Respiratory Relief and Anti-Infectives: A Nurse’s Guide to Safe Drug Therapy
Deep Dive Nursing by Justin
Episode notes
In this episode, we unpack the essentials of drug therapy for respiratory conditions and select anti-infective agents, with a focus on prototypes every nurse should know. We’ll review common respiratory medications—including pseudoephedrine (decongestant), dextromethorphan (antitussive), guaifenesin (expectorant), and acetylcysteine (mucolytic)—exploring their mechanisms, clinical uses, and safety concerns, especially with combination cold remedies and regulated ingredients. In the second half, we turn to anti-infective therapies, covering macrolides, clindamycin, and linezolid, emphasizing their spectrum of activity, key adverse effects like hepatotoxicity and pseudomembranous colitis, and essential nursing consideration ...