| Drug and Dosage | Use | Action | Assessment: Side Effects |
|---|
| Ferrous sulfate (Feosol, Fer-In-Sol)—adults, PO 300 mg–1.2 gm daily; children under 6 yr, PO 75–225 mg daily; 6–12 yr, PO 120–600 mg daily | Iron-deficiency anemia; prophylactically during infancy, childhood, pregnancy | Corrects nutritional iron-deficiency anemia | Nausea, vomiting, anorexia, constipation, diarrhea; yellow-brown discoloration of eyes, teeth |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: To minimize GI distress, give with meals; do not give with antacids or tea; liquid form should be taken through straw to prevent staining of teeth; causes dark-green/black stool |
| Filgrastim (Neupogen)—Subcu, IV 5-mcg/kg/day increments | Neutropenia from cancer, chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation | Stimulates white blood cell production, specifically neutrophil count; a biologic response modifier | Bone pain, fever |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Monitor WBC count as indication of effectiveness |
| Lenalidomide (Revlimid)—PO 5–25 mg daily for 21 days | Slow progression of multiple myeloma; transfusion-dependent anemia | Works in bone marrow to slow growth of cancerous myeloma cells | Deep vein thrombosis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, birth defects |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Clients with multiple myeloma take the drug with dexamethasone |
| Pegfilgrastim (Neulasta)—Subcu 6 mg per chemotherapy cycle | Neutropenia from chemotherapy | Stimulates bone marrow and promotes neutrophils (WBCs) | Infection, skin rash, splenic rupture, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) |
| NURSING IMPLICATIONS: Do not give 14 days before or 24 hours after chemotherapy. Instruct client to report immediately sudden, severe pain in left upper stomach spreading to shoulder |