This document provides information on 5 medications - irbesartan, prednisone, zolpidem, sildenafil, and methotrexate. For each medication, it lists the primary diagnosis or use, generic and brand names, classification, mechanism of action, side effects, indications, and contraindications. The medications cover a range of therapeutic areas including hypertension, inflammation, insomnia, erectile dysfunction, and cancer. Sources of the information are also provided.

1. CARDIOPULMONARY & INTEGUMENTARY CONDITIONS - MEDICATION REPORT ASSIGNMENT
Molly Schuessler 2015
Irbesartan
Primary Diagnosis:
Hypertension.
(Other uses:nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients,proteinuria.)
Medication name:
Generic: Irbesartan
Name Brand: Avapro
General Category:
Function class: Antihypertensive
Chemical class: Angiotensin II receptor blocker (type AT1)
Effect:
Blocks the vasoconstrictor and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotensin II; selectively
blocks the binding of angiotensin II to the AT1 receptor found in tissues.
Side effects:
CNS: dizziness, anxiety, headache, fatigue, syncope
CV: Hypotension
GI: diarrhea, dyspepsia, hepatitis, cholestasis
HEMA: Thrombocytopenia
RESP: cough, upper repertory tract infection, sinus disorder, pharyngitis, rhinitis
MISC: edema, angina, rash, tachycardia, UTI, angioedema, hyperkalemia
Indications:
Hypertension, nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients, proteinuria
Contraindications:
Pregnancy in 1st trimester, breastfeeding, children <6yr, geriatric patients,
hypersensitivity to ACE inhibitors; hepatic/renal disease, renal artery stenosis, African
descent, angioedema
Source:
Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP, Linda. (2016). Mosby's 2016 Nursing Drug Reference (29th ed., p. 642).
Littleton, Colorado: Elsevier.

2. CARDIOPULMONARY & INTEGUMENTARY CONDITIONS - MEDICATION REPORT ASSIGNMENT
Molly Schuessler 2015
Prednisone
Primary Diagnosis:
Severe inflammation, neoplasms, multiple sclerosis, collagen disorders, dermatologic
disorders, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma.
(Other diagnoses:refractory seizures, infantile spasms,acute interstitial nephritis, amyloidosis,
autoimmune hepatitis, Behḉet’s syndrome, Bell’s Palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, Churg-Strauss syndrome,
dermatomyositis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy,endophthalmitits, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, lupus
nephritis, mixed connective tissue disease,pericarditis, pneumonia, polyarteritis, nodosa,polychondritis,
polymyositis, rheumatic carditis, temporal arteritis, TB, Wegener’s granulomatosis.)
Medication name:
Generic: prednisone
Name Brand: Rayos, Winpred
General Category:
Function class: Corticosteroid
Chemical class: Intermediate-acting glucocorticoid
Effect:
Decreases inflammation by increasing capillary permeability and lysosomal stabilization,
minimal mineralocorticoid activity.
Side effects:
CNS: depression, flushing, sweating, headache, mood changes
CV: Hypertension, thrombophlebitis, embolism, tachycardia, fluid retention
EENT: Fungal infections, increased intraocular pressure, blurred vision
GI: diarrhea, nausea, abdominal distension, GI hemorrhage, increased appetite,
pancreatitis
INTEG: Acne, poor wound healing, ecchymosis, petechial
META: Hyperglycemia
MS: Fractures, osteoporosis, weakness
Indications:
Severe inflammation, neoplasms, multiple sclerosis, collagen disorders, dermatologic
disorders, pulmonary fibrosis, asthma.
Contraindications:
Fungal infections, hypersensitivity
(Precautions: pregnancy,diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, osteoporosis,seizure disorders,ulcerative colitis,
CHF, myasthenia gravis, renal disease,esophagitis,peptic ulcer, cataracts, coagulopathy,children,
geriatric patients.)
Source:
Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP, Linda. (2016). Mosby's 2016 Nursing Drug Reference (29th ed., p. 949).
Littleton, Colorado: Elsevier.

3. CARDIOPULMONARY & INTEGUMENTARY CONDITIONS - MEDICATION REPORT ASSIGNMENT
Molly Schuessler 2015
Zolpidem
Primary Diagnosis:
Insomnia, short term treatment, insomnia with difficulty of sleep onset/maintenance
(Other uses:head trauma.)
Medication name:
Generic: Zolpidem
Name Brand: Ambien, Ambien CR, Edluar, Zolpimist
General Category:
Function class: Sedative/hypnotic
Chemical class: Imidazopyridine
Effect:
Produces CNS depression at limbic, thalamic, hypothalamic levels of CNS; may be
mediated by neurotransmitter ƴ-aminobutyric acid (GABA); results are sedation,
hypnosis, skeletal muscle relaxation, anticonvulsant activity, anxiolytic action.
Side effects:
CNS: Headache, lethargy, drowsiness, daytime sedation, dizziness, confusion,
lightheadedness, anxiety, irritability, amnesia, poor coordination, complex sleep related
reactions (sleep driving, sleep eating), depression, somnolence, suicidal ideation,
abnormal thinking/behavioral changes
CV: Chest pain, palpitations
GI: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, heart burn, abdominal pain, constipation
HEMA: Leukopenia, granulocytopenia (rare)
SYST: Severe allergic reactions, angioedema, anaphylaxis
MISC: Myalgia
Indications:
Insomnia, short term treatment, insomnia with difficulty of sleep onset/maintenance
Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity to benzodiazepines
(Precautions: pregnancy,breast feeding, children <18 yr, geriatric patients,anemia, suicidal individuals,
pulmonary disease)
Source:
Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP, Linda. (2016). Mosby's 2016 Nursing Drug Reference (29th ed., p.1233).
Littleton, Colorado: Elsevier.

4. CARDIOPULMONARY & INTEGUMENTARY CONDITIONS - MEDICATION REPORT ASSIGNMENT
Molly Schuessler 2015
Sildenafil
Primary Diagnosis:
Erectile dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension
(Other uses:sexual dysfunction in women, lower urinary tract symptoms, altitude sickness,Raynaud’s
disease.)
Medication name:
Generic: Sildenafil
Name Brand: Revatio, Viagra
General Category:
Function class: Erectile agent, antihypertensive, peripheral vasodilator
Chemical class: Phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor
Effect:
Enhances the effect of nitric oxide (NO) by inhibiting phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5),
which is necessary for degrading cGMP in the corpus cavernosum.
Side effects:
CNS: Headache, flushing, dizziness, transient global amnesia, seizures
CV: MI, sudden death, CV collapse, TIAs, ventricular dysrhythmias, CV hemorrhage
MISC: Dyspepsia, nasal congestion, UTI, abnormal vision, diarrhea, rash, non-arthritic
ischemic optic neuropath, hearing loss, priapism, sickle cell crisis
Indications:
Treatment of erectile dysfunction, improvement in exercise ability, pulmonary
hypertension
(Other uses:sexual dysfunction in women, lower urinary tract symptoms, altitude sickness,Raynaud’s
disease.)
Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity to this product or nitrates.
(Precautions: Pregnancy, anatomical penile deformities, sickle cell anemia, leukemia, multiple myeloma,
retinitis pigmentosa, bleeding disorders, geriatric patients.)
Source:
Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP, Linda. (2016). Mosby's 2016 Nursing Drug Reference (29th ed., p.1050).
Littleton, Colorado: Elsevier.

5. CARDIOPULMONARY & INTEGUMENTARY CONDITIONS - MEDICATION REPORT ASSIGNMENT
Molly Schuessler 2015
Methotrexate
Primary Diagnosis:
Acute lymphocytic leukemia
(Other uses:Burkitt’s lymphoma, bladder or ovarian cancer, carcinomatous, meningitis, desmoid tumor,
fibromatosis, asthma, active Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, GVHD prophylaxis, ectopic pregnancy,
pregnancy termination.)
Medication name:
Generic: Methotrexate
Name Brand: Rheumatrex, Trexall
General Category:
Function class: Antineoplastic-antimetabolite (vesicant)
Chemical class: folic acid antagonist
Effect:
Inhibits an enzyme that reduces folic acid, which is needed for nucleic acid synthesis in
all cells, specific to S phase of cell cycle; immunosuppressive.
Side effects:
CNS: Dizziness, seizures, leukoencephalopathy, headache, confusion, encephalopathy,
hemiparesis, malaise, fatigue, chills, fever, arachnoid its
EENT: Blurred vision, optic neuropathy
GI: Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, ulcerative stomatitis, cramps, ulcer, gastritis,
hepatoxocity, GI hemorrhage, abdominal pain, hematemesis, hepatic fibrosis acute
toxicity.
GU: Urinary retention, renal failure, menstrual irregularities, defective spermatogenesis
HEMA: Leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, myelosuppression, anemia
INTEG: Rash, alopecia, dry skin, urticarial, photosensitivity, acne,
RESP: methotrexate-induced lung disease
SYST: sudden death, pneumocystis jiroveci, tumor lysis syndrome, secondary
malignancy
Indications:
Acute lymphocytic leukemia; in combination for breast, lung, head, neck carcinoma;
lymphoma, sarcoma, gestational choricarcinoma, RA osteosarcoma, psoriasis
(Other uses:Burkitt’s lymphoma, bladder or ovarian cancer, carcinomatous, meningitis, desmoid tumor,
fibromatosis, asthma, active Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, GVHD prophylaxis, ectopic pregnancy,
pregnancy termination.)
Contraindications:
Hypersensitivity, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, psoriatic patients with severe
renal disease, alcoholism, aids
Source:
Skidmore-Roth, RN, MSN, NP, Linda. (2016). Mosby's 2016 Nursing Drug Reference (29th ed., p.752).
Littleton, Colorado: Elsevier.