The max daily dose for Tylenol is 3,000 mg. You take two at 8:00 am in the morning for some aches and pains and you’re in 1,000 mg. You’re having nasal congestion and a sore throat coming on so you’re afraid to let it slow you down that day at work–you take 30 mLs (2 TBSP) of DayQuil before you walk out the door. That’s another 650 mg of acetaminophen. The box tells you may have another dose in 4 hours, and by 3:00pm, you’re reaching for the bottle of Tylenol. At this point, you’re in 3,300 mg of acetaminophen and 300 mg over the max daily dose. “Are you going to die?” Probably not. But will you’re liver hate you?….Likely.
We all say we know what Tylenol is and what it does, but do we really? The American Journal of Nursing states that most consumers don’t know that Tylenol is acetaminophen. Nor do they know that there are 600 other over-the-counter medications that also contain acetaminophen. It’s therefore easy for them to consume a daily combination of drugs without knowing that they are slowly poisoning their liver.
Where am I getting at? Know your meds. It’s never too late and scrambling to understand them by Advanced MedSurg will be grueling. Below are a list of commonly used drugs on the floor. You should try to know them by your fourth semester.
Hematologic & Immune System
Cytoxan, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamine (Vit. B12), Ferrous Sulfate (Iron), Lovenox (Enoxaprin), Epogen (Erythropoetin)
GI System
Lactulose, Desmopressin (DDAVP), Neomycin (Aminoglycosides), Zantac (Ranitidine), Tagamet (Cimitidine)
Neurological System
Riluzole (Rilutek), Protigmin (Neostigmine), Tensilon (Edrophonium Cl), Baclofen, Levodopa, Symmetrel, Avonex, Rebif (interferon beta-1a), Betaseron (interferon beta-1b)
GU System
Furosemide (Lasix), Bumetanide (Bumex), Ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), Spironolactone (Aldactone), Amiloride (midamor), Triamterene (Dyrenium), Mannitol (Osmitrol, Resectisol), Sevelamer (Renagel), Aluminum Hydroxide (Alu-Cap), Calcium acetate (Calphron, PhosLo), Calcium carbonate (Titralac, Calci-Chew),Calcium gluconate (Kalcinate),
Endocrine System
Sythroid (levothyroxine), Tapazole (methimazole), Propythiouracil (PTU), Bromocriptine (Parlodel), Fludrocortisone (Florinef), Celestone (betamethasone), Cortisone (Cortone Acetate), Cortef (Hydrocortisone), Medrol (Methylprednisolone), Delta-Cortef (Prednisolone), Deltasone (prednisone)
Multi-System
Silver sulfadiazine (Siladene), Mafenide acetate (Sulfamylon), Morphine, Versed (midazolam), Digoxin (Lanoxin), Dopamine, Inderal (Propanolol)
CODE Drugs
Epinepherine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Dopamine, Atropine, Lidocaine, Adenosine, Amiodorone, Nitroglycerines, Dobutrex (Dobutamine)
Hope this helps!
Nurse Newb 