cetirizine HCl

(Zyrtec)

antihistamine

Indications: Seasonal allergic rhinitis ; chronic allergic rhinitis caused by animal dander, mold, other allergens

Side Effects: Drowsiness, fatigue, dry mouth

Nursing Considerations: Avoid ETOH ; PO Medication

fexofenadine

(Allegra)

antihistamines

Indications: Management of rhinitis, allergy symptoms

Side Effects: Drowsiness

Nursing Considerations: Avoid ETOH or other CNS depressants; PO medication

hydroxyzine

(Vistaril ; Atarax)

antihistamine

Indications: Treatment of pruritis (itching), pre-op anxiety; post-op nausea. Used in combination with opiods to potentiate effect (for acute pain); sedation.

Side Effects: Drowsiness; dry mouth

Nursing Considerations: Avoid use with ETOH or other CNS depressants; avoid driving or other hazardous activities; fall risk. PO, IM.

DO NOT GIVE IV

loratadine

(Claritin)

antihistamine

Indications: Management of seasonal rhinitis

Side Effects:Drowsiness

Nursing Considerations: Do not take with ETOH or other CNS depressants; take on empty stomach (1 hour before, or two hours after meals). Onset is 1-3 hours, peak 12 hours, duration 24 hours.

beclomethasone

(Beclovent ; Beconase)

corticosteroid

Indications:chronic asthma treatment ("Controller"); seasonal or chronic rhinitis

Side Effects:Hoarseness; oropharyngeal fungal infections; dystonia; headache; sore throat; GI upset

Nursing Considerations: INHALER: onset 10 minutes; NASAL SPRAY: onset 5-7 days--longer in some patients; use peak flow monitoring to gauge effectiveness of therapy

flunisolide

(Nasolide ; Aerobid)

corticosteroid

Indications: chronic asthma treatment ("Controller"); seasonal or chronic rhinitis

Side Effects:  Hoarseness, dysphonia, oropharyngeal fungal infection; sore throat; headache; nasal congestion--cold symptoms; unpleasant taste; Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Nursing Considerations: Onset of therapeutic actions "within a few days," Use peak flow monitoring to gauge effectiveness of treatment

fluticasone

(Flonase)

corticosteroid

Indications: Chronic asthma treatment ("Controller"); seasonal and chronic rhinitis.

Side Effects: Hoarseness, dysphonia, oropharyngeal fungal infection; headache; sore throat, cold symptoms; unpleasant taste; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Nursing Considerations: Nasal Spray=onset therapeutic action within 2-3 days. Monitor peak flow readings to gauge effectiveness

mometasone

(Nasonex)

corticosteroid

Indications: Chronic asthma treatment ("Controller"); seasonal or chronic rhinitis.

Side Effects: Dysphonia; hoarseness; oropharyngeal fungal infection; headache, sore throat; nasal congestion , "Cold Symptoms;" Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, GI distress; unpleasant taste

Nursing Considerations:Nasal Spray: onset of therapuetic actions after a few days; Use peak flow monitoring to gauge effectiveness.

triamcinolone

(Nasocort; Amcort)

corticosteroids

Indications: Chronic asthma treatment ("controller "); seasonal or chronic rhinitis

Side Effects:  Oropharyngeal fungal infection; dysphonia; hoarseness; sore throat; nasal congestion--cold symptoms; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea; gastric upset; bad taste

Nursing Considerations: may be used as nasal spray (onset within a few days) ; administer PO or IM; Monitor peak flow readings to measure progress.

albuterol

(Proventil ; Ventolin; Xopenex)

Beta-agonist (short acting)

Indications: "Rescue medication" for acute asthma; exercised induced asthma (bronchospasm).

Side Effects:

Nursing Considerations:

ipratropium bromide

(Atrovent)

anticholinergic

Indications: "Rescue  medication" for acute asthmatic attacks (see: Nursing Consideratiosn); long term treatment for bronchospasm associated with COPD

Side Effects:

Nursing Considerations: Onset is not as fast as beta Agonists (e.g., albuterol) but duration is longer; may be used in combination with Beta agonist; also comes in nasal spray for allergic rhinitis.

diphenhydramine

(Benadryl)

antihistamine

Indications:

Side Effects:

Nursing Considerations: