Heart and Blood Pressure Medications
Atorvastatin (Lipitor): Reduces cholesterol
Epinephrine: Increases blood pressure and heart rate
Labetalol: Decreases both heart rate and blood pressure
Metoprolol (Lopressor; Toprol XL): Decreases heart rate (occasionally reduces blood pressure as well)
Nicardipine (Cardene): Decreases blood pressure with little effect on the heart rate
Norepinephrine (Levophed): Increases blood pressure and the power of the heart's squeeze
Phenylephrine (Neosynephrine): Increases blood pressure (can occasionally reduce heart rate as well)
Pain Medications
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril): Treats muscle spasm pain
Fentanyl: IV opioid medication used for severe pain
Gabapentin (Neurontin): Treats nerve pain
Hydromorphone (Dilaudid): IV medication used for severe pain
Oxy-/Hydro-codone: Opioid medication used for moderate/severe pain
Miscellaneous Medications
Dexamethasone: Steroid medication used to reduce swelling, commonly when patients have brain swelling associated with tumors
Docusate (Colace): Stool softener
Enoxaparin/Heparin: Injections placed under the skin to help prevent blood clots
Insulin: Used to reduce blood sugar levels [Of note, your blood sugar can be elevated due to certain medications like dexamethasone above, or purely because of critical illness. You don't have to be diabetic to receive this medication!]
Nimodipine (Nimotop): Used to prevent spasm of the arteries in the brain
Propofol (Diprivan): Sedative to help keep patients calm, or used as an anesthetic for procedures
Senna (Ex-lax): Laxative
