Drug Card Template
Patient teaching/patient education: Patients should be advised that antihistamines
may cause drowsiness, and concurrent use of alcohol or other CNS depressants
should be avoided. Patients should take only the recommended amount of
medication and not to exceed dosing recommendations.
Reference: Nurseslabs.com
Drug Classification: Antihistamine
Action: Antihistamines work by physically blocking the H1 receptors, stopping histamine from reaching its
target. This decreases your body's reaction to allergens and therefore helps to reduce the troublesome
symptoms associated with allergy.
Indications for use: Antihistamines are medicines often used to relieve symptoms of allergies, such as hay fever,
hives, conjunctivitis and reactions to insect bites or stings. They're also sometimes used to prevent motion
sickness and as a short-term treatment for insomnia.
Side Effects
Dry mouth.
Drowsiness.
Dizziness.
Nausea and vomiting.
Pre -Assessment/Nursing interventions
Assess for possible contraindications or cautions: any
history of allergy to antihistamines; pregnancy and
lactation; and prolonged QT interval, which are
contraindications to the use of the drug; and renal or
hepatic impairment, which requires cautious use of the
drug. Adverse Effects/Toxic Effects
Low blood pressure.
Mucous thickening in the airways.
Rapid heart rate.
Difficulty urinating
Post Administration /Nursing intervention
Assess the skin color, texture, and lesions to monitor
for anticholinergic effects or allergy.
Evaluate orientation, affect, and reflexes to monitor
for changes due to CNS effects.
Assess respirations and adventitious sounds to
monitor drug effects.
Contraindications / Drug to Drug interactions/Food
Interactions
Contraindications: Pregnancy and lactation, Renal or
hepatic impairment, Arrhythmias.
Interactions: Monoamine inhibitor (MAOI). Anticholinergic
effects may be prolonged if diphenhydramine is taken with
a monoamine inhibitor.
Ketoconazole/erythromycin. Interaction of fexofenadine
with ketoconazole or erythromycin may raise fexofenadine
concentrations to toxic levels.
