INDEX NURS 2236 Clinical Form 3: Clinical Medications Worksheet

(You will need to made additional copies of these forms)

Generic Trade Classification Dose Route Time/Frequency
Name Name antidiabetics 500mg PO daily
metformin Glucophage up to 2000mg daily (divided in 3 doses)
Glucophage XR
500-1000mg PO daily XR up to 2500mg daily.
Peak Onset Duration For IV meds, compatability with IV drips and/or solutions
2-4 weeks several days 12 hr
Why is your patient taking this medication?

Mechanism of action and indications Nursing Implications (what to focus on)

Management of type 2 diabetes mellitus; may be used with
diet, insulin, or sulfonylurea oral hypoglycemics.
Maintenance of blood glucose
Contraindications/warnings/interactions Hypersensitivity; metabolic acidosis;
dehydration; depsis; hypoxemia; hepatic impairment; excessive alcohol use;
renal dysfunction; CHF; Use cautiously in: concurrent renal disease; geriatric;
MI; stroke; patients undergoing stress; infection; surgical procedures; hypoxia;
pituitary dificiency; pregnancy.
Common side effects abdominal bloating; diarrhea; nausea; vomiting;
unpleasant metallic taste; hypoglycemia; Lactic acidosis; decreased vitamin
b12 levels.

Interactions with other patient drugs, OTC, or herbal
medicines (ask patient specifically)
Alcohol; iodinated contrast media; amiloride; digoxin;
morphine; procainamide; quinidine; ranitidine; triamterene;
trimethoprim; CCBs; vancomycin; climetidine; furosemide;
nifedipine; Natural (glucosamine; chromium;
coenzyme Q-10
Nursing Process - Assessment
(Pre-administration assessment
vital signs; signs and symptoms of hypoglycemic
reactions; when combine with oral sulfonylureas
assess for ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis.
Lab value alterations caused by medicine
Be sure to teach the patient the following about this medication
Take at same time everyday; follow diet; exercise; sign of hypoglycemia (take
a glass of OJ etc…); and hyperglycemia; proper testing of blood glucose levels;
risk of lactic acidosis and discontinuation of med; avoid taking other meds that
interact; alcohol; pregnancy; may cause unpleasant taste; XR inactive ingreds.
may show in stool; carry form a sugar; report GI problems.
Assessment Evaluation
Why would you hold or not give Check after giving
this med? Control of blood glucose levels without the
ketoacidosis or lactic acidosis appearance of hypoglycemic or
hyperglycemis episodes. May take a few days
for therapeutic effect; if no effect, sulfonylurea
may be added, if still no results patient may
then be put on insulin therapy.