Chronopharmacology applicability in drug administration at intensive care unit: integrative review

Abstract

To identify scientific evidences about applicability of chronobiology and chronopharmacology to subsidize nurse decision making in potentially hazardous drugs administration at Intensive Care Unit. Literature integrative review developed in two steps: I) analysis of drug list dispensed to Intensive Care Unit; II) literature integrative review. Heparin and insulin were the drugs most dispensed. The scientific evidences show that heparin have the bigger therapeutic potential at night. About insulin, the selected studies don’t approach the exogen insulin administration. These evidences disagree about the circadian rhythm, plasmatic concentration and B cells responsiveness. However, they show that insulin sensibility it’s smaller at night.  These data are pioneering and can subsidize nurses in the drug administration practice at Intensive Care Units. Evidences can contribute for better time management of drugs administration, aiming the maximization of clinicals indications at intensive care patients.