Adverse outcomes of drug therapy Flashcards
what is the difference between an adverse drug REACTION and an adverse drug EVENT?
an adverse drug reaction is an unwanted or harmful reaction experienced following the administration of a drug or combination of drugs under normal conditions of use and suspected to be related to the drug. it is an effect that occurs when the drug is used at therapeutic dose e.g. pt experiencing anaphylaxis shortly after taking a drug.
An adverse drug event is an untoward occurence after exposure to a drug that is not necessarily caused by the drug. e.g. pt having a road traffic accident while on a specific medication
name two relatively mild GI adverse effects with NSAIDs
heartburn
dyspepsia
name 3 severe adverse GI effects from NSAIDs
ulceration
bleeding
perforation
what is the name of the compounds that come from arachidonic acid that protect teh mucosal lining of the stomach from injury from luminal acid-pepsin?
prostaglandins
what is the rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin synthesis in the stomach mucosa?
COX-1
name 5 NSAIDs
ibuprofen naproxen indometacin diclofenac aspirin
name two COX-2 inhibitors
celecoxib
etodolac
What can be given with or after NSAIDs to protect the stomach mucosa?
PPIs
What are Type A adverse drug reactions otherswise known as and what does this mean?
‘augemented’
Exaggerated response to pharmacological action. Effects are usually dose-related and largely predictable due to pharmacological effects of the drug.
high incidence, low mortality
What are type B adverse drug reactions?
‘bizarre’
Unpredictable effects, often immunological in nature
what is meant by primary effects of a type A adverse drug reaction?
Reaction is related to therapeutic action of drug.
E.g. beta blocker and bradycardia
what are secondary effects of a type A adverse drug reaction?
effects that can be rationalised from pharmacology but the reaction is unrelated to the therapeutic action.
e.g. beta blocker and bronchospasm
diarrhoea with abx
what is derived from arachidonic acid by the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX)?
Prostaglandins
Prostaglandins produced in the COX-1 pathway are associated with what functions?
GI (stomach and intestine) mucosal protection from gastric acid.
Regulation of platelet function (primarily aggregation).
Renal function
The COX-2 enzyme is said to be ‘inducible’, what is meant by this?
It is formed/activated in response to a stimulus of a molecular kind e.g. it produces prostaglandins secondary to pro-inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, as a response to pain, fever and inflammation
Why are COX-2 inhibitors being questioned for an increased risk of cardiovascular events compared to non-selective NSAIDs?
COX-2 inhibitors do not affect platelet function so are not thought to offer anti-thrombotic cardiovascular protection that non-selective NSAIDs do.
why might some COX-2 inhibitors still cause numerous upper GI problems?
because they are not entirely specific and still partly inhibit COX-1
What is the commonest adverse drug reaction from opioids?
constipation
what two opioid receptors are located on the gut smooth muscle that have a role in GI motility?
mu and delta
which opioid receptor in the gut directly affects the myenteric plexus?
mu receptor
what occurs if mu-opioid receptors in the gut are activated?
gut motility is inhibited
what is a common ADR of antihistamines? What is the mechanism of action of this?
sedation due to blockade of central histaminergic receptors.
why are first generation antihistamines more sedating than second generation? Give an example of each
First generation e.g. chlorphenamine, is highly lipophilic so readily crosses BBB
second generation e.g. cetirizine are lipophobic so don’t cross BBB and are therefore less sedating
What is thought to be the reason that atypical antipsychotics have less extrapyramidal side effects?
They have less of an affinity for D2 receptors and more affinity for D4 receptors. The D2 receptors is thought to affect the motor system as much as the motivational aspect of the dopamine system.
What antiemetic can cause extrapyramidal symptoms?
metoclopramide - thus its use is restricted to severe vomiting
What is the effect of dopamine on prolactin?
dopamine inhibits prolactin.
Thus dopamine antagonists can cause hyperprolactinaemia.
what are the 3 symptoms of hyperprolactinaemia?
galactorrhoea
amenorrhoea
breast tenderness
Name 5 long-term effects of increased prolactin
weight gain osteoporosis risk of breast, prostate and pituitary cancer cardiovascular effects depression