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What medications are considered high alert?
The five high-alert medications are insulin, opiates and narcotics, injectable potassium chloride (or phosphate) concentrate, intravenous anticoagulants (heparin), and sodium chloride solutions above 0.9%.
What are the top 5 high alert drugs?
The top five high-alert medications identified by the ISMP study are insulin; opiates and narcotics; injectable potassium chloride (or phosphate) concentrate (See Sentinel Event Alert, Issue 1); intravenous anticoagulants (heparin); and sodium chloride solutions above 0.9 percent.
What are the top 6 high alert medications?
In addition, the summary information from the MedMarxSM 2002 report found that the top seven medications involved in events involving harm (comparable to Harm Score Categories E thru I in PA-PSRS) are high-alert medications including insulin, morphine, heparin, intravenous concentrated potassium chloride, warfarin, ...
Is potassium chloride a high alert medication?
The risks associated with intravenous potassium chloride are well known. If it is injected too rapidly or in too high a dose, it may cause cardiac arrest within minutes. The effect of hyperkalaemia on the heart is complex – virtually any arrhythmia may be observed.
How do I know if my medication is high alert?
Conclusions: To identify organizational high-alert medications, both drug safety information and medication safety information should be used. Adverse drug reaction and ME data are needed to recognize high-alert medications, but these should also be combined with a literature search and local expert opinions.
Why are medications classified as high alert drugs?
igh-alert medications are drugs that bear a heightened risk of causing significant patient harm when they are used in error. Although mistakes may or may not be more common with these drugs, the consequences of an error are clearly more devastating to patients.
Is Ibuprofen a high-alert drug?
The most common high-alert medications were oxycodone (5%), enoxaparin (3%), and noradrenaline (3%). Serious patient harm (3%) was related to cefuroxime, enoxaparin, ibuprofen, midazolam, propofol, and warfarin.
What are salad drugs?
The term SALADs (Sound-Alike Look-Alike Drugs) refers to look-alike and sound-alike drug names and look-alike product packaging which can cause confusion resulting in potentially harmful medication errors.
What are the drop classes that are high-alert?
Classes/categories of high-alert medicationsadrenergic agonists, IV (e.g., EPINEPHrine, phenylephrine, norepinephrine)adrenergic antagonists, IV (e.g., propranolol, metoprolol, labetalol)anesthetic agents, general, inhaled and IV (e.g., propofol, ketamine)antiarrhythmics, IV (e.g., lidocaine, amiodarone)More items...•
Why do hospitals give potassium chloride?
Potassium chloride, also known as potassium salt, is used as a medication to treat and prevent low blood potassium. Low blood potassium may occur due to vomiting, diarrhea, or certain medications. The concentrated version should be diluted before use. It is given by slow injection into a vein or by mouth.
Why can't you give potassium IV push?
When given by IV, potassium chloride cannot be administered via IV push/bolus (or via IM or s.q.), because it would result in the patient receiving too much potassium too quickly; it must be diluted and infused over a certain period of time.
Why does potassium chloride stop the heart?
This is because potassium sends signals to every muscle in the body to contract. When the potassium reaches the inmate's heart, it disrupts the delicate balance of sodium and potassium ions that keep the heart beating. The inmate's heart would begin beating irregularly - and then stop.
What are the drop classes that are high-alert?
Classes/categories of high-alert medicationsadrenergic agonists, IV (e.g., EPINEPHrine, phenylephrine, norepinephrine)adrenergic antagonists, IV (e.g., propranolol, metoprolol, labetalol)anesthetic agents, general, inhaled and IV (e.g., propofol, ketamine)antiarrhythmics, IV (e.g., lidocaine, amiodarone)More items...•
What is LASA drug?
Look Alike Sound Alike (LASA) medications involve medications that are visually similar in physical appearance or packaging and names of medications that have spelling similarities and/or similar phonetics.
Is Ibuprofen a high-alert medication?
The most common high-alert medications were oxycodone (5%), enoxaparin (3%), and noradrenaline (3%). Serious patient harm (3%) was related to cefuroxime, enoxaparin, ibuprofen, midazolam, propofol, and warfarin.
Is Tramadol A high-alert medication?
Compared with other controlled substances, tramadol is at the safer end of the spectrum. Heroin, for example, is a Schedule I drug (high abuse potential and no acceptable medical use). OxyContin is a Schedule II drug (it also has high abuse potential, but has an accepted medical use).
Before Taking This Medicine
You should not take sodium chloride if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it, or if you have high sodium levels in your blood.To make sure y...
How Should I Take Sodium Chloride?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your p...
What Happens If I Miss A Dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to...
What Happens If I Overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, dia...
What Should I Avoid While Taking Sodium Chloride?
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids...
Sodium Chloride Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue,...
What Other Drugs Will Affect Sodium Chloride?
There may be other drugs that can interact with sodium chloride. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-t...
What other drugs will affect sodium chloride?
Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
How to know if you have an allergic reaction to sodium chloride?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Stop using sodium chloride and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as: swelling in your hands, ankles, or feet.
How should I take sodium chloride?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
What should I avoid while taking sodium chloride?
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
What is the chemical name for salt?
Sodium chloride is the chemical name for salt. Sodium is an electrolyte that regulates the amount of water in your body. Sodium also plays a part in nerve impulses and muscle contractions. Sodium chloride is used to treat or prevent sodium loss caused by dehydration, excessive sweating, or other causes.
Is sodium chloride safe for pregnant women?
FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether sodium chloride will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.
Can you take sodium chloride if you have a high sodium level?
You should not take sodium chloride if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it, or if you have high sodium levels in your blood.
Why is sodium chloride high alert?
Hypertonic sodium chloride for injection is a high alert medication because of its accidental substitu-tion for normal tonic solutions. Errors can result in hypernatremia and death. “Hypertonic” sodium chloride solutions have concentrations greater than 0.9%.
Why are beta blockers high alert?
Injectable beta-blockers are high-alert medica-tions because of the increased risk of hypotension, bradycardia and AV block during administration. Appropriate monitoring is required. Also, some significant differences exist between oral and IV dosing. Caution must be taken when switching from one route of administration to another.
Why are insulins high alert?
Insulins are high-alert medications because of the risk for serious harm associ-ated complex dosing regimens and the potential for hypoglycemic and hyper-glycemic reactions when errors in dispensing and administration have occurred.
Why are opiods considered high alert?
Opioids are high alert medications because they have the potential of errors in calculation of dosages and concentrations, proper identification of look-alike, sound-alike medications, and their potential for causing respiratory depression.
Is digoxin a high alert?
Digoxin is a high-alert medication because of the narrow therapeutic serum range; the therapeutic endpoint is difficult to quantify and digoxin toxicity may be life-threatening. Appropriate monitoring is required.
Is methotrexate a high alert medication?
Methotrexate is a high-alert medication because of potential dosing errors when weekly doses are misunderstood as “daily” doses. It can cause hepatotoxicity, renal failure and it will suppress the immune system making patients more prone to infection.
Is promethazine a high alert?
The injectable form of promethazine is a high-alert medication because of the risk of damage and necrosis if it is accidentally given into the arteries, or subcu-taneous tissue. Promethazine injection may cause drowsiness, confusion, seda-tion and increase the risk for falls.
