Eye and Ear Drugs:
Antiinflammatories:
Diclofenac: post-op cataract surgery
Flurbiprofen: prevents intraoperative miosis
Ketorolac: allergic conjunctivitis or post-op cataract surgery
Corticosteroids:
Dexamethasone: allergic conjunctivitis, herpes zoster ocular infection, optic neuritis, corneal
injury
Loteprednol etabonate: allergic conjunctivitis, iritis, keratitis, ocular pain, post-op ocular
inflammation
Prednisolone sodium: allergic conjunctivitis, herpes zoster ocular infection, optic neuritis,
corneal injury, post-op ocular inflammation.
Lubricants: keep eye moist, help to protect eye from injury and infection, and decrease
symptoms of dry eyes (xerophthalmia), such as burning, itching, and feeling like something is in
the eye
Visine, Artificial tears, systane ultra, clear eyes
Miotics: used to lower intraocular pressure of open-angle glaucoma
Prostaglandin Analogues: treats open- angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, decreases
intraocular pressure.
o Bimatoprost, Latanoprost, Tafluprost, Travorprost
Cholinergic agents: used to lower intraocular pressure
o Cause Miosis (constriction of pupil), contraction of the ciliary muscle
o Ex: Piilocarpine
Beta Blockers: first line treatment for glaucoma
o Timolol, metipranolol
Can cause bradycardia, worsen AV block, and heart failure
Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists: prevent elevation of intraocular pressure post-surgical
o Brimonidine, Apraclonidine
Carbonic anhydride inhibitors interfere with production of carbonic acid, which leads to
decreased intraocular pressure- used only after other miotics are not effective
o Acetazolamide
Mydriatics: dilate the pupils
SE: headache, brow pain
Cycloplegics: paralyze the muscles of accomodation
SE: photophobia, tachycardia
Ex: Atropine sulfate, cyclopentolate HCl: used for diagnostic procedures and ophthalmic
surgery
Antibacterials (Antiinfectives)- for acute otitis media and acute otitis externa (swimmers ear)
S/S: otalgia (ear pain), fever, irritability, bulging ear drum
Ex. Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin otic
Polymyxin B with hydrocortisone, Neomycin
Antihistamine: decongestants, reduce middle ear and nasal congestion
Triaminic, Dimetapp, Actifed (OTC meds)
SE: drowsiness, blurred vision
Cerumenolytics: loosens ear wax
Debrox, Cerumenex, Carbamide peroxide
Antiinfectives:
, Penicillins:
Client Teaching:
o Take with 8oz of water
o Take on empty stomach for best absorption
o Take full course medication
o Take as prescribed
Action: inhibits bacterial wall synthesis; cause bacterial to die
Use: gram positive bacteria: strep throat, syphilis, meningitis
Side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reaction
Contraindications: allergies to penicillin and cephalosporins
Nursing Implications: check allergies
Commonly used names: Penicillin G, Unasyn, Unipen
Cephalosporins:
Patient Teaching:
o Do not drink alcohol
o Take on an empty stomach
Action: inhibit cell wall synthesis- same as penicillin
Use: broad spectrum antibiotic- treats gram positive and gram negative bacteria
Side Effects: allergic reactions; if PCN also may also be allergic to cephalosporins
Interactions: alcohol taken with med causes N/V
Contraindications: allergy to PCN; renal failure
Nursing Implications: review allergies
Commonly used names: Cefoxitin, Cefalexin
Aminoglycosides
Patient teaching- take on empty stomach, complete course of treatment
Action: interfere with protein synthesis in bacteria
Use: SERIOUS infections caused by gram negative organisms
Commonly Used Names: gentamycin, amikacin, tobramycin, streptomycin
Side effects: ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity
Contraindications: kidney disease, liver disease, hearing loss
Nursing Implications: check for allergies, monitor BUN/Creatine, do peak and trough levels
Tetracyclines:
Patient teaching: take with full glass of water, take on empty stomach, avoid exposure to
sunlight while taking medications. Do not take with dairy products.
Action: inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria
Use: gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
Commonly Used Name: vibramycin, terramycin, tetracycline
Side Effects: N/V, diarrhea, hepatotoxicity
Contraindications: do not use during pregnancy and for children under 8 (will cause staining
of teeth in children permanently)
Microlides
Patient teaching: take with 8 ounces of water, take on empty stomach; food interferes with
absorption
Action: inhibit protein synthesis in bacterial cell wall
Use: gram positive bacterial infections
Commonly Used Names: Zithromax, E-Mycin, Clarithromycin
Side Effects” N/V and Diarrhea
Antiinflammatories:
Diclofenac: post-op cataract surgery
Flurbiprofen: prevents intraoperative miosis
Ketorolac: allergic conjunctivitis or post-op cataract surgery
Corticosteroids:
Dexamethasone: allergic conjunctivitis, herpes zoster ocular infection, optic neuritis, corneal
injury
Loteprednol etabonate: allergic conjunctivitis, iritis, keratitis, ocular pain, post-op ocular
inflammation
Prednisolone sodium: allergic conjunctivitis, herpes zoster ocular infection, optic neuritis,
corneal injury, post-op ocular inflammation.
Lubricants: keep eye moist, help to protect eye from injury and infection, and decrease
symptoms of dry eyes (xerophthalmia), such as burning, itching, and feeling like something is in
the eye
Visine, Artificial tears, systane ultra, clear eyes
Miotics: used to lower intraocular pressure of open-angle glaucoma
Prostaglandin Analogues: treats open- angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, decreases
intraocular pressure.
o Bimatoprost, Latanoprost, Tafluprost, Travorprost
Cholinergic agents: used to lower intraocular pressure
o Cause Miosis (constriction of pupil), contraction of the ciliary muscle
o Ex: Piilocarpine
Beta Blockers: first line treatment for glaucoma
o Timolol, metipranolol
Can cause bradycardia, worsen AV block, and heart failure
Alpha-Adrenergic Agonists: prevent elevation of intraocular pressure post-surgical
o Brimonidine, Apraclonidine
Carbonic anhydride inhibitors interfere with production of carbonic acid, which leads to
decreased intraocular pressure- used only after other miotics are not effective
o Acetazolamide
Mydriatics: dilate the pupils
SE: headache, brow pain
Cycloplegics: paralyze the muscles of accomodation
SE: photophobia, tachycardia
Ex: Atropine sulfate, cyclopentolate HCl: used for diagnostic procedures and ophthalmic
surgery
Antibacterials (Antiinfectives)- for acute otitis media and acute otitis externa (swimmers ear)
S/S: otalgia (ear pain), fever, irritability, bulging ear drum
Ex. Ciprofloxacin and Ofloxacin otic
Polymyxin B with hydrocortisone, Neomycin
Antihistamine: decongestants, reduce middle ear and nasal congestion
Triaminic, Dimetapp, Actifed (OTC meds)
SE: drowsiness, blurred vision
Cerumenolytics: loosens ear wax
Debrox, Cerumenex, Carbamide peroxide
Antiinfectives:
, Penicillins:
Client Teaching:
o Take with 8oz of water
o Take on empty stomach for best absorption
o Take full course medication
o Take as prescribed
Action: inhibits bacterial wall synthesis; cause bacterial to die
Use: gram positive bacteria: strep throat, syphilis, meningitis
Side effects: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, allergic reaction
Contraindications: allergies to penicillin and cephalosporins
Nursing Implications: check allergies
Commonly used names: Penicillin G, Unasyn, Unipen
Cephalosporins:
Patient Teaching:
o Do not drink alcohol
o Take on an empty stomach
Action: inhibit cell wall synthesis- same as penicillin
Use: broad spectrum antibiotic- treats gram positive and gram negative bacteria
Side Effects: allergic reactions; if PCN also may also be allergic to cephalosporins
Interactions: alcohol taken with med causes N/V
Contraindications: allergy to PCN; renal failure
Nursing Implications: review allergies
Commonly used names: Cefoxitin, Cefalexin
Aminoglycosides
Patient teaching- take on empty stomach, complete course of treatment
Action: interfere with protein synthesis in bacteria
Use: SERIOUS infections caused by gram negative organisms
Commonly Used Names: gentamycin, amikacin, tobramycin, streptomycin
Side effects: ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity
Contraindications: kidney disease, liver disease, hearing loss
Nursing Implications: check for allergies, monitor BUN/Creatine, do peak and trough levels
Tetracyclines:
Patient teaching: take with full glass of water, take on empty stomach, avoid exposure to
sunlight while taking medications. Do not take with dairy products.
Action: inhibit protein synthesis in bacteria
Use: gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria
Commonly Used Name: vibramycin, terramycin, tetracycline
Side Effects: N/V, diarrhea, hepatotoxicity
Contraindications: do not use during pregnancy and for children under 8 (will cause staining
of teeth in children permanently)
Microlides
Patient teaching: take with 8 ounces of water, take on empty stomach; food interferes with
absorption
Action: inhibit protein synthesis in bacterial cell wall
Use: gram positive bacterial infections
Commonly Used Names: Zithromax, E-Mycin, Clarithromycin
Side Effects” N/V and Diarrhea
