Name of Drug: Gabapentin

Drug class

Nursing considerations

Assessment

Antiepileptic
Therapeutic actions

Mechanism of action not understood; antiepileptic activity may be related to its ability to inhibit polysynaptic responses and block posttetanic potentiation.
Indications

History: Hypersensitivity to gabapentin; lactation, pregnancy Physical: Weight; T; skin color, lesions; orientation, affect, reflexes; P; R, adventitious sounds; bowel sounds, normal output

Interventions

Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in adults and children 312 yr with epilepsy Orphan drug use: Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Management of postherpetic neuralgia or pain in the area affected by herpes zoster after the disease has been treated Unlabeled uses: Hot flashes, neuropathic pain

Give drug with food to prevent GI upset. Be aware that patient may be at increased risk for suicidality; monitor accordingly. Arrange for consultation with support groups for people with epilepsy. Warning If overdose occurs, hemodialysis may be an option.

Teaching points

Contraindications and cautions

Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to gabapentin. Use cautiously with pregnancy, lactation.

Adverse effects

CNS: Dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, somnolence, ataxia, diplopia, tremor Dermatologic: Pruritus, abrasion GI: Dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, diarrhea Respiratory: Rhinitis, pharyngitis Other: Weight gain, facial edema, cancer, impotence, suicidal ideation

Take this drug exactly as prescribed; do not discontinue abruptly or change dosage, except on the advice of your health care provider. Wear a medical alert ID at all times so that any emergency medical personnel will know that you have epilepsy and are taking antiepileptic medication. You may experience these side effects: Dizziness, blurred vision (avoid driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness or visual acuity); GI upset (take drug with food or milk, eat frequent small meals); headache, nervousness, insomnia; fatigue (periodic rest periods may help). Report severe headache, sleepwalking, rash, severe vomiting, chills, fever, difficulty breathing, thoughts of suicide.

Name of Drug: Polynerv

Drug class

Nursing considerations

Assessment

Antiepileptic
Therapeutic actions

Mechanism of action not understood; antiepileptic activity may be related to its ability to inhibit polysynaptic responses and block posttetanic potentiation.
Indications

History: Hypersensitivity to gabapentin; lactation, pregnancy Physical: Weight; T; skin color, lesions; orientation, affect, reflexes; P; R, adventitious sounds; bowel sounds, normal output

Interventions

Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in adults and children 312 yr with epilepsy Orphan drug use: Treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis Management of postherpetic neuralgia or pain in the area affected by herpes zoster after the disease has been treated Unlabeled uses: Hot flashes, neuropathic pain

Give drug with food to prevent GI upset. Be aware that patient may be at increased risk for suicidality; monitor accordingly. Arrange for consultation with support groups for people with epilepsy. Warning If overdose occurs, hemodialysis may be an option.

Teaching points

Contraindications and cautions

Contraindicated with hypersensitivity to gabapentin. Use cautiously with pregnancy, lactation.

Adverse effects

CNS: Dizziness, insomnia, nervousness, fatigue, somnolence, ataxia, diplopia, tremor Dermatologic: Pruritus, abrasion GI: Dyspepsia, vomiting, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, diarrhea Respiratory: Rhinitis, pharyngitis Other: Weight gain, facial edema, cancer, impotence, suicidal ideation

Take this drug exactly as prescribed; do not discontinue abruptly or change dosage, except on the advice of your health care provider. Wear a medical alert ID at all times so that any emergency medical personnel will know that you have epilepsy and are taking antiepileptic medication. You may experience these side effects: Dizziness, blurred vision (avoid driving or performing other tasks requiring alertness or visual acuity); GI upset (take drug with food or milk, eat frequent small meals); headache, nervousness, insomnia; fatigue (periodic rest periods may help). Report severe headache, sleepwalking, rash, severe vomiting, chills, fever, difficulty breathing, thoughts of suicide.

Manufacturer Distributor Contents Indications

S V More S V More Vit B1 250 mg, vit B6 250 mg, vit B12 1,000 mcg Neuritis, polyneuritis, lumbago, cervical & shoulder-arm syndrome, rheumatic pains, herpes zoster, alcoholism, cardiac disorders, diabetic neuropathy, hyperemesis gravidarum, encephalopathies, iatrogenic complications arising from INH, reserpine or phenothiazines. Prophylaxis 1-2 tab daily. Therapeutic 2-4 tab daily. May be taken with or without food. May be taken w/ meals to reduce GI discomfort. Vitamin B-Complex / with C A11DB - Vitamin B1 in combination with vitamin B6 and/or vitamin B12 ; Used as dietary supplements.

Dosage Administration MIMS Class ATC Classification

B-complex consists of eight different vitamins, which include thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), piroxidine (B6), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12), and biotin. All of the above are water soluble, and play a key role in several bodily functions, such as protein, fat, carbohydrate, and mitochondrial energy metabolism; maintenance of the liver, skin, hair, mouth, and eyes; plus so much more, which will be covered thoroughly within the following paragraphs. As mentioned above, vitamin b complex can be further broken down in to 3 general categories; that is, energy releasing, hematopoietic, or other.

Name of Drug: Diphenhydramine HCl

Drug classes

Contraindications and cautions

Antihistamine Antimotion-sickness drug Antiparkinsonian Cough suppressant Sedative-hypnotic

Therapeutic actions

Contraindicated with allergy to antihistamines, third trimester of pregnancy, lactation. Use cautiously with narrow-angle glaucoma, stenosing peptic ulcer, symptomatic prostatic hypertrophy, asthmatic attack, bladder neck obstruction, pyloroduodenal obstruction, pregnancy; elderly patients who may be sensitive to anticholinergic effects.

Competitively blocks the effects of histamine at H1-receptor sites, has atropine-like, antipruritic, and sedative effects.
Indications

Adverse effects

Relief of symptoms associated with perennial and seasonal allergic rhinitis; vasomotor rhinitis; allergic conjunctivitis; mild, uncomplicated urticaria and angioedema; amelioration of allergic reactions to blood or plasma; dermatographism; adjunctive therapy in anaphylactic reactions Active and prophylactic treatment of motion sickness Nighttime sleep aid Parkinsonism (including drug-induced parkinsonism and extrapyramidal reactions), in the elderly intolerant of more potent drugs, for milder forms of the disorder in other age-groups, and in combination with centrally acting anticholinergic antiparkinsonian drugs Syrup formulation: Suppression of cough due to colds or allergy

CNS: Drowsiness, sedation, dizziness, disturbed coordination, fatigue, confusion, restlessness, excitation, nervousness, tremor, headache, blurred vision, diplopia CV: Hypotension, palpitations, bradycardia, tachycardia, extrasystoles

Teaching points

Take as prescribed; avoid excessive dosage. Take with food if GI upset occurs. Avoid alcohol; serious sedation could occur. These side effects may occur: Dizziness, sedation, drowsiness (use caution driving or performing tasks requiring alertness); epigastric distress, diarrhea or constipation (take drug with meals); dry mouth (use frequent mouth care, suck sugarless lozenges); thickening of bronchial secretions, dryness of nasal mucosa (use a humidifier). Report difficulty breathing, hallucinations, tremors, loss of coordination, unusual bleeding or bruising, visual disturbances, irregular heartbeat.