Antibiotics

Medication (Generic Name)	Indications	Common Side Effects	Adverse Effects	Nursing Considerations
Ciprofloxacin (Fluoroquinolone)	Bacterial Infections	Nausea, diarrhea, headache	Tendon rupture, central nervous system effects, Clostridium difficile infection	Educate on the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics.
Amoxicillin (Penicillin Antibiotic)	Bacterial Infections	Rash, diarrhea, abdominal pain	Allergic reactions, severe diarrhea, anaphylaxis	Monitor for signs of allergic reactions; educate on proper use.
Doxycycline (Tetracycline Antibiotic)	Bacterial Infections	GI upset, photosensitivity	Tooth discoloration, hepatotoxicity, esophageal ulcers	Administer with food to reduce GI upset; avoid lying down for 30 minutes.
Vancomycin (Glycopeptide Antibiotic)	Severe Bacterial Infections	Red man syndrome, nephrotoxicity	Ototoxicity, renal dysfunction, C. difficile infection	Administer at a controlled rate; monitor renal function.

Medication (Generic Name)	Indications	Common Side Effects	Adverse Effects	Nursing Considerations
Azithromycin (Macrolide Antibiotic)	Bacterial Infections	Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain	Cardiac arrhythmias, hepatotoxicity, allergic reactions	Educate on potential drug interactions and follow-up testing.
Clindamycin (Lincosamide Antibiotic)	Anaerobic Bacterial Infections	Nausea, metallic taste, diarrhea	C. difficile infection, Stevens-Johnson syndrome	Educate on the importance of completing the full course of antibiotics.
Cephalexin (Cephalosporin Antibiotic)	Bacterial Infections	GI upset, skin rash, headache	Allergic reactions, blood disorders, renal dysfunction	Monitor renal function; assess for signs of allergic reactions.
Linezolid (Oxazolidinone Antibiotic)	Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections	Diarrhea, headache, nausea	Myelosuppression, serotonin syndrome, optic neuropathy	Monitor blood counts; educate on serotonin syndrome symptoms.

 

 

Antivirals

Medication (Generic Name)	Indications	Common Side Effects	Adverse Effects	Nursing Considerations
Oseltamivir (Antiviral)	Influenza	Nausea, vomiting, headache	Neuropsychiatric events, anaphylaxis, severe skin reactions	Administer within 48 hours of symptom onset for influenza treatment.
Acyclovir (Antiviral)	Herpes Infections, Shingles	Nausea, headache, rash	Renal dysfunction, hallucinations, seizures	Encourage fluid intake; assess for neurologic symptoms.
Valacyclovir (Antiviral)	Herpes Infections, Shingles	Nausea, headache, abdominal pain	Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, renal dysfunction	Educate on the importance of adherence to the prescribed regimen.
Lopinavir/Ritonavir (HIV Protease Inhibitors)	HIV Infection	Diarrhea, nausea, elevated lipids	Cardiac arrhythmias, pancreatitis, immune reconstitution syndrome	Monitor for drug interactions and follow-up testing.

Medication (Generic Name)	Indications	Common Side Effects	Adverse Effects	Nursing Considerations
Ganciclovir (Antiviral)	Cytomegalovirus Infections	Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea	Bone marrow suppression, renal dysfunction, neurologic effects	Monitor blood counts and renal function; assess for neurologic symptoms.
Ritonavir (HIV Protease Inhibitor)	HIV Infection	Nausea, diarrhea, fatigue	Cardiac arrhythmias, hepatotoxicity, pancreatitis	Monitor liver function and educate on potential drug interactions.
Foscarnet (Antiviral)	Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Infections	Nausea, renal dysfunction, seizures	Electrolyte imbalances, renal dysfunction, bone disorders	Monitor renal function and electrolyte levels; assess for seizures.
Sofosbuvir/Ledipasvir (Direct-Acting Antiviral)	Hepatitis C Infection	Fatigue, headache, diarrhea	Hepatic decompensation, severe skin reactions, anemia	Monitor liver function and educate on potential side effects.

 

 

Antifungals

Medication (Generic Name)	Indications	Common Side Effects	Adverse Effects	Nursing Considerations
Fluconazole (Antifungal)	Fungal Infections	Nausea, headache, abdominal pain	Liver dysfunction, QT prolongation, allergic reactions	Assess for potential drug interactions; monitor liver function.
Nystatin (Antifungal)	Candidiasis (Oral, Skin, GI Tract)	Oral irritation, diarrhea	Gastrointestinal upset, skin rash, anaphylaxis	Educate on proper administration; monitor for side effects.
Terbinafine (Antifungal)	Fungal Nail Infections	GI upset, headache, skin rash	Hepatotoxicity, blood disorders, severe skin reactions	Monitor liver function; assess for blood count changes.
Amphotericin B (Antifungal)	Severe Fungal Infections	Fever, chills, anemia	Renal dysfunction, hypotension, neurologic effects	Administer with caution and monitor for infusion reactions.

Medication (Generic Name)	Indications	Common Side Effects	Adverse Effects	Nursing Considerations
Voriconazole (Antifungal)	Fungal Infections	Visual disturbances, nausea	Hepatotoxicity, neurologic effects, severe skin reactions	Monitor liver function and educate on visual side effects.
Ketoconazole (Antifungal)	Fungal Infections, Cushing's Syndrome	Nausea, abdominal pain, headache	Hepatotoxicity, QT prolongation, adrenal suppression	Monitor liver function; assess for adrenal suppression.
Griseofulvin (Antifungal)	Dermatophyte Infections	GI upset, headache, photosensitivity	Hepatotoxicity, blood disorders, hypersensitivity reactions	Administer with high-fat meals; educate on potential skin reactions.
Micafungin (Echinocandin Antifungal)	Fungal Infections	Fever, abdominal pain, rash	Liver dysfunction, hypersensitivity reactions, electrolyte imbalances	Monitor liver function and electrolyte levels; assess for allergic reactions.