Lecture Notes: Common Antidotes for Nursing and NCLEX

Introduction

• Presenter: Christine from Nurse in the Making
• Topic: Common types of antidotes for nurses, nursing students, and the NCLEX.
• Purpose: Understanding antidotes to reverse medication toxicity.
• Memory Tips: Provided for each antidote, some are humorous but helpful.

Key Concepts

• Antidotes: Reverse toxicity of medications. 'Anti' means against and 'dote' means to give, so antidotes work against drugs.

Common Antidotes

Benzodiazepines

• Examples: Diazepam, Alazopram (sedatives ending in -zolam, -zepam)
• Antidote: Flumazenil
• Memory Tip: "I flew fast in my Mercedes-Benz."

Digoxin

• Use: Cardiac glycoside, increases force of contraction, slows heart rate.
• Antidote: Digibind or Digifab
• Memory Tip: The name contains "dig," like Digoxin.

Heparin

• Use: Anticoagulant (thins the blood)
• Antidote: Protamine sulfate
• Memory Tip: "Need help from a pro to stop bleeding out."

Warfarin

• Brand Name: Coumadin (anticoagulant)
• Antidote: Vitamin K
• Memory Tip: "Vitamin K kills warfarin" during war.
• Note: Patients need consistent Vitamin K intake during therapy.

Opioids

• Examples: Morphine, Fentanyl, Tramadol
• Major Side Effect: Respiratory depression
• Antidote: Naloxone (Narcan)
• Memory Tip: "No more opioids."

Acetaminophen

• Brand Name: Tylenol
• Use: Pain relief, fever reduction
• Antidote: Acetylcysteine (Mucomyst)
• Memory Tip: Both start with "Aceta."

Beta Blockers

• Examples: Atenolol, Metoprolol (end in -olol)
• Antidote: Glucagon
• Memory Tip: "Beta blockers be gone with glucagon."

Cholinergic Toxicity

• Causes: Medications like organophosphates, carbonates
• Antidote: Atropine
• Memory Tip: "No time to chat, we have a toxic situation."

Magnesium Sulfate

• Use: Treats hypomagnesemia, prevents seizures in pre-eclampsia
• Antidote: Calcium gluconate
• Memory Tip: "Maggie calls for help."

Iron Toxicity

• Common in: Children (due to candy-like appearance of iron pills)
• Antidote: Deferoxamine
• Memory Tip: "Fer" in deferoxamine and iron supplements.

Insulin Reaction

• Antidote: Glucagon
• Memory Tip: "If you want insulin gone, give glucagon."

Aspirin

• Uses: Pain, inflammation, anti-platelet
• Antidote: Sodium Bicarbonate (for overdose management)
• Memory Tip: "Aspirin headache needs a salty (sodium) snack."

EPS Symptoms

• Associated with: Antipsychotic medications
• Antidote: Benztropine (Cogentin)
• Memory Tip: "Every antipsychotic is blocked with benztropine."

Conclusion

• Recommendation: Use antidote flashcards for preparation.
• Resource: NCLEX farm flashcards available online.
• Encouragement: Happy studying for future nurses!