| Medications and Nutritional Supplements
Common medications:
- Theophylline - an IV (intravenous) drug that is used to treat babies with apnea of
prematurity by stimulating the breathing center in the brain.
- Ampicillin - a common antibiotic that is used in the NICU (part of the penicillin family).
- Caffeine - used to treat apnea of prematurity by stimulating the breathing center of the
brain.
- Cefotaxime sodium - a powerful antibiotic that is used to fight sepsis (infection).
- Dobutamine and Dopamine - drugs that are used to increase low urine output and low blood
pressure.
- Electrolytes - basic elements in the blood that must be maintained in a certain balance,
such as sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium and magnesium. These elements are monitored by blood tests and are
treated with IV solutions.
- Epinephrine - a powerful heart stimulant that is used to treat cardiac failure and low
blood pressure.
- Fentanyl - a narcotic that is used for pain management and sedation; commonly used with babies on
ventilators due to its tendency to cause respiratory depression.
- Furosemide (Lasix) - a diuretic that is used to reduce edema and help the kidneys produce
urine.
- Gentamicin - a commonly used antibiotic
- Phenobarbital - an anticonvulsant medication that is used to treat seizures
- Surfactant therapy - a fatty substance that is found in full-term babies but is commonly
missing in preemies. Surfactant keeps the air sacs in the lungs open and decreases the risk of lung tissue
scarring. It is used to prevent and treat respiratory distress in preemies, and it has greatly improved the
chances for survival for premature babies.
- Vancomycin - an antibiotic
- Versed - a commonly used sedative to calm babies who are extremely agitated or who need to undergo a
procedure requiring him/her to lie still.
Nutritional supplements
Nutritional supplements are extra nutrients
added to formula or expressed breast milk to increase the caloric content of feedings,
including the following:
- Human milk fortifier - a powder added to mother’s expressed breast milk to increase calories and to
provide calcium and phosphorous.
- Corn oil - added to expressed breast milk or formula to add extra fat calories.
- Microlipids - an oil added to expressed breast milk or formula to add extra fat calories.
- Polycose - a powder or liquid added to expressed breast milk or formula to add extra
sugar/carbohydrate calories
- Casec - a powder added to expressed breast milk or formula to provide extra protein.
- Vitamins (Poly-vi-sol) - a liquid added to expressed breast milk or formula for extra
vitamins. It can be ordered with or without iron.
- Iron supplement (Fer-in-sol) - a liquid added to expressed breast milk or formula to
provide extra iron.
Information
For more information about Maternal/Child Services at Shands AGH,
please call 352.733.0165.
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