Core drug list for MD Flashcards
Indications for Midazolam
Conscious sedation
Induction of anaesthesia
sedation during ventilation
Premedication
Mode of action of Midazolam
Potentiates the inhibitory effects of GABA throughout the CNS, resulting in anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anterograde amnesic muscle relaxant and antiepileptic effects.
Common (>1%) adverse effects of midazolam
Hypotension
hiccup
cough
Mode of action of local anaesthetics
Reversibly interrupt impulse conduction in peripheral nerves and stabilise excitable cell membranes by blocking sodium channels, thus inhibiting depolarisation.
Main actions of aspirin
Analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and antiplatelet actions.
Mode of action of aspirin
Non selective NSAID.
Prevents synthesis of prostaglandins by non-competitively inhibiting both forms of cyclo-oxygenase (COX), COX-1 and COX-2
Indications of aspirin
Inhibition of platelet aggregation
Mild-to-moderate pain, with fixed-dose combination with codeine
Fever
Rheumatic fever
Contraindications of aspirin
Contraindicated in severe active bleeding or disease states with an increased risk of severe bleeding. e.g. bleeding disorders, erosive gastritis, or peptic ulcer disease, severe hepatic disease.
Indications of Paracetamol
Mild-to-moderate pain
Fever
Indications of codeine
mild-to-moderate pain
cough suppression
diarrhoea
What are the four main actions of opioid analgesics?
Analgesia
Respiratory depression
Sedation
Constipation
How do opioid analgesics reduce transmission of the pain impulse
act pre- and post-synaptically in the spinal cord, and modulate the descending inhibitory pathways from the brain.
In which part of the brain do opioid analgesics act to cause cough suppression?
Medulla
What are the indications for Morphine?
Moderate-to-severe pain
Opioid adjunct during general anaesthesia
For which respiratory conditions may it be acceptable to use morphine?
Acute pulmonary oedema (adjunct)
Relief of severe dyspnoea
What are the withdrawal symptoms of opioid analgesics?
Nausea vomiting diarrhoea sweating anxiety
What is the mode of action of Tramadol?
Binds to the mu opioid receptors and also inhibits reuptake of noradrenaline and serotonin.
Why should Pethidine be avoided?
Serotonergic properties
Neurotoxic metabolite (norpethidine)
Association with drug-seeking behaviour
What are the clinical features of serotonin syndrome?
Cognitive: Confusion, agitation, hypomania, hyperactivity, restlessness
Autonomic: hyperthermia, sweating, tachycardia, hypertension, mydriasis, flushing, shivering
Neuromuscular: Clonus, hyperreflexia, hypertonia, ataxia, tremor
Which opioid analgesics are implicated in severe serotonin syndrome?
Tramadol and pethidine.
To which class of antibiotics does gentamicin belong?
Aminoglycosides
What is the mode of action of aminoglycosides?
Inhibit protein synthesis by irreversibly binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit causing cell membrane damage.
Are aminoglycosides bacteriostatic or bactericidal?
Bactericidal.
What are the indications for Gentamicin?
Empirical treatment for
What are the common (>1%) adverse effects of gentamicin?
Ototoxicity
Nephrotoxicity
What is the mode of action of cephalosporins?
Interfere with bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins.
Are cephalosporins bactericidal or bacterostatic?
Bactericidal
Are cephalosporins often the drug of first choice?
no.
What are the names of four macrolides?
Azithromycin
Clarithromycin
erythromycin
roxithromycin
What is the mechanism of Macrolide antibiotics?
Bind reversibly to the 50S subunit of bacterial ribosimes. Prevent protein synthesis.
What is the mechanism of action of the Penicillins?
Interfere with bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins, eventually leading to cell lysis and death.
Are the penicillins bactericidal or static?
Bactericidal.
What are the indications for amoxycillin?
Exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, community-acquired pneumonia
Acute bacterial otitis media, sinusitis
Gonococcal infection
Acute cholecystitis, peritonitis,eradication of H. pylori.
What is the function of clavulanic acid?
Inhibits beta-lactamase, which extends spectrum of activity of amoxycillin.
What are the indications for Flucloxacillin?
Staphylococcal skin infections Pneumonia Septicaemia Osteromyelitis Surgical prophylaxis
What is the spectrum of amoxycillin with clavulanic acid?
Broad.
What is the spectrum of activity of Flucloxacillin?
Narrow.
What is the mode of action of the quinolones
Inhibit bacterial DNA synthesis by blocking DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV.
What are the indications for use of the quinolones?
Reserved for proven or suspected infections where alternative agents are ineffective or contraindicated, e.g. complicated UTIs, bone or joint infections, epididymo-orchitis, prostatitis.
What is an example of a quinolone?
Ciprofloxacin
What is the mechanism of action of the Tetracyclines?
Inhibit bacterial protein synthesis by reversibly binding to 30S subunit of the ribosome.
Why are tetracyclines contraindicated in children
Because they discolour teeth and cause enamel dysplasia, which increases the risk of dental caries.
What are the indications for Doxycycline?
Acne Rosacea Infections caused by M. pneumonia Exacerbation of chronic bronchitis acute bacterial sinusitis PID Sexually acquired epididymo-orchitis Prophylaxis for malaria
What is the mode of action of trimethoprim?
Bacteriostatic. Competitively inhibits bacterial folate production essential for bacterial growth.
What are the indications for Trimethoprim?
Empirical treatment for uncomplicated lower UTIs
Epidymo-orchitis (urinary tract source)
Prostatitis (acute or chronic)
What is the mechanism of action of the Azole antifungals?
Fungistatic. Impair the synthesis of ergosterol in fungal cell membranes, leading to their breakdown. Cell leakage and death occur by lytic activity of the host defence system.
What is the name of one Azole antifungal?
Fluconazole
What are the indications for Fluconazole?
Acute or recurrent mucocutaneous candidiasis
Vulvovaginal candidiasis where topical therapy has failed.
Tinea corporis, cruris, or pedis resistant to topical therapy.
To which class of drugs does Acyclovir belong?
Guanine analogue
What is the mechanism of action of the Guanine analogues?
Following phosphorylation by viral and cellular enzymes, guanine analogues inhibit viral DNA polymerase and DNA synthesis
What are the indications for Aciclovir?
Treatment and prevention of herpes simplex infections
Shingles
What is the mechanism of action of Frusemide?
Inhibit reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the ascending limb of the loop of Henle. This site accounts for retention of approximately 20% of filtered sodium.
What are the indications for Frusemide?
Oedema associated with heart failure, hepatic cirrhosis, renal impairment and nephrotic syndrome.
Also accepted as treatment for severe hypercalcaemia (with adequate rehydration)
To which class of drugs does Frusemide belong?
Loop diuretics
What is the mode of action of glyceryl trinitrate?
Provide exogenous source of nitric oxide (which mediates vasodilator effects). Predominantly venodilators; reduce venous return and preload to the heart, reducing myocardial oxygen requirement.
Indications for glyceryl trinitrate
Prevention and treatment of stable angina
Heart failure associated with acute MI (infusion)
What is the mechanism of action of thiazide diuretics?
Inhibit reabsorption of sodium and chloride in the proximal (diluting) segment of the distal convoluted tubule, increasing the delivery of sodium to the collecting tubules, and producing a corresponding increase in potassium excretion.
What is the mechanism of action of thiazides when used in low doses to treat hypertension?
Lower BP mostly by a vasodilator effect.
What are the indications for thiazides?
Hypertension
Oedema associated with heart failure or hepatic cirrhosis.
Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
What is the mechanism of action of ACE-inhibitors?
Block conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II and also inhibit the breakdown of bradykinin. Reduce the effects of angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction, sodium retention and aldosterone release.
What are the indications for ACE-inhibitors
Hypertension
chronic systolic heart failure as part of standard treatment
Diabetic nephropathy
Post MI