INDICATION SIDE EFFECTS NURSING
NAME OF DRUG MECHANISM OF ACTION CONTRAINDICATION
GENERIC NAME: Ventolin among other brand INDICATION:
ALBUTEROL SULFATE names, is a medication that opens  indicated for the relief
up the medium and large airways of bronchospasm in patients
in the lungs. It is a short-acting with asthma or chronic
β2 adrenergic receptor agonist obstructive pulmonary disease,
which works by causing and for acute prophylaxis against
relaxation of airway smooth exercise-induced asthma and
BRAND NAME: muscle. other stimuli known to
Ventolin induce bronchospasm.
CONTRAINDICATION:
Patients with:
 overactive thyroid gland
DOSAGE:  diabetes
2.5mg (3-4times daily)  a metabolic condition where
the body cannot adequately
use sugars called
ketoacidosis
 excess body acid
 low amount of potassium in
ROUTE: the blood
INHALATION  high blood pressure
 diminished blood flow
through arteries of the heart
 a low supply of oxygen rich
blood to the heart
CLASSIFICATION  prolonged QT interval on
BRONCHODILATOR EKG
 abnormal heart rhythm
 abnormal EKG with QT
changes from birth
 seizures
Allergies:
 Beta-Adrenergic Agents
DRUG STUDY
ADVERSE EFFECTS CONSIDERATION
SIDE EFFECTS
Assess patient history of
allergic reaction to the drug
 nervousness, 
 shaking (tremor),  Monitor patient for
 palpitations,  effectiveness. Using drug alone
 headache,  may not be adequate to control
 mouth/throat dryness or asthma in some patients. Long-
irritation,  term control medications may
 cough,  be needed
 hoarseness, 
 sore throat,  Drug may cause paradoxical
bronchospasm. Monitor patient
 runny or stuffy nose, 
closely
 nausea,
 vomiting, 
Patient may use tablets and
 dizziness, 
aerosol together. Monitor these
 sleep problems (insomnia), 
patient closely for signs and
 muscle pain,  symptoms of toxicity
 changes in taste, or 
 diarrhea. 
ADVERSE EFFECTS:
 Nausea
 Vomitting
 Heart burn
 Cardiac arrhythmias
 Angina pain
 Increased incidence of
leiomyomas of uterus when
given in higher dose
 Hyperkinesia
 vertigo
 MECHANISM OF INDICATION SIDE EFFECTS NURSING
NAME OF DRUG
ACTION CONTRAINDICATION ADVERSE EFFECTS CONSIDERATION

GENERIC NAME: Long-acting beta-2 INDICATION: SIDE EFFECT:  drug may increase the
SALMETEROL agonist; action on beta-2 - As an adjunct to inhaled risk of asthma-related
XINAFOATE receptors relaxes corticosteroid (ICS) for the  A Sore Throat death. Only use
bronchial smooth muscle treatment of asthma and in  A Stuffy And Runny salmeterol as additional
with little effect on heart the prevention of Nose therapy
rate bronchospasm in reversible  Cough  once asthma control is
obstructive airway disease  Cramps achieved and
50 times more selective (including nocturnal  Dizziness maintained, assess
BRAND NAME: than albuterol asthma). Prevention of  Fast Heartbeat patient at regular
SEREVENT DISKUS exercise-induced intervals; step down
 Heart Throbbing Or
bronchospasm (EIB). therapy if possible
Pounding
Maintenance treatment of without loss of asthma
 Muscle Tremors
COPD-associated control and maintain
bronchospasm in adults.  Nausea
patient on a long-term
DOSAGE:  Nervousness
asthma control
50mcg  Stuffy Nose medication.
 The Flu  Drug isn’t indicated for
CONTRAINDICATION: acute bronchospasm
- Contraindicated in patients ADVERSE EFFECT:  Monitor patient for rash
hypersensitive to drug. and urticaria which may
- Contraindicated for  hypertension signal a hypersensitivity
ROUTE: treatment of asthma without  nasopharyngitis reaction
INHALATION concomitant long-term  pharyngitis
asthma control medication.  oral candidiasis
This may increase asthma-  myalgia
related death  lower respiratory
- Do not use drug with other tract infection
CLASSIFICATION: medications containing  paresthesia
BRONCHODILATOR long-acting beta2 antagonist
-Use cautiously in patients
unusually responsive to
sympathomimetics.

NAME OF DRUG MECHANISM OF INDICATION SIDE EFFECTS NURSING CONSIDERATION

ACTION
 CONTRAINDICATION ADVERSE EFFECTS

It works by blocking INDICATION: SIDE EFFECT:

the action of leukotriene
GENERIC NAME: D4 in the lungs resulting - indicated for prevention of  upper respiratory  Assess patient’s
in decreased inflammation exercise-induced infection underlying condition;
MONTELUKAST bronchoconstriction (EIB)  fever monitor patient for
and relaxation of smooth
SODIUM in patients 6 years of age  headache effectiveness
muscle.
and older.  sore throat
 cough  Don’t abruptly substitute
- indicated for the relief of
 stomach pain
symptoms of  diarrhea
drug for inhaled or oral
seasonal allergic rhinitis in  earache or ear infection corticosteroids dose of
BRAND NAME: patients 2 years of age and  flu inhaled corticosteroids
older and perennial allergic  runny nose may be reduced gradually
SINGULAIR rhinitis in patients 6 months  sinus infection
of age and older.  Drug isn’t indicated for
use in patients with acute
asthma attacks, status
ADVERSE EFFECT:
asthmaticus.
DOSAGE:
 Drug may cause
4mg  laryngitis behaviour and mood
CONTRAINDICATION: changes. Monitor patient
 URI and consider
- Contraindicated in patients
discontinuing drug if
hypersensitive to drug.  Varicella neuropsychiatric
- avoid use with aspirin and symptoms develop
 Viral infection
ROUTE: other NSAIDs because drug  Monitor ALT and AST
hasn’t been shown to affect  Pyuria
levels
ORAL the bronchoconstricor
 Gastroenteritis
response to aspirin and oher
NSAIDs  Pharyngitis

- use caution when using  Rhinitis

CLASSIFICATION: drug in patient with hepatic
 Tonsillitis
ANTIASTHMATICS,
disease, jaundice, or
LEUKOTRIENE- hepatitis  Systemic eosinophilia
RECEPTOR
-Neuropsychiatric condition
ANTAGONIST