Catapres is a drug that lowers blood pressure by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in your blood. This allows your blood vessels (veins and arteries) to relax (widen)and your heart to beat more slowly and easily. Catapres is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure).

On my way home, after my duty as a staff nurse in Fatima Medical Center, there is a woman who asked me if I can take the BP (blood pressure) of her aunt. I planned to refuse, but I remember my blog’s tagline, “to serve others through healing and caring”, so I said “sige po! San po ba sya?” (sure! where is the patient?). Upon getting her BP, I also collected her medical history. I found out that she already experienced a mild stroke. She also complained of headache and told me that she feels not so well. 150/90 is her BP. She also informed me, that she took Catapres ½ tab SL (sublingual) before lunch and asked me if she can take another Catapres to lower her BP. Honestly, I don’t know what to answer, I am familiar with the drug classification but other than that, like the dosage, onset, peak and duration of the med is totally unknown to me. Practicing nonmaleficence (to do no harm), I confessed that I don’t know if she is indicated to take Catapres, but I promised that I will asked a doctor regarding her condition. Upon getting home, I immediately open my computer, search the MIMS webpage and read the Catapres’ page. I also texted a doctor but it took 15 minutes after I received a reply. After studying the med I found out that Catapres is taken TID, it is for mild-moderate and severe hypertension, and you can safely repeated it up to 900 mcg in divided doses…It seems Catapres is safe for my patient. So, I texted her and advised her to take Catapres 75 mcg 1 tab SL. After only a few minutes after sending my msg to my patient, I received the doctor’s reply. He said that 150/90 is not enough to take Catapres, it must 160/100 or higher, taking the med with less than the indicated BP will abruptly lowers the BP of the pt (hypotension)…What should I do? I already said that she can take the med. What if my pt already take it? While my anxiety escalates (because I am responsible with it), I texted her not to take the drug (thanks to Chikka: Still the best way to send free text messages) and better to seek consultation to a physician…Thank God! She replied and told me that she didn’t take the med…My patient saved my life! Domo Arigato gozaimasu madam! Ü

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 15th, 2008 at 8:09 am and is filed under Life of a student nurse.  Tagged blood pressure, catapres, nonmaleficence You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.