People take medicines for an expected response. A drug called an anti-emetic (such as Compazine ) relieves vomiting and nausea, the sensation of feeling sick to the stomach.
When you know the expected effect of a medicine, you can judge how a person responds to it. This is important.
For example, if a medicine is for pain relief, you can watch a person and later ask if they become more comfortable. If a medicine is for nausea, ask the person 30 minutes after taking the medicine if their stomach feels less queasy and has the vomiting lessened?
As a family caregiver, observe the person to whom you provide care. When he or she does not respond to a medicine as expected, report this to the doctor so that the treatment may be adjusted as needed.
Always store a suppository in the refrigerator until you are ready to give one. If not stored properly, the medicine will melt.
If the person becomes dizzy, pale or sweaty after getting a suppository, this might mean you stimulated the vagus nerve. The nerve is located close to the rectal wall. When it is stimulated, the person’s pulse rate might slow.
When dizziness occurs, have the person lie down. This helps the dizziness to go away. Stay with the person and if the symptoms remain for more than 10 minutes, call their doctor. You should take their pulse as they lie down. See our lesson on Taking a Pulse.
