What is Drug?

It is a medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise
introduced into the body. It is intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or
prevention of disease.

Classification of Drugs
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors

Generic Name Brand Name

Benazepril Lotensin

Captopril Capoten

Enalapril Vasotec IV

Quinapril Accupril

Angiotensin II-Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

Generic Name Brand Name

Irbesartan Avapro

Losartan Cozaar

Telmisartan Micardis

Valsartan Diovan

Calcium-channel blockers

Generic Name Brand Name

Amlodipine Norvasc

Diltiazem Diltiazem

Nicardipine Cardene

Nifedipine Adalat, Procardia

Verapamil Calan, Isoptin

Vasodilators

Generic Name Brand Name

Hydralazine Apresoline

Minoxidil Loniten

Nitropruisside Nitropress

II

Nursing Considerations
Here are important nursing considerations when administering this drug:

Nursing Assessment

These are the important things the nurse should include in conducting assessment, history taking,
and examination:

 Assess for the mentioned contraindications to this drug (e.g. renal impairment,
hyponatremia, hypovolemia, etc.) to prevent potential adverse effects.
 Obtain baseline status for weight, vital signs, overall skin condition, and laboratory tests
like renal and hepatic function tests, serum electrolyte, and complete blood count (CBC)
with differential to assess patient’s response to therapy.

Nursing Diagnoses

 Here are some of the nursing diagnoses that can be formulated in the use of this drug for
therapy:
 Decreased cardiac output related to effect of drug in increasing fluid volume excretion
 Impaired skin integrity related to dermatological effects of the drug
 Increased risk for infection related to potential decreasing effect of drug to circulating
blood cells