Published Feb 8, 2009
retread71
59 Posts
I'm not a nurse but we've been discussing the synthroid question at my community (AL--not SNF)
For the residents who are on synthroid, the Pharmacy labels/sends it with AM med pass and it is scheduled on the MAR at 8 am and given with other meds. I have not seen one synthroid with special instruction stickers. The MD orders say PO qd. However, One new resident came in with synthoid ordered at 6:30 AM, it goes on MAR at 6:30 and we give it by 7:30. At my last community, synthroid was given at 6:30 AM with no other meds, by the NOC shift.
I was wondering, does it matter if the order is PO qd, does it have to be by itself? What's the proper way it should be done? The residents don't like to be woken for a 6:30 pill and the extra pass and earlier time frame gets all the other stuff messed up.
Also, several residents take potassium, one new one came in and now his potassium says "with food". Is potassium supposed to be given with food?
UM Review RN, ASN, RN
1 Article; 5,163 Posts
Potassium should definitely be given with food. It's pretty harsh on the stomach. It also helps the pill go down easier.
As to your question about Synthroid, here's the drug monograph from Medscape. That should answer your question:
http://www.medscape.com/druginfo/monograph?cid=med&drugid=7033&drugname=Synthroid+Oral&monotype=monograph&print=1
sonja77
187 Posts
at my hospital synthroid and protonix are two drugs that are automatically scheduled at 0700 and are given by the night shift. potassium is scheduled at 0900.
CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN
3,734 Posts
Synthriod should be given on an empty stomach. We do it at 6 am and some places at 9pm.
Potasium with food.
I bet your pharm can give you a list of meds that should be given with and without food and not crushed.