Common Medications
Quick-reference material for licensed nurses and students. Values are drawn from commonly cited clinical guidelines and nursing references — always verify against your facility protocols. About our editorial standards · Report a correction
High-Alert Medications
ISMP High-Alert Medications list — require extra safeguards.
| Category |
Examples |
Key Precautions |
| Anticoagulants |
Heparin, warfarin, enoxaparin, DOACs |
Bleeding risk; double-check dosing; monitor labs |
| Insulin |
All insulin types |
Never use "U" for units; verify type and dose; hypoglycemia risk |
| Opioids |
Morphine, fentanyl, hydromorphone |
Respiratory depression; have naloxone available; assess sedation |
| Concentrated Electrolytes |
KCl, MgSO₄, NaCl (hypertonic) |
Dilute per protocol; never push concentrated K⁺; cardiac monitoring |
| Chemotherapy |
Various cytotoxic agents |
Double verification; PPE; vesicant precautions; extravasation protocol |
Antihypertensives
| Class |
Examples |
Key Nursing Considerations |
| ACE Inhibitors (-pril) |
Lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril |
Monitor K⁺, creatinine; dry cough; angioedema risk; avoid in pregnancy |
| ARBs (-sartan) |
Losartan, valsartan, olmesartan |
Similar to ACE-I but no cough; monitor K⁺, renal function |
| Beta-blockers (-olol) |
Metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol |
Mask hypoglycemia; bradycardia; avoid abrupt withdrawal; caution in asthma |
| Calcium Channel Blockers (-dipine) |
Amlodipine, nifedipine, diltiazem |
Peripheral edema; constipation (verapamil, diltiazem); grapefruit interaction |
| Diuretics |
Thiazide (HCTZ), loop (furosemide), K⁺-sparing (spironolactone) |
Monitor electrolytes; orthostatic hypotension; I/O; ototoxicity (aminoglycosides + loop) |
Anticoagulants
| Drug |
Monitoring |
Antidote |
| Heparin |
aPTT (1.5–2.5× control), platelets (HIT) |
Protamine sulfate |
| Enoxaparin (Lovenox) |
Anti-Xa (if needed); renal function |
Protamine (partial reversal) |
| Warfarin (Coumadin) |
INR (typically 2–3) |
Vitamin K, PCC, FFP |
| Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) |
Renal function; no routine coagulation monitoring |
Andexanet alfa |
| Apixaban (Eliquis) |
Renal function; no routine coagulation monitoring |
Andexanet alfa |
Insulin
| Type |
Onset |
Peak |
Duration |
| Rapid (lispro, aspart) |
15 min |
1–2 hr |
3–5 hr |
| Short (regular) |
30–60 min |
2–4 hr |
5–8 hr |
| Intermediate (NPH) |
1–2 hr |
4–12 hr |
12–18 hr |
| Long (glargine, detemir) |
1–2 hr |
No distinct peak |
18–24 hr (glargine up to 24) |
Common Antibiotics
| Class |
Examples |
Key Considerations |
| Penicillins |
Amoxicillin, ampicillin, piperacillin/tazobactam |
Allergy cross-reactivity; take with food (some) |
| Cephalosporins |
Cefazolin, ceftriaxone, ceftaroline |
10% cross-reactivity with penicillin; avoid in anaphylactic penicillin allergy |
| Fluoroquinolones |
Levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin |
Tendon rupture, QT prolongation; avoid in myasthenia gravis |
| Macrolides |
Azithromycin, clarithromycin, erythromycin |
QT prolongation; CYP interactions |
| Aminoglycosides |
Gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin |
Nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity; peak/trough monitoring |
| Vancomycin |
Vancomycin |
Red man syndrome (infuse slowly); trough monitoring; nephrotoxicity |
Opioid Analgesics
| Drug |
Equianalgesic Dose (PO) |
Key Points |
| Morphine |
30 mg (baseline) |
Gold standard; active metabolites accumulate in renal failure |
| Hydromorphone |
7.5 mg |
More potent; fewer metabolites; preferred in renal impairment |
| Oxycodone |
20 mg |
Often combined with acetaminophen; avoid exceeding APAP limits |
| Fentanyl |
N/A (transdermal/IV) |
Transdermal: 100 mcg/hr ≈ morphine 200 mg/day PO; lipophilic |
| Codeine |
200 mg |
Prodrug; CYP2D6 poor metabolizers get little analgesia |
| Tramadol |
~300 mg |
SNRI + weak opioid; seizure risk; serotonin syndrome |
References
Public drug information and medication safety references. Always verify orders against current prescribing information.
Medical Disclaimer
The content on this page is provided for educational and quick-reference purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional clinical judgment, your facility's protocols, or the guidance of a qualified licensed healthcare provider. Always verify dosages, reference ranges, and protocols against current evidence-based clinical guidelines and institutional policy before providing care. rnref.com makes no warranty regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not liable for clinical decisions made based on it. See our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Accessibility Statement.