What are the main side effects of cardiac medications? Digoxin can cause: · skin rash · slow pulse · weakness · confusion · blurred vision · poor appetite · nausea Nitro can cause: · headache · dizziness · flushed skin on face and neck · skin rash · dry mouth · constipation · nausea                          Report any episodes of chest pain to your supervisor immediately! What are cardiac medications? Cardiac medications are drugs that help the heart work properly. Why do people take cardiac medications? There are a number of reasons why people might take cardiac drugs.  They may have had a heart attack or been diagnosed with heart disease.  Their heart might need help to do its job or the drugs might prevent symptoms of heart disease like chest pain. What are some common cardiac medications? Doctors prescribe many different kinds of heart medications, but two of the most common are Digoxin and nitroglycerin. How are these two cardiac drugs different? Digoxin helps keep the heart beating at a steady rhythm-- it prevents rhythms that are too fast or uneven.  It is usually given as a pill, but can be put through an IV.    Nitroglycerin helps more oxygen get to the heart and is used to treat angina (chest pain).  You might see nitroglycerin given as a small pill that clients put under their tongues.  Nitro also comes in a spray, a skin ointment, and a skin patch and an IV solution. Understanding Common Cardiac Medications © 1999 In the Know, Inc. Page 2 HOW CAN YOU HELP YOUR CLIENTS WHO TAKE CARDIAC MEDICATIONS? · Watch for dizziness.  A client taking nitroglycerin should sit or lie down after taking the drug.  (Nitro can make the blood pressure really drop!) · Nitroglycerin will not work if it is exposed to air, heat or moisture.  If you notice your clients leaving their nitro pills open to the air, report it to your supervisor. · Do not remove "old" medication skin patches during a bath or put on "new" ones after the bath.  This is the client's and/or the nurse's responsibility. · Help your cardiac clients pace their activities and keep their stress levels low. · When clients are taking digoxin, watch out for changes like nausea/vomiting and complaints of seeing yellow--green circles.  These may be signs that the person is being poisoned by the digoxin. · Report any episodes of chest pain, a pulse slower than 60 beats/minute, or a client using nitroglycerin immediately!