{"id":221,"date":"2019-11-12T17:49:33","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T17:49:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/chapter\/5-8-antitussives\/"},"modified":"2021-12-07T11:11:18","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T11:11:18","slug":"5-8-antitussives","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/chapter\/5-8-antitussives\/","title":{"raw":"5.8 Antitussives","rendered":"5.8 Antitussives"},"content":{"raw":"Dextromethorphan is an example of an antitussive (see Figure 5.10[footnote]\"Robitussin Cough Cold Flu Congestion decongestant Relief Medicine<\/a>\" by Mike Mozart<\/a> is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/a>[\/footnote]<\/sup>).\n\n[caption id=\"attachment_220\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"538\"]\"Photo Figure 5.10\u00a0 Robitussin DM is an OTC medication that contains dextromethorphan and guaifenesin[\/caption]\n\nMechanism of Action<\/strong>\n\nDextromethorphan suppresses a cough by depressing the cough center in the medulla oblongata or the cough receptors in the throat, trachea, or lungs, effectively elevating the threshold for coughing.\n\nIndication for Use<\/strong>\n\nAntitussives are used for a dry, hacking, nonproductive cough that interferes with rest and sleep.\n\nNursing Considerations Across the Lifespan<\/strong>\n\nThis medication is not safe for children under the age of 4 years.\n\nAdverse\/Side Effects<\/strong>\n\nThe most common side effects include nausea and drowsiness. Some patients may experience a rash or difficulty breathing. High doses may cause hallucinations and disassociation, and the drug has been reported to be used as a recreational drug.[footnote]Frandsen, G. & Pennington, S. (2018). Abrams\u2019 clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice <\/em>(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.[\/footnote]\n\nPatient Teaching & Education: <\/strong>Patients should take care to avoid irritants that stimulate their cough.\u00a0 Additionally, antitussive medications can cause drowsiness, and patients should avoid taking them with other CNS depressants or alcohol.[footnote]uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https:\/\/www.unboundmedicine.com\/ucentral<\/a>[\/footnote]<\/sup>\n\nNow let's take a closer look at the medication grid on dextromethorphan in Table 5.8.[footnote]This work is a derivative of\u00a0Pharmacology Notes: Nursing Implications for Clinical Practice<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Gloria Velarde<\/a>\u00a0licensed under\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA 4.0<\/a>.[\/footnote], [footnote]Frandsen, G. & Pennington, S. (2018).\u00a0Abrams\u2019 clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice\u00a0<\/em>(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.[\/footnote], [footnote]This work is a derivative of\u00a0Daily Med<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0U.S. National Library of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0in the public domain<\/a>. [\/footnote]<\/span><\/sup>\n\nTable 5.8 Dextromethorphan Medication Grid\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Class\/Subclass<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Prototype\/Generic<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Administration Considerations<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Therapeutic Effects<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Adverse\/Side Effects<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Antitussive<\/th>\ndextromethorphan<\/a><\/td>\nTake as directed\n\nAdminister undiluted\n\nNo alcohol due to CNS depression\n\nUse with caution in patients with respiratory disease and with\u00a0 those taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors\u00a0 (MAOIs)<\/td>\nTemporarily relieves coughing due to minor throat and bronchial irritation as may occur with the common cold<\/td>\nCNS: sedation and dizziness\n\nMild gastrointestinal effects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>","rendered":"

Dextromethorphan is an example of an antitussive (see Figure 5.10[1]<\/sup><\/a><\/sup>).<\/p>\n

\"Photo
Figure 5.10\u00a0 Robitussin DM is an OTC medication that contains dextromethorphan and guaifenesin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mechanism of Action<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dextromethorphan suppresses a cough by depressing the cough center in the medulla oblongata or the cough receptors in the throat, trachea, or lungs, effectively elevating the threshold for coughing.<\/p>\n

Indication for Use<\/strong><\/p>\n

Antitussives are used for a dry, hacking, nonproductive cough that interferes with rest and sleep.<\/p>\n

Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan<\/strong><\/p>\n

This medication is not safe for children under the age of 4 years.<\/p>\n

Adverse\/Side Effects<\/strong><\/p>\n

The most common side effects include nausea and drowsiness. Some patients may experience a rash or difficulty breathing. High doses may cause hallucinations and disassociation, and the drug has been reported to be used as a recreational drug.[2]<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

Patient Teaching & Education: <\/strong>Patients should take care to avoid irritants that stimulate their cough.\u00a0 Additionally, antitussive medications can cause drowsiness, and patients should avoid taking them with other CNS depressants or alcohol.[3]<\/sup><\/a><\/sup><\/p>\n

Now let’s take a closer look at the medication grid on dextromethorphan in Table 5.8.[4]<\/sup><\/a>, [5]<\/sup><\/a>, [6]<\/sup><\/a><\/span><\/sup><\/p>\n

Table 5.8 Dextromethorphan Medication Grid<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n
Class\/Subclass<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Prototype\/Generic<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Administration Considerations<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Therapeutic Effects<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n
\n
Adverse\/Side Effects<\/strong><\/h5>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Antitussive<\/th>\ndextromethorphan<\/a><\/td>\nTake as directed<\/p>\n

Administer undiluted<\/p>\n

No alcohol due to CNS depression<\/p>\n

Use with caution in patients with respiratory disease and with\u00a0 those taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors\u00a0 (MAOIs)<\/td>\n

Temporarily relieves coughing due to minor throat and bronchial irritation as may occur with the common cold<\/td>\nCNS: sedation and dizziness<\/p>\n

Mild gastrointestinal effects<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

  1. \"Robitussin Cough Cold Flu Congestion decongestant Relief Medicine<\/a>\" by Mike Mozart<\/a> is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/a> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  2. Frandsen, G. & Pennington, S. (2018). Abrams\u2019 clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice <\/em>(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  3. uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https:\/\/www.unboundmedicine.com\/ucentral<\/a> ↵<\/a><\/li>
  4. This work is a derivative of\u00a0Pharmacology Notes: Nursing Implications for Clinical Practice<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Gloria Velarde<\/a>\u00a0licensed under\u00a0CC BY-NC-SA 4.0<\/a>. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  5. Frandsen, G. & Pennington, S. (2018).\u00a0Abrams\u2019 clinical drug: Rationales for nursing practice\u00a0<\/em>(11th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. ↵<\/a><\/li>
  6. This work is a derivative of\u00a0Daily Med<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0U.S. National Library of Medicine<\/a>\u00a0in the public domain<\/a>. ↵<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"menu_order":8,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":"cc-by"},"chapter-type":[49],"contributor":[],"license":[53],"class_list":["post-221","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry","chapter-type-numberless","license-cc-by"],"part":195,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":222,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/221\/revisions\/222"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/195"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/221\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=221"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=221"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.publishdot.com\/nursingpharmacology\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}