 inhibitors end in 'sartan (eg: losartan),

beta blockers end with 'olol (eg: metoprolol) *caution with patients who are diabetic or who are asthmatic,

cholesterol reducing drugs usually end with 'statin (eg: atorvastatin) * note that if the patient experiences muscular pain, they should stop immediately and report it to the doctor, also not to consume grapefruit juice,

impotence drugs end with "defil (eg: sildenefil-hope I spelled it correctly...if not please excuse the typo) *note that you cannot take this drug if you are taking nitrates such as nitroglycerin or isosorbide and go to the doctor if an erection last longer than 4 hours,

accutane is an acne drug, where a pregnancy test must be done on females before prescribing them

actonel (again, this may be a typo) cannot be taken unless a person is able to sit up for at least 1/2 hour to an hour after adminstration.

Know the acting times of insulin, which is fast acting, long acting or the lente. They may ask when will a person become hypoglycemic, and that would be during peak hours.

penicillin: if a person has an allergy to penicillin, they may be at risk for an allergy to a cephalosporin, in that case suggest a macrolide such as clarithromycin. Macrolides are known to cause severe stomach pain for some people. Also, if a nurse administers penicillin or cephalosporin, that the patient should remain with the nurse for 1/2 hour afterwards to intervene with allergic reactions.

Most drugs that end with 'mycin may cause nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity

Parameters for digitalis administration, and also that if potassium is low and calcium and magnesium is high, there is a higher chance for digitalis toxicity.

corticosteriods usually end with 'sone (eg: predinsone), may cause medication related diabetes, increase chances of infection, cause Cushoid symptoms (buffalo hump in back, thin skin, easy to bruise, etc...)

Aspirin should not be consumed with alcohol, increases bleeding, causes ulcers, should be taken with food to diminish gastric distress

Antidote for tylenol is Mucomyst.

There may be many more and also, there is a high chance that many drugs that you never heard of may be on the NCLEX exam. I was fortunate, I knew most of the drugs except two (had 11 drug questions, one calculations question), but, I know many that saw 'drugs prescribed in planet Mars" A good summary of the drugs and the suffixes I mentioned are in Delmar's Comprehensive Exam Review for NCLEX LPN or RN. I heard that the RNs got some chemotherapeutic drugs. I hope that this helped. Pharmacology was a major nightmare for me as well. It was never explained to me in this manner and I didn't discover this until I took a review course specific for pharmacology as well as purchasing the Delmar's book I mentioned. Now, pharmacology has almost become an obsession for me. I carry my PDA everywhere I go to work. Good luck! I know this was long (sorry about that)

Another resource that shares similar information is the Helen Feuer Nursing Review. They sell CDs and tapes for NCLEX-LPN/RN and for pharmacology. They are great! Just type in the name in your browser and it should appear. Good luck with NCLEX, everyone!

dont forget your diuretics ... esp. those are imp. also I have some for now ...

meds that end in -sartan=decrease blood pressure, increase cardiac load (Used for those who side effect is cough with ACE)

ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR BLOCKERS

side effects 2nd degree AV block, angina, muscle cramps monitor BUN,BP and pulse

-vastatin(Lovastatin)=decrease cholesterol, lower tricycerides (NOTE*Lipitor at night only do not take with grapefruit juice)

ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMICS

side effects muscle weakness, alopecia monitor liver/renal profile

cox=osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis(relieve pain by reducing inflammation)

NSAID/CO2 ENZYME BLOCKER

side effects tinnitus, dizziness monitor bowel habits (could cause GI bleed, platlet count) Increase risk of strokes, heart attacks***

tidine=GERD

HISTAMINE 2 ANTAGONIST(inhibit gastric acids)

side effects agranulocytosis, brady/tachycardia monitor gastric PH/BUN ***If taking antacids take one hour after or before taking these drugs***

-prazole=ulcers, indigestion, GERD (Take before meals better absorption)

PROTON PUMP INHIBITORS

side effects gas, diarrhea, hyperglycemia monitor LFTs

-parin=thin blood, DVT, M.I.,post surgeries (Antidote Protamine sulfate--check PTT should be 1.5-2.0x) anticoag. decread vit. K levels

side effects hematuria, bleeding, fever monitor PTT, hematocrit and occult testing q 3mths

-pam

-pate

-aze/azo =Benzos/Antianxiety/anticonvulsants

side effects incontinence, respiratory depression/ monitor for LFT, respirations

-caine (anesthetic)

-mab (monoclonal antibodies)

-ceph or cef (cephalosporins)

-cycline (tetracyclines)

-cal (calciums)

-done (opioids)

ganciclovir sodium causes neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and nurse should monitor for s/s of bleeding just as equiv. to a pt. on anticoag. therapy.

SSRIs and MAOIs used together potentially fatal

Hope this helps ...