high blood pressure
Medications
SN instructed patient that Furosemide is used to reduce extra fluid in the body ( edema ) caused by conditions such as heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. This can lessen symptoms such as shortness of breath and swelling in your arms, legs, and abdomen. This drug is also used to treat high
blood
pressure. Lowering high
blood
pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Furosemide is a "water pill" ( diuretic ) that causes you to make more urine. This helps your body get rid of extra water and salt. SN also instructed patient that Dizziness, lightheadedness, headache or blurred vision may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. To reduce the risk of dizziness and lightheadedness, get up slowly when rising from a sitting or lying position.
Seroquel is associated with an increased risk of developing high
blood
sugar, which on rare occasions can lead to coma or death. See your doctor right away if you develop signs of high
blood
sugar, including dry mouth, unusual thirst, increased urination, and tiredness. If you have diabetes or have a high
risk of developing it, see your doctor regularly for blood
sugar testing
SN instructed patient about the Eliquis, also known as Apixaban is an anticoagulant. “ANTI” means against and “COAGULANT” refers to the clotting of blood
. Apixaban is a medicine ordered by your doctor to prevent harmful blood
clots from forming. It does not dissolve existing clots. Sometimes apixaban is referred to as a “blood
thinner”, but it does not actually thin your blood
. Apixaban is commonly prescribed to people with a heart rhythm problem called atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of a clot forming in the heart. A clot in the heart can dislodge and cause a stroke. The role of apixaban in patients with atrial fibrillation is to prevent formation of a clot in the heart and lower the risk of stroke. Tell your doctor right away if you have these side effects: Unusual bleeding: Vomiting blood
or brown material that looks like coffee grounds, Bleeding from cuts that do not stop with pressure, Frequent bleeding from Coughing up blood
gums, Nose bleeds, Black or red tarry stools, Bruises that appear without injury, blood
in your urine, excessive vaginal bleeding / menstrual flow, Weakness, lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting Itching or hives, Swelling in your face, hands, mouth, or throat Difficulty breathing or chest tightness.
SN instructed patient how Lovenox is used to reduce the chance of blood
clots when another blood
thinner is held for a short time. When you take an oral blood
thinner and need a procedure/surgery, your doctor asks you to temporarily stop taking your usual blood
thinner and instead take enoxaparin to help prevent blood
clots before the procedure/surgery. After the procedure/surgery, your doctor will tell you when it is safe to start taking your regularly prescribed oral blood
thinner again. This is called bridge therapy it allows for continued blood
thinning without the blood
being too thin for too long as oral blood
thinners stay in the body for a much longer time.
SN instructed about the use of Januvia ( Sitagliptin ) is used along with diet and exercise and sometimes with other medications to lower blood
sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. It works by increasing the amounts of certain natural substances that lower blood
sugar when it is high
. Over time, people who have diabetes and high
blood
sugar can develop serious or life - threatening complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney problems, nerve damage, and eye problems. Taking medication,making lifestyle changes, and regularly checking your blood
sugar may help to manage your diabetes and improve your health. This therapy may also decrease your chances of having a heart attack, stroke, or other diabetes - related complications such as kidney failure, nerve damage, eye problems, including changes or loss of vision, or gum disease.
Lovastatin reduces levels of "bad" cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein, or LDL) and triglycerides in the blood
, while increasing levels of "good" cholesterol (high
-density lipoprotein, or HDL). Lovastatin is used to lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and other heart complications in people with diabetes, coronary heart disease, or other risk factors. Lovastatin can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. This condition may be more likely to occur in older adults and in people who have kidney disease or poorly controlled hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice, it may interact with lovastatin and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking lovastatin. Avoid eating foods that are high
in fat or cholesterol. Lovastatin will not be as effective in lowering your cholesterol if you do not follow a cholesterol-lowering diet plan. Avoid drinking alcohol. It can raise triglyceride levels and may increase your risk of liver damage. Common side effects may include: constipation, stomach pain; muscle cramps; or headache. You can lower your Cholesterol by avoiding alcohol and avoid eating foods that are high
in fat or cholesterol. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, You can add soluble fiber to your diet by eating oats and fruits, beans, lentils, and vegetables. Exercise on most days of the week and increase your physical activity.
SN instructed patient on Humalog 75-25, stated that it is used along with a proper diet and exercise program to control high
blood
sugar in people with diabetes. This product is a combination of two man - made insulins: intermediate - acting insulin lispro protamine and rapid - acting insulin lispro. This combination starts working faster and lasts for a longer time than regular insulin. Insulin is a natural substance that allows the body to properly use sugar from the diet. It replaces the insulin that your body no longer produces, thereby lowering your blood
sugar. Controlling high
blood
sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems. Proper control of diabetes may also lessen your risk of a heart attack or stroke. SN also instructed that pain, redness, swelling or itching at the injection site may occur. These effects usually go away after a few days or weeks. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Carvedilol is used to treat heart failure (condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood
to all parts of the body) and high
blood
pressure. It also is used to treat people whose hearts cannot pump blood
well as a result of a heart attack. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:tiredness, weakness, lightheadedness, dizziness, headache.
SN instructed that Torsemide is a loop diuretic. It works by making the kidney eliminate larger amounts of electrolytes ( especially sodium and potassium salts ) and water than normal ( diuretic effect ). It is used to treat edema ( swelling ) associated with heart, kidney, or liver failure, or with conditions in which there is excess body water. It is also used alone or with other medicines to treat high
blood
pressure. Torsemide may increase the amount of urine or cause you to urinate more often when you first start taking it. To keep this from disturbing your sleep, try to take your dose before 6 pm. If you also take cholestyramine, do not take it within 4 hours before or after taking torsemide. may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects. Torsemide may affect your blood
sugar. Check blood
sugar levels closely. Weight should be monitored while taking this medication.
SN instructed patient / caregiver on medication Azor. Explained that azor is a medication used to lower blood
pressure. Explained that it is a combination medication of Amlodipine and Olmesartan and it works by dilating the blood
vessels causing a decrease in blood
pressure. Explained that the side effects include edema, orthostatic hypotension, rash, itching, palpitation and nocturia. SN instructed patient / caregiver to notify physician ( MD ) if experiencing headache, dizziness or flushing.