Contraindications Flashcards
5α reductase inhibitors
finasteride
❌ Pregnant
α-blockers
doxazosin, tamsulosin, alfuzosin
⚠️ Postural hypotension
💊 Beta-blockers to avoid first-dose hypotension
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors
donepezil, rivastigmine
⚠️ Asthma
⚠️ COPD
⚠️ High risk of developing peptic ulcers
⚠️ Rivastigmine may worsen Parkinson’s
❌ Heart block
❌ Sick sinus syndrome
💊 NSAIDs
💊 Corticosteroids
💊 Antipsychotics
💊 Beta-blockers
Activated charcoal
⚠️ Reduced level of consciousness (unless airway protected)
⚠️ Persistent vomiting
⚠️ Reduced gut motility
Adenosine
⚠️ COPD
⚠️ Heart transplant patients
❌ Hypotension
❌ Coronary ischaemia
❌ Decompensated heart failure
❌ Asthma
Adrenaline
epinephrine
✅ No contraindications in cardiac arrest
⚠️ Heart disease
💊 Beta-blockers
❌ Areas supplied by an end-artery
Aldosterone antagonists
spironolactone, eplerenone
⚠️ Pregnant/lactating women
❌ Severe renal impairment
❌ Hyperkalaemia
❌ Addison’s disease
💊 Potassium-elevating drugs e.g. ACE inhibitors, ARBs
Alginates and antacids
gaviscon, peptac
⚠️ Thickened milk preparations
⚠️ Renal failure
Allopurinol
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
❌ Acute attacks of gout
❌ Recurrent skin rash
❌ Severe hypersensitivity to allopurinol
💊 Azathioprine
💊 ACE inhibitors
Aminoglycosides
gentamicin, amikacin, neomycin
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Neonates
⚠️ Elderly patients
💊 Loop diuretics
💊 Vancomycin
💊 Ciclosporin
💊 Cephalosporins
Aminosalicylates
mesalazine, sulfasalazine
❌ Aspirin hypersensitivity
Amiodarone
⚠️ Severe hypotension
⚠️ Heart block
⚠️ Active thyroid disease
💊 Digoxin
💊 Diltiazem
💊 Verapamil
ACE inhibitors
ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril
⚠️ Pregnant
⚠️ Breastfeeding
⚠️ CKD
❌ Renal artery stenosis
❌ Acute kidney injury
💊 Potassium-elevating drugs
💊 NSAIDs
Angiotensin receptor blockers
losartan, candesartan, irbesartan
⚠️ Pregnant
⚠️ Breastfeeding
⚠️ CKD
❌ Renal artery stenosis
❌ Acute kidney injury
💊 Potassium-elevating drugs
💊 NSAIDs
Antidepressants
tricyclics; amitriptyline, lofepramine
⚠️ Elderly ⚠️ Epilepsy ⚠️ Cardiovascular disease ⚠️ Prostatic hypertrophy ⚠️ Glaucoma ⚠️ Constipation
❌ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Antidepressants
venfalaxine, mirtazapine
⚠️ Elderly
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Arrhythmias
💊 Other antidepressants
Antiemetics - dopamine D2-receptor antagonists
metoclopramide, domperidone
⚠️ Children ⚠️ Young adults ⚠️ Hepatic impairment ⚠️ Intestinal obstruction ⚠️ Parkinson's disease
❌ Neonates
❌ Cardiac conduction abnormalities
❌ Bowel perforation
❌ Dopaminergic agents for Parkinson’s
💊 Antipsychotics
💊 Drugs that prolong the QT interval
💊 CYP inhibitors
Antiemetics - histamine H1-receptor antagonists
cyclizine, cinanrizine, promethazine
⚠️ Hepatic encephalopathy
⚠️ Prostatic enlargement
Antiemetics - serotonin 5-HT3-receptor antagonists
ondansetron, granisetron
⚠️ Prolonged QT interval
💊 Drugs that prolong the QT interval
Antifungal drugs
nystatin, clotrimazole, fluconazole
⚠️ Liver disease
⚠️ Moderate renal impairment
❌ Pregnant
💊 Drugs that are metabolised by CYP enzymes 💊 Carbamazepine 💊 Warfarin 💊 Diazepam 💊 Simvastatin 💊 Sulphonylureas 💊 Clopidogrel 💊 Drugs that prolong the QR interval
Antihistamines - H1-receptor antagonists)
cetirizine, loratadine, fexofenadine, chlorpgenamine
⚠️ Severe liver disease
Antimotility drugs
loperamide, codeine phosphate
⚠️ Acute UC
⚠️ C. difficile colitis
⚠️ Acute bloody diarrhoea
Antimuscarinics - bronchodilators
ipratropium, tiotropoium, glycopyrronium, aclidinium
⚠️ Angle-closure glaucoma
⚠️ Arrhythmias
⚠️ Urinary retention
Antimuscarinics - cardiovascular and GI uses
atropine, hyoscine butylbromide, glycopyrronium
⚠️ Angle-closure glaucoma
⚠️ Arrhythmias
Antimuscarinics - GU uses
oxybutynin, tolterodine, solifenacin
⚠️ Angle-closure glaucoma ⚠️ Arrhythmias ⚠️ Urinary retention ⚠️ Elderly ⚠️ Dementia
❌ Urinary tract infection
💊 Tricyclic antidepressants
Antipsychotics - 1st generation (typical)
haloperidol, chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine
⚠️ Elderly
⚠️ Dementia
⚠️ Parkinson’s
💊 Drugs that prolong the QT interval
Antipsychotics - 2nd generation (atypical)
quetiapine, olanzapine, risperidone, clozapine
⚠️ Cardiovascular diseases
❌ Severe heart disease
❌ Neutropenia
💊 Dopamine-blocking antiemetics
💊 Drugs that prolong the QT interval
Antiviral drugs
aciclovir
⚠️ Pregnant women
⚠️ Breastfeeding
⚠️ Severe renal impairment
Antiplatelet drugs - ADP-receptor antagonists
clopidogrel, ticagrelor, prasugrel
⚠️ Elective surgery
⚠️ Renal and hepatic impairment
❌ Active bleeding
💊 CYP inhibitors and inducers
💊 Antiplatelet drugs
💊 Anticoagulants
💊 NSAIDs
Antiplatelet drugs
aspirin
⚠️ Peptic ulceration
⚠️ Gout
❌ Children under 16
❌ Aspirin hypersensitivity
❌ Third trimester of pregnancy
💊 Antiplatelet drugs
💊 Anticoagulants
Azathioprine
⚠️ Reduced TPMT activity
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
⚠️ Pregnancy
❌ Absent TPMT activity
💊 Allopurinol
💊 Trimethoprim
💊 Warfarin
β-blockers
bisoprolol, atenolol, propanolol, metoprolol, carvedilol
⚠️ Heart failure
⚠️ Haemodynamic instability
⚠️ Hepatic failure
❌ Asthma
❌ Heart block
❌ Verapamil
❌ Diltiazem
β2-agonists
salbutamol, terbutaline, salmeterol, formoterol, indacaterol
⚠️ Cardiovascular disease
Benzodiazepines
diazepam, temazepam, lorazepam, chlordiazepoxide, midazolam
⚠️ Elderly
⚠️ Respiratory impairment
⚠️ Neuromuscular disease
⚠️ Liver failure
💊 CYP inhibitors
💊 Amiodarone
💊 Fluconazole
Bisphosphonates
alendronic acid, disodium pamidronate, zoledronic acid
⚠️ Smokers
⚠️ Dental disease
❌ Severe renal impairment
❌ Hypocalcaemia
❌ Upper GI disorders
💊 Calcium salts
💊 Antacids
Calcium and vitamin D
calcium carbonate, calcium gluconate, colecalciferol, alfacalcidol
❌ Hypercalcaemia
💊 Sodium bicarbonate
Calcium channel blockers
amlodipine, nifedipine, dilitiazem, verapamil
⚠️ Poor left ventricular function
⚠️ AV nodal conduction delay
❌ Unstable angina
❌ Severe aortic stenosis
❌ Beta-blockers
Carbamazepine
⚠️ Pregnancy
⚠️ Hepatic disease
⚠️ Renal disease
⚠️ Cardiac disease
❌ Antiepileptic hypersensitivity syndrome
💊 Warfarin 💊 Oestrogens 💊 Progestogens 💊 Macrolides 💊 Antipsychotics 💊 Tramadol
Cephalosporins and carbapenems
cefalexin, cefotazime, meropenem, ertapenem
⚠️ At risk of C. difficile infection
⚠️ Epilepsy
⚠️ Renal impairment
❌ Allergy
❌ Anaphylactic reaction
💊 Valproate
Chloramphenicol
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
❌ Hypersensitivity reactions ❌ Bone marrow disorders ❌ Third trimester of pregnancy ❌ Breastfeeding ❌ Children <2 years
Corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) - inhaled
beclometasone, budesonide, fluticasone
⚠️ History of pneumonia
⚠️ Children
Corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) - systemic
prednisolone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone
⚠️ Infection
⚠️ Children
💊 NSAIDs 💊 B2-agonists Theophylline 💊 Loop or thiazide diuretics 💊 Phenytoin 💊 Carbamazepine 💊 Rifampicin
Corticosteroids (glucocorticoids) - topical
hydrocortisone, betamethasone
⚠️ Infection
⚠️ Facial lesions
Digoxin
⚠️ Renal failure
⚠️ Hypokalaemia
⚠️ Hypomagnesaemia
⚠️ Hypercalcaemia
❌ Second-degree heart block
❌ Intermittent complete heart block
❌ Ventricular arrhythmias
Dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitors
sitagliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin
⚠️ Elderly (>80)
⚠️ History of pancreatitis
⚠️ Moderate-to-severe renal impairment
❌ Hypersensitivity
❌ T1DM
❌ Ketoacidosis
💊 Other anti-diabetics increase risk of hypoglycaemia
💊 Prednisolone
💊 Thiazide
💊 Loop diuretics
Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)
apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, rivaroxaban
⚠️ Hepatic disease
⚠️ Renal disease
❌ Active, clinically significant bleeding ❌ Risk factors for major bleeding ❌ Pregnancy ❌ Breastfeeding ❌ Rifampicin ❌ Phenytoin
💊 Other antithrombotic agents increase risk of bleeding
💊 Macrolides
💊 Protease inhibitors
💊 Fluconazole
Loop diuretics
furosemide, bumetanide
⚠️ Hepatic encephalopathy
⚠️ Hypokalaemia
⚠️ Hyponatraemia
⚠️ Gout
❌ Hypovolaemia
❌ Dehydration
💊 Lithium
💊 Digoxin
💊 Aminoglycosides
Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics
bendroflumethiazide, indapamide, chlortalidone
⚠️ Hyponatraemia
⚠️ Gout
❌ Hypokalaemia
💊 Loop diuretics
Dopaminergic drugs for Parkinson’s disease
levodopa as co-careldopa/co-beneldopa, ropinirole, premipexol
⚠️ Elderly
⚠️ Cognitive or psychiatric disease
⚠️ Cardiovascular disease
💊 First-generation antipsychotics
💊 Metoclopramide
Fibrinolytic drugs
alteplase, streptokinase
❌ Bleeding
❌ Intracranial haemorrhage
❌ Previous streptokinase treatment
💊 Anticoagulants and antiplatelets increase risk of haemorrhage
Gabapetin and pregablin
⚠️ Renal impairment
💊 Sedating drugs
Heparins and fondaparinux
enoxaparin, dalteparin, fondaparinux, unfractioned heparin
⚠️ Clotting disorders ⚠️ Severe uncontrolled hypertension ⚠️ Recent surgery or trauma ⚠️ Invasive procedures ⚠️ Renal impairment
Insulin
insulin aspart, insulin glargine, biphasic insulin, soluble insulin
⚠️ Renal impairment
Iron
ferrous fumarate, ferrous sulfate
⚠️ Intestinal disease
⚠️ Atopic predisposition
💊 Can reduce absorption of levothyroxine and bisphosphonates
Lamotrigine
⚠️ Hypersensitivity to other antiepileptic drugs
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
💊 Carbamazepine 💊 Phenytoin 💊 Oestrogens 💊 Rifampicin 💊 Protease inhibitors 💊 Valproate
Laxatives - osmotic
lactulose, macrogol, phosphate enema
⚠️ Heart failure
⚠️ Ascites
⚠️ Electrolyte disturbances
❌ Intestinal obstruction
Laxatives - stimulant
senna, bisacodyl, glycerol suppositories, docusate sodium
⚠️ Haemorrhoids
⚠️ Anal fissures
❌ Intestinal obstruction
Leukotriene receptor antagonists
montelukast
⚠️ Asthma
Levetiracetam
⚠️ Renal impairment
Lidocaine
⚠️ Reduced cardiac output
Macrolides
clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin
⚠️ Severe hepatic impairment
⚠️ Severe renal impairment
❌ Macrolide hypersensitivity
💊 Warfarin 💊 Statins 💊 Amiodarone 💊 Antipsychotics 💊 Quinine 💊 Quinolone antibiotics 💊 SSRIs
Metformin
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
⚠️ Acute alcohol intoxication
⚠️ Chronic alcohol abuse
❌ Severe tissue hypoxia
❌ Acute kidney injury
💊 IV contrast media
Methotrexate
⚠️ Abnormal liver function
❌ Pregnancy
❌ Severe renal impairment
💊 NSAIDs
💊 Penicillins
💊 Trimethoprim
💊 Clozapine
Metronidazole
⚠️ Severe liver disease
❌ Alcohol
💊 Warfarin
Naloxone
⚠️ Opioid dependence
⚠️ Palliative care
Nitrates
isosorbide mononitrate, glyceryl trinitrate
❌ Severe aortic stenosis
❌ Haemodynamic instability
❌ Hypotension
❌ Phosphodiesterase inhibitors
Nitrofurantoin
❌ Pregnant women towards term
❌ Babies in the first 3 months of life
❌ Renal impairment
NSAIDs
naproxen, ibuprofen, etoricoxib
⚠️ Peptic ulcer disease
⚠️ GI bleeding
⚠️ Cardiovascular disease
⚠️ Renal impairment
❌ Severe renal impairment
❌ Heart failure
❌ Liver failure
💊 Aspirin 💊 Corticosteroids 💊 Anticoagulants 💊 SSRIs 💊 ACE inhibitors 💊 Diuretics
Oestrogens and progestogens
combined ethinylestradiol products, desogestrel
⚠️ Family history of VTE
⚠️ Cardiovascular disease
❌ Personal history of VTE
❌ Breast cancer
❌ Known thrombogenic mutation
💊 Rifampicin
💊 Carabamazepine
💊 Lamotrigine
Opioids - strong
morphine, oxycodone
⚠️ Hepatic failure ⚠️ Renal impairment ⚠️ Elderly ⚠️ Respiratory failure ⚠️ Biliary colic ⚠️ In combi with other sedating drugs
Opioids - weak/moderate
tramadol, codeine, dihydrocodeine
⚠️ Significant respiratory disease ⚠️ Renal impairment ⚠️ Hepatic impairment ⚠️ Elderly ⚠️ Other sedating drugs
❌ Uncontrolled epilepsy
💊 Drugs that lower seizure threshold e.g. antipsychotics 💊 Serotonergic drugs 💊 SSRIs 💊 Tricyclic antidepressants 💊 Tramadol
Paracetamol
⚠️ Chronic excessive alcohol use
⚠️ Malnutrition
⚠️ Low body weight
⚠️ Severe hepatic impairment
Penicillins
benzylpenicilin, phenoxymethylpenicillin
⚠️ Renal impairment
❌ Penicillin allergy
💊 Methotrexate
Penicillins - antipseudomonal
piperacilllin with tazobactam - tazocin
⚠️ C. difficile infection
⚠️ Moderate/severe renal impairment
❌ Penicillin allergy
💊 Methotrexate
Penicillins - broad-spectrum
amoxicillin, co-amoxiclav
⚠️ C. difficile infection
⚠️ Penicillin-associated liver injury
⚠️ Severe renal impairment
❌ Penicillin allergy history
Penicillins - penicillinase-resistant
flucloxacillin
⚠️ C. difficile infection
⚠️ Renal failure
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
❌ Penicillin allergy history
❌ Prior flucloxacillin-related hepatotoxicity
💊 Methotrexate
Phosphodiesterase (type 5) inhibitors
sildenafil
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
⚠️ Renal impairment
❌ Stroke
❌ Acute coronary syndrome
❌ Cardiovascular disease
💊 Nitrates 💊 Nicorandil 💊 Vasodilators 💊 Amiodarone 💊 Diltiazem 💊 Fluconazole
Prostaglandin analogue of eye drops
latanoprost, bimatoprost
⚠️ Aphakia/pseudoaphakia
⚠️ Iritis, uveitis or macular oedema
Protein pump inhibitors
lansoprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole
⚠️ Osteoporosis
💊 Clopidogrel
Quinine
quinine sulfate
⚠️ Hearing or visual loss
⚠️ First trimester of pregnancy
⚠️ Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
💊 Drugs that prolong the QT interval (amiodarone, antipsychotics, quinolones, macrolides, SSRIs)
Quinolones
ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin
⚠️ Seizures
⚠️ Children
⚠️ QT prolongation
💊 Theophylline
💊 NSAIDs
💊 Prednisolone
💊 Drugs that prolong the QT interval (amiodarone, antipsychotics, quinine, macrolides, SSRIs)
Serotonin 5HT1-receptor agonists
sumatriptan
❌ Coronary artery disease ❌ Cerebrovascular disease ❌ Hemiplegic migraines ❌ Basilar migraines ❌ Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (tramadol, SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants)
Sex hormone antagonists for breast cancer
tamoxifen, anastrozole, letrozole
❌ Pregnancy ❌ Lactation ❌ Pre-menopausal women ❌ Warfarin ❌ Fluoxetine ❌ Paroxetine
Statins
simvastatin, atorvastatin, pravastatin, rosuvastatin
⚠️ Renal impairment ⚠️ Hepatic impairment ⚠️ Pregnant ⚠️ Breastfeeding ⚠️ Amiodarone ⚠️ Diltiazem ⚠️ Itraconazole ⚠️ Macrolides ⚠️ Amlodipine
Sulphonylureas
glicazide
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Increased risk of hypoglycaemia
Tetracyclines
doxycycline, lymecycline
⚠️ Children 12 and under
⚠️ Renal impairment
❌ Pregnancy
❌ Breastfeeding
Thyroid hormones
levothyroxine, liothyronine
⚠️ Coronary artery disease
⚠️ Hypopituitarism
Trimethoprim
trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole
⚠️ Folate deficiency ⚠️ Renal impairment ⚠️ Neonates ⚠️ Elderly ⚠️ HIV infection
❌ First trimester of pregnancy
Valproate (valproic acid)
sodium valproate, valproic acid
⚠️ Hepatic impairment
⚠️ Severe renal impairment
❌ Women of child-bearing age
❌ Conception
❌ First trimester of pregnancy
💊 Lamotrigine 💊 Warfarin 💊 Carbamazepine 💊 Phenytoin 💊 Macrolides 💊 Protease inhibitors 💊 Antipsychotics 💊 Tramadol
Vancomycin
⚠️ Renal impairment
⚠️ Elderly
💊 Aminoglycosides
💊 Loop diuretics
💊 Ciclosporin
Vitamins
folic acid, thiamine, hydroxocobalamin, phytomenadione
⚠️ Co-existing vitamin B12 and folate deficiency
Warfarin
⚠️ Liver disease
❌ Immediate risk of haemorrhage
❌ Pregnancy
💊 Phenytoin 💊 Carbamazepine 💊 Rifampicin 💊 Fluconazole 💊 Macrolides
Z-drugs
zopiclone, zolpidem
⚠️ Elderly
❌ Obstructive sleep apnoea
❌ Respiratory muscle weakness
❌ Respiratory depression
💊 Macrolides
💊 Phenytoin
💊 Rifampicin