Common mistakes + Imperial tips Flashcards
Carbimazole vs Carbmazepine
Carbimazole: antithyroid
Carbmazepine: antiepileptic
Chlorphenamine vs Chlorpromazine
Chlorphenamine: antihistamine
Chlorpromazine: antipsychotic
When might daily warfarin monitoring (INRs) be indicated)
Adjust the dose of warfarin in response to the INR result (it takes at least 2 days for a change in dose to have a full effect)
What is important to remember when starting vancomycin?
A loading dose of vancomycin is essential to ensure therapeutic levels are reached rapidly
Prescribe a loading dose of vancomycin based on actual body weight when initiating IV vancomycin
Loading dose is based on actual body weight and is irrespective of renal function
Which drugs are contraindicated and used cautiously in penicillin allergy?
Be aware of commonly used brand names for combination drugs which contain penicillin:
Augmentin® - coamoxiclav (contains amoxicillin and clavulanic acid) Tazocin® - piperacillin & tazobactam
What is the difference between Insulin Humalog and Humalog Mix?
In patients on long term steroids, how should these be adjusted in terms of illness?
If a patient has a fever, is prescribed antibiotics, has had a trauma or undergoing stress e.g. surgery, the glucocorticoid dose should be doubled for 3 days or until recovered.
If a patient is NBM use the IV or IM route.
Hydrocortisone is often used in Addison’s disease, but the longer acting corticosteroids prednisolone (e.g. 4mg or 3mg once daily with fludrocortisone) and dexamethasone may be used as well.
Other (non-Addison’s disease) patients who have been taking 5mg prednisolone (or equivalent) or more, long-term (>3 weeks) should be regarded as potentially suppressed and managed similarly (including those on high-dose inhaled corticosteroids), on a precautionary basis.
What is the dose of IV paracetamol for patients 50kg or less?
15mg/kg QDS
When prescribed concurrently with amlodipine, what is the maximum dose of statin that can be used?
When prescribed concurrently with amlodipine, the maximum dose of simvastatin is 20mg daily.
Amlodipine, diltiazem or verapamil can increase the levels of simvastatin, which may increase the risk of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis
What are some of the immediate and modified release versions of morphine and oxycodone?
Prescribing an overdose of an opioid can result in respiratory depression, hypotension, somnolence and central nervous system depression which can progress to stupor, coma or death
What can tacrolimus toxicity cause?
Acute Kidney Injury
What is the usual dose for Seretide Accuhaler and Evohaler?
The usual dose for Seretide Accuhaler® is 1 puff BD and for Seretide Evohaler® is 2 puffs BD.
Preparations containing phenytoin sodium (capsules and tablets) are not bioequivalent to those containing phenytoin base (chewable tablets and suspension). What is the rough coversion?
100 mg of phenytoin sodium (capsules) is approximately equivalent in therapeutic effect to 92 mg phenytoin base (oral suspension)
Which inhalers contain a LAMA?
Ipratropium nebules and Anoro Ellipta® inhaler
The use of two muscarinic receptor antagonists may lead to an increase in anti-muscarinic side effects such as urinary retention, constipation, blurred vision and dry mouth.
Why should you NOT prescribe calcium salts and ciprofloxacin together?
Simultaneous administration of products containing calcium salts (e.g. Adcal D3® or calcium syrup) with oral ciprofloxacin may reduce the absorption of ciprofloxacin by up to 50% and lead to treatment failure
