A-Adrenergic Blocking Drug

Administration of an a-adrenergic blocking drug may result in weakness, orthostatic hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, and tachycardia... 

The patient with hyperthyroidism is likely to have cardiac symptoms such as tachycardia or palpitations. Propranolol, a adrenergic blocking drug (see Chap. 21), may be prescribed by tlie primary health care provider as adjunctive treatment for several weeks until tlie therapeutic effects of tlie antithyroid drug are obtained. 

Tachycardia/Angina Minoxidil increases heart rate this can be prevented by coadministration of a -adrenergic blocking drug or other sympathetic nervous system suppressants. In addition, angina may worsen or appear for the first time... 

Basic and advanced life-support measures should be utilized as necessary. Treatment is directed at ameliorating tachycardias, shock, cardiac arrhythmias, systemic hypertension, pulmonary edema, and lactic acidosis. In the case of severe toxicity, administration of a rapidly acting a-adrenergic blocking drug such as phentolamine may be considered. 

In the 3-adrenergic blocking drug pyrroxan (48), the catechol moiety is masked in a doxane ring. The synthesis begins by alkylation of phenyl acetonitrile by 2-chloroethanol to produce alcohol Recuction converts this to amino alcohol which... 

List some nursing diagnoses particular to a patient taking adrenergic blocking drugs. 

These dm are primarily used in the treatment of hypertension (see the Summary Drug Table Adrenergic Blocking Drugs also see Chap. 39) and certain cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal rhythm of the heart), such as ventricular arrhythmias or supraventricular tachycardia They are used to prevent reinfarction in patients with a recent myocardial infarction (1—4 weeks after MI). Some of these dm have additional uses, such as the use of propranolol for migraine headaches and nadolol for angina pectoris. 

When administering a /3 -adrenergic blocking drug, such as propranolol (Inderal), the nurse should take an apical pulse rate and blood pressure before giving the drug. If pulse is below 60 bpm or if systoiic blood pressure is less than 90 mm Hg, the nurse should withhold the drug and contact the primary health care provider. 

When a -adrenergic blocking ophthalmic preparation, such as timolol, is administered to patients with glaucoma, it is important to insist that they have periodic follow-up examinations by an ophthalmologist. At these examinations, the intraocular pressure should be measured to determine the effectiveness of drug therapy. 

A new nurse says that she is unsure about how the adrenergic blocking drugs work. Discuss the four types of adrenergic blocking drugs and how each one works within the body. 

When an adrenergic blocking drug is given for a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia, which of the following activities would die nurse expect to be a part of patient care ... 

There is a decreased effectiveness of ritodrine when the drug is administered with a -adrenergic blocking agent such as propranolol and an increased risk of pulmonary edema when administered with the corticosteroids. Co-administration of ritodrine with the sym-pathomimetics potentiates the effect of ritodrine. Cardiovascular effects (eg, arrhythmias or hypotension) of ritodrine may increase when the drug is administered with diazoxide, general anesthetics, magnesium sulfate, or meperidine... 

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