Antiretrovirals, Anthelmintic, and Antiprotozoal Drugs Flashcards
What common endings are for NRTIs?
-vir, -dine, or -sine are typically in the NRTI name
When are NRTIs indicated?
HIV infection, both early onset and advanced. To lower the transmission of HIV from mother to fetus. It is the 1st line of antiretrovirals to help with HIV
What class of drugs is the 1st line of therapy for HIV?
Antiretrovirals: NRTIs
What are some nursing considerations for patients receiving NRTIs?
- Assess patients for any allergies or any contraindications/cautions (renal/hepatic impairment, any drugs/herbs that may decrease efficacy, pregnancy/lactation), or any symptoms of opportunistic infections
- Assess level of orientation and reflexes
- Examine the skin and measure vitals
- Evaluate hepatic and renal function tests
- Check CBC with differential to monitor bone marrow and helper T cell count
What are some education points for a patient on NRTIs?
- The drug is not a CURE for AIDs/HIV.
- Notify PCP of a sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, malaise, fever or any other infections.
- Notify PCP is skin or sclera become yellow, urine becomes dark, and stool is light colored. Lack of appetite for several days.
- HIV can be transferred to others and proper precautions should be followed
- Follow up visits are a MUST; blood counts should be done every 2 weeks
What is the prototype drug for NRTIs?
Zidovudine (Retrovir)
What drug class does Retrovir belong to?
It is the brand name for Zidovudine and it belongs to NRTIs (Antiretroviral)
What drug class does Zidovudine belong to?
Antiretroviral: NRTIs
What are some drug interactions to consider for NRTIs? ( Prototype: Zidovudine)
- If zidovudine is combined with cyclosporine, it can cause severe drowsiness and lethargy
- Rifampin and ritonavir can decrease zidovudine levels
- Methadone, probenecid, and valproic acid can increase zidovudine levels.
- Alcohol may increase blood levels
What are some cautions/contraindications for NRTIs?
- Tenofovivir, zidovudine, and emtricitabine should be cautioned in hepatic dysfunction or severe renal impairment
- Caution zidovudine in any bone marrow suppression because it can aggravate it.
- HIV patients shouldn’t breastfeed
Pharmacokinetics for Zidovudine?
Available PO and IV.
Peak level: 30 to 75 mins
Metabolized in the liver and excreted in urine
Half-life: 1 hour
What is an important fact to remember about NRTIs?
They are often prescribed in pairs for combination therapy
What is the therapeutic effect for NRTIs?
It slows the progression of HIV. It increases the CD4 cell counts and decreases viral load.
What does NRTI stand for?
Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
True or False: NRTIs are used to treat HIV.
True
Fill in the blank: NRTIs work by inhibiting the activity of __________.
reverse transcriptase
Which of the following is a common NRTI? A) Ritonavir B) Zidovudine C) Efavirenz
B) Zidovudine
What is the primary mechanism of action for NRTIs?
They mimic the structure of nucleotides and get incorporated into viral DNA, leading to chain termination.
Name one side effect commonly associated with NRTIs.
Lactic acidosis
True or False: NRTIs can be used in combination with other classes of antiretrovirals.
True
Which NRTI is known as AZT?
Zidovudine
Short answer: What is the significance of the ‘nucleoside’ in NRTI?
It refers to the drug’s structure, which is similar to natural nucleosides used in DNA synthesis.
What is the primary use of anthelmintic agents?
To treat infections caused by parasitic worms.
Which two anthelmintic agents are widely studied?
Mebendazole and ivermectin.
