DRUG STUDY

NAME OF DRUG DOSAGE, MECHANISM OF ACTION INDICATION ADVERSE SPECIAL PRECAUTION NURSING
ROUTE, REACTIONS RESPONSIBILITIES
FREQUENCY,
TIMING
MgSO4 – 5g Dosage:  Atorvastatin In patients with clinically  Central Nervous  Use cautiously In CLINICAL ALERT!
deep IM on 1 film coated competitively inhibits 3- evident CAD, to System(CNS): patients with  Look alike-sound alike:
alternating tablet hydroxy-3- reduce risk on nonfatal insomnia hepatic impairment Don’t confuse atorvastatin
buttocks q4H in (10 mg, 20 mg, methylglutaryl- MI, fatal and nonfatal  Cardiovascular or heavy alcohol with atomoxetine. Don’t
24 hours as 40 mg and 80 coenzyme A (HMG- strokes, angina, HF, (CV): stroke use, in patients confuse Lipitor with
maintenance mg) CoA) reductase. By and revascularization  Eye, Ear, Nose with inadequately Loniten, Levatol, or Zyrtec.
dose preventing the procedures. and Throat treated
Adults: Initially, conversion of HMG-CoA To reduce risk of MI, (EENT): hypothyroidism,  Peak 1-2 hr., Half-Life: 14
GENERIC: 10 mg/day; for to mevalonate, statin stroke, angina, or nasopharyngitis, with other drugs hrs.
Magnesium maintenance medications decrease vascularization pharyngolaryngeal associated with
Sulfate 10-80 mg/day cholesterol production procedures in patients pain. myopathy, and in  Verify patient identity
Pediatric: 10-17 in the liver. Atorvastatin with multiple risk  Gastrointestinal elderly patients. before administering the
BRAND: YR also increases the factors for CAD but (GI): abdominal  Withhold or stop drug by checking patient’s
MgSO4 Initially, 10 number of LDL who don’t yet have the pain, diarrhea, drug in patients at name via wrist band,
mg/day, receptors on the surface disease. dyspepsia, risk for renal failure confirm patients name and
Maximum 20 of hepatic cells. To reduce risk of MI or flatulence, caused by medical record #. or ask
mg/day; do not stroke in patients with nausea. rhabdomyolysis the patient or the patient’s
PREGNANCY change dose of type 2 diabetes and  Genitourinary resulting from family to state his/her
 In patients with
CATEGORY D: intervals <4 wk. homozygous or
multiple risk factors for (GU): UTI trauma; in serious, name in order to avoid
Positive evidence CAD but who don’t yet  Metabolic: acute conditions wrong medication
Route: heterozygous familial have the disease. that suggest
of risk diabetes mellitus. administration. Then follow
PO (Orally) hypercholesterolemia, Adjunct to diet to reduce myopathy; and in
 Musculoskeletal: the standard precaution
mixed dyslipidemia, LDL, total cholesterol, major surgery,
rhabdomyolysis, and procedure considering
Frequency: isolated apolipoprotein B, and sever acute
arthralgia, the ADPIE nursing process
OD, hypertriglyceridemia, triglyceride levels and infection,
myalgia, extremity during patient care.
Give drug or nonfamilial to increase HDL levels hypotension,
hypercholesterolemia, pain, muscle
without regard in patients with primary spasms, uncontrolled  Patient should follow a
for meal atorvastatin has been hyper-cholesterolemia seizures, or sever
shown to reduce total musculoskeletal standard cholesterol
(heterozygous familial pain. metabolic, lowering diet before and
cholesterol (TC), low- and nonfamilial ) and endocrine, or
Timing:  Skin: rash. during therapy.
density lipoprotein mixed dyslipidemia electrolyte
Same time each
cholesterol (LDL-C), (Fredricksons types IIa disorders.
day, any time of Assessment
apolipoprotein B (apo and IIb); adjunct to diet  Limit use in
the day. Obtain baseline data of
B), very-low-density to reduce triglyceride children to those
Sometimes patient:
lipoprotein (VLDL-C) level (Frederickson older than age 10
Physicians may Subjective:
and triglycerides type IV); primary with homozygous
recommend  Obtain complete current
(TGs) while dysbetalipoproteinemia familial
taking it in the and past health history,
increasing high- (Fredrickson type III) in hypercholesterole
evening. symptoms, drug history
density lipoprotein patients who don’t mia.
cholesterol (HDL-C). (OTC and the possible
 In patients with respond adequately to  Monitor liver drug and food interaction),
dysbetalipoproteinemi diet. function test (LFT) dietary fat consumption
a, atorvastatin has Alone or as an adjunct to before starting the and including allergies.
been shown to lipid-lowering treatment. Repeat Objective
decrease treatments, such as LFT is advise by  Perform vital sign
intermediate-density LDL apheresis, to doctor after independently.
lipoprotein (IDL-C). reduce total and LDL ongoing treatment.  Before treatment, assess
cholesterol patients patient for underlying
with homozygous  Older adults may causes for
familial be more sensitive hypercholesterolemia and
hypercholesterolemia. to the side effects obtain a baseline lipid
Heterozygous familial of this drug, profile.
hypercholesterolemia especially muscle
 Physical: Orientation,
in pediatric patients problems.
affect, muscle strength;
who don’t respond liver evaluation, abdominal
 CYP3A4 substrate;
adequately to dietary examination; lipid studies,
treatment. avoid grapefruit pr LFTs, renal function tests.
Intensive lipid-lowering oducts and caution
after ACS event with other CYP3A4 Intervention
regardless of baseline  Obtain periodic LFT (Liver
LDL; noncardioembolic inhibitors.
Function Test) results and
stroke/TIA (secondary 
lipid levels before starting
prevention).  Drug may cause treatment and at 4 and 12
fetal harm. weeks after initiation, or
after an increase in
dosage and periodically
thereafter.

 Watch for signs of myositis

and myopathy
(unexplained muscle pain,
tenderness, weakness,
malaise, dark urine, fever).
Drug may need to be
discontinued.

Patient Teaching
 Teach patient about proper
dietary management,
weight control, and
exercise. Explain their
importance in controlling
high fat levels. Encourage
a low fat , low-cholesterol
diet with an increase in
 fiber, fruits, and
vegetables.
 Warn patient to avoid
alcohol and smoking.
 Advise to avoid drinking
more than one quart of
grapefruit juice
 Tell patient to inform
prescriber of all adverse
reactions, such as muscle
pain, malaise and fever.
Also signs of liver
problems (feeling tired or
weak; loss of appetite;
upper belly pain; dark
urine; or yellowing of skin
or whites of eyes).
 Instruct patient to notify
health care professional of
al Rx or OTC medications,
vitamins or herbal
products.
 Advise patient that drug
can be taken at any time of
day, without regard for
meals. But it preferred of
administer at bedtime.
 Alert: Tell female patient
to stop drug and notify
prescriber immediately if
she is or may be pregnant
or if she’s breastfeeding.

CLASSIFICATIO CONTRAINDICATION SIDE EFFECTS

N
Therapeutic  In patients  Feeling and sick
class: hypertensive to (nausea) or
 Electrolyte drug and in those indigestion
replacements with active liver  Headaches
disease or  Nosebleeds
Pharmacologic unexplained  Sore throat
class: persistent  Cold-like
 Minerals elevations of symptoms, such
 transaminase as runny nose,
levels. blocked nose or
 Some dosage sneezing
forms contain  Constipation or
polysorbate 80, farting
which can cause (flatulence)
delayed  Diarrhoea
hypersensitivity
reactions.
 With allergy to
atorvastatin and
fungal by
products
PREGNANCY-
LACTATION-
REPRODUCTION
 In women who
are pregnant and
or may become
pregnant.
 Women of
childbearing
potential should
use effective
contraception
during treatment
and be apprised
of potential
hazards to the
fetus.
 In breastfeeding
women.