"I Can't Poop": Medication-Induced Constipation.

One of the challenging side effects of many medications is constipation. When knowledgeable nurses who teach patients about their medications include information about the possibility of constipation, they can then educate patients about how to prevent, reduce, or treat medication-related constipation. Discussion in the following article addresses examples of drugs that have the potential for constipation, why constipation may occur with these medications, and how to safely prevent or reduce medication-induced constipation.

More New Medication Approvals.

In the past year, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved many new drugs for treating a wide variety of patient health problems. In a previous article, examples of approvals for the early part of last year were addressed. In this article, selected new FDA approvals through January 2016 are discussed.

Catching Up on New Medications: New FDA Approvals.

Despite all efforts of the Federal Drug Administration to release timely and accurate information about new drug approvals, marketing and media announcements about new drugs may be incomplete, misinterpreted, or misunderstood. Informed and knowledgeable nurses are able to educate patients about new medications: they can clarify misunderstandings or misconceptions and significantly reduce the potential for harm. In this article, selected examples of new brand name drugs and first-time generics approved this year are discussed.

Acetaminophen by infusion.

Acetaminophen is a nonsteroidal, nonsalicylate analgesic and antipyretic that is, today, the most common medication ingredient found in oral and rectal over-the-counter and prescription drugs. However, it was not until 2010 that Ofirmev (acetaminophen), an injection form of acetaminophen, was approved for treating mild to moderate pain, as an adjunct to opioids for severe pain, and reduction of fever in those younger than 2 years. Thus, intravenous acetaminophen may be appropriately used in a wide variety of settings and nurses who are knowledgeable and informed about the correct use of intravenous acetaminophen will be able to reduce the potential for medication misadventures.

Your client has multiple sclerosis: understanding the challenge.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness or spasticity, balance incoordination, sensory deficit, and fatigue. Any of these effects of MS can increase the risk for orthopaedic injury that places individuals with MS in an orthopaedic care setting. Nurses with an understanding of MS and the effect of MS on the body will be better prepared to educate peers about MS, act as advocates for individuals with MS in the orthopaedic setting, and offer optimum care that addresses the patient's MS as well as the orthopaedic problem.

Glaucoma and glaucoma medications.

Glaucoma is an insidious "thief of vision" that affects millions of Americans and is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. The signs of the most common form of glaucoma are incremental and are often not noticed until the vision loss is acute. Nurses, in any practice arena, who are aware and knowledgeable about glaucoma can play a vital role in identifying those at risk for glaucoma before irreversible damage is done.

One statin, two statins, three statins, more: similarities and differences of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors.

Statin drugs (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors) are one of the most widely prescribed drugs today. They are considered first-line therapy to lower blood serum cholesterol levels in conjunction with therapeutic lifestyle changes for both primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. In the following discussion, a brief explanation of the background of statins will explain why they are deemed so important today.

What's new? Medication changes 2008-2010.

Every year there are new medications approved by the Federal Food & Drug Administration. Some medications are removed from the market, and new information or warnings about existing medications become available. Some of the information about these changes makes its way into public media and can cause concern among patients and some can be misleading for those without a full understanding of the facts.

Acetaminophen: old friend--new rules.

Acetaminophen is an old and comfortable friend. In its over-the-counter forms (of which there are almost 100), it is used by millions of people for relief of pain and to treat mild fevers. When combined with an opioid as a prescription drug, it is often effective for more severe pain.

Improving patient safety by improving medication communication.

Any time that information about a patient's medication is communicated, there is a potential for error that occurs because of misinterpretation of abbreviations, acronyms, and dose designations. In the following discussion, corrective approaches for reducing the use of error-prone terms will be reviewed. Terms on the "Do Not Use" list are identified and the rationale for using "Tall Man" letters is addressed.

Treating clients with a deadly poison.

Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections are a highly sought-after elective treatment for temporary relief of some facial lines. Botox is also a highly useful therapeutic agent, approved for use in treating a variety of health conditions. However, Botulinum toxin is a poison responsible for botulism, and, regardless of the purpose for Botox injections, there are serious considerations about safety and adverse effects related to its use that are important for nurses to know.

New medications and medication changes.

When nurses in orthopaedic settings are educating a patient about the medications, they address not just those medications related to the current orthopaedic problem, but all medications the patient is using. During these education sessions, nurses will often be asked about new medications, changes in medications, or medication recalls the patient may have heard about from friends or through media sources. One up-to-date resource for drug information that nurses can readily access is the U.

Drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.

Knowledge of the drugs currently approved to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) is important for nurses who care for male patients, especially those men of middle age or older and those who have concurrent health problems or are taking medications that may contribute to ED. This article provides a very basic look at ED and the drugs currently approved and used for treatment. Informed nurses can increase patient understanding of ED, make suggestions for necessary referrals, and help patients and their sexual partners understand the appropriate use and cautions associated with drugs used to treat ED.

Medicating young or very young patients--Part III.

In Part I of this series, the unique considerations about medicating children at different ages were addressed. In Part II, examples of medications used to treat common short-term illnesses in younger patients were examined. In this part, examples of medications used to treat children with two long-term conditions, asthma and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, are identified.

Medicating young or very young patients--part II.

Having a sick child can be stressful for parents, even if the illness is a mild cold or gastrointestinal upset. Part of that stress may be related to uncertainty about when to seek professional help and when to choose an over-the-counter (OTC) medication. When choosing to use an OTC medication, parents are faced with another uncertainty-which agent to use.

Medicating young or very young patients--part I.

Children enter an orthopaedic treatment environment for a variety of reasons. Some of these pediatric patients will be seen in practices specializing in pediatric orthopedics. However, many young patients with less demanding problems will be seen in family practice settings and general orthopaedic areas.

Responding to patient-initiated humor: guidelines for practice.

Over the past few decades, increasing evidence has shown the beneficial effects of humor. The use of caregiver-initiated humor as an intervention in healthcare settings has both physiological and emotional benefits. Little has been written, however, about another very important aspect of humor, patient-initiated humor.

Managing insomnia.

Sleep is a vital part of normal health and wellness for everyone. It is also an important factor in recovering from the physiological and emotional stress of any hospitalization or illness. Insomnia--the lack of adequate period of sleep--has a profound impact on society and public health in many ways.

Diabetes and diabetes medications.

There are more than 20 million people in the United States who have diabetes; 14 million are diagnosed and an estimated 6 million who are unaware that they have diabetes. Thus, nurses in every setting are interacting with patients who have diabetes. Those nurses who are knowledgeable about diabetes can play a major role in reducing the damage that diabetes causes by educating patients and helping them identify the important aspects of managing their disease.

Unraveling the mystery of HIV medications.

Today, millions of people around the globe are infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This retrovirus attacks and renders ineffective the human immune system and leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), which leaves those with AIDS open to a variety of fatal infections. HIV knows no racial, gender, or age distinctions, and there is, as yet, no cure for HIV.

Fighting infection: an ongoing challenge, part 3-antimycobacterials, antifungals, and antivirals.

The first part of this series provided a brief overview of how antimicrobials, the "silver bullets" of modern medicine, are designed to target specific agents of infection. The second part addressed several classes of antibacterials: bacterial cell wall inhibitors (penicillins, cephalosporins), protein synthesis inhibitors (macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides), and nucleic acid inhibitors (sulfonamides and quinolones). This third section focus on those drugs used to treat mycobacterial infections (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), fungal infections (Candida species, Aspergillus species), and viral infections (herpes, hepatitis, and influenza).

Ethical support for culturally sensitive health care.

This month's column presents a case study of a Muslim patient and the considerations for culturally sensitive care that one nurse implemented. The interventions resolved potential cultural conflict and involved several departments within her agency. A brief review of the deliberations and decisions of the Institutional Ethics Committee identifies the supporting ethical arguments and the recommendations for developing cultural sensitivity within its healthcare organizations.

Fighting infection: an ongoing challenge, part 2--antibacterials.

In Part 1 of this three-part series, an overview of how antimicrobials, the "silver bullets" of modern medicine, are designed to target specific agents of infection was given. The worldwide concern regarding antimicrobial resistance and the need for a more judicious approach to using antimicrobials was addressed. In this section, the focus is on those specific antimicrobial agents used to fight bacterial infections.

Fighting infection: an ongoing challenge, part 1.

Since the beginning of time, infections have been a major cause of disability and death of humans in every part of the world. For centuries, little was known about what caused infection, how to prevent infection, or how to cure infection. With the discovery of sulfa and penicillin in the 1930s, the ability to fight infection became reality.