Prostaglandins
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
OB / NewbornCardiacPediatricsneeds review
Prostaglandins
Examples: alprostadil, misoprostol, carboprost
Mechanism
Acts like prostaglandin signaling; the newborn cardiac use keeps the ductus arteriosus open while definitive care is arranged.
Used for
- Maintain ductus arteriosus patency in selected newborn heart defects
- OB cervical ripening or hemorrhage protocols for selected agents
Side effects
- Apnea with alprostadil
- Hypotension
- Fever or flushing
- Uterine tachysystole with OB agents
Nursing actions
- For alprostadil, monitor respirations, apnea risk, perfusion, blood pressure, and IV pump accuracy.
- Keep airway support available for ductal-dependent newborns receiving infusion.
- For OB agents, monitor bleeding, uterine tone, contraction pattern, and contraindication cues.
Hold / question cues
- Apnea
- Severe hypotension
- Nonreassuring fetal tracing or tachysystole with OB use
Antidote / reversal
- No routine class-specific antidote or reversal agent is seeded for this class; hold/question unsafe doses, support ABCs, notify the provider, and use facility or poison-control guidance for toxicity.
NCLEX pearl
- Prostaglandin can keep the duct open, but apnea readiness is part of the order.
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.