Drugs and Medications Flashcards
Explain: Antibiotics
Use: bacterial infections
Types:
- Broad spectrum: effective against Gram-positive and Gram negative bacteria
- Narrow Spectrum: effective against fewer species
Main Antibiotics:
Chemical group- beta lactams: Benzylpenicillin (effective against Gram + bacteria only), Ampicillin (effective against Gram - bacteria)
- These target the bacteria’s cell wall, weakening it causing the bacteria cell to burst and die
Chemical group- Aminoglycosides: Gentamicin (effective against Gram - bacteria)
- These target the bacteria’s protein synthesis
Explain: Ampicillin
Antibiotic-Penicillin
Category A
Indications: bacterial infections- respiratory tract, UTI, bacterial meningitis, GIT infections
Dose: Na 2.7 mmol/g; powder for reconstitution with water vial
- IM
- IV
Adverse reactions:
- Superinfection; pseudomembranous colitis
- GI upset
- hypersensitivity incl rash and anaphylaxis
Precautions:
- Sore throat, pharyngitis (infectious mononucleosis risk)
- lymphatic leukaemia
- prolonged use
Contraindications: previous hypersensitivity reaction to any penicillin drug
Susceptible bacteria (ampicillin injection): Gram+ - Strep pneumoniae - Listeria monocytogenes Gram - - H. Influenzae - N. Gonorrhoeae - E. Coli
Explain: Gentamicin
Antibiotic (Aminoglycoside antibiotic)
Category D
Indications: Infection- bacterial septicemia, CNS infections (meningitis), UTI, skin/bone/ soft tissue infections
Dose:
- IM
- IV
Adverse reactions:
- allergic reaction;
- superinfection;
- rash
- GI upset
- respiratory effect
Precautions:
- Renal impairment, dialysis
- dehydration
- aminoglycoside allergy
Contraindications:
- Previous toxic reaction (oto/ nephrotoxicity) to aminoglycoside therapy
Susceptible bacteria: Gram+ - Staphylococcus species Gram- - Citrobacter species - Enterobacter species
Explain: Methyldopa
Brand: Aldomet
Anti hypertensive
Category A
Indication: Mild-severe hypertension
Dose:
- initially 250 mg 2-3 times daily for 48 hrs; max 3 g/day
Adverse reaction:
- Abnormal LFTs, fever, jaundice
- sedation, asthenia, weakness, headache
- GI Upset
- Rash
Contraindications:
- active hepatic disease
Action: acts centrally in the brainstem to oppose the actions of adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine) and doapmine
Cause:
- inhibits the sympathetic nervous system, causing vasodilation and brachycardia which reduces BP
Explain: Beta blockers
used to manage pregnancy associated hypertension
Action: They block adrenaline receptors by acting as antagonists
Cause: lower BP by reducing heart rate and cardiac output
Explain: Clexane
Generic: Enoxaparin sodium
Anticoagulant (SC)
Category C
Indications:
- Prevention of thrombo-embolic disorders of venous origin in surgical patients
- Treatment of established DVT
- Prophylaxis for bed ridden patients
Dose: SC
- 20mg/40mg/60/80mg
- mild-mod risk 5-7days
- mod-high risk 7-10 days
Contraindications:
- Allergy to CLEXANE, heparin or its derivatives
- Acute bacterial endocarditis
- Conditions with a high risk of uncontrolled haemorrhage
Precautions:
- conditions that increase risk of bleeding
- uncontrolled arterial hypertension
- BF women
Adverse effects
- anaemia
- nausea
- diarrhoea
- peripheral oedema
Explain: Fragmin
Generic: Dalteparin sodium
Anticoagulant/Antithrombotic
Category C
Dose:
- IV injection or SC
- 2 500 IU subcutaneously each morning until the patient is mobilised, in general 5 – 7 days
Indications:
- Prophylaxis against thromboembolic complications in the peri- or postoperative period of
surgery
- Prophylaxis against thrombotic complications
- Treatment of acute DVT
- Extended treatment of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) (proximal deep vein
thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism)
Adverse reaction:
- Inj site pain,
- haematoma
- major bleeding event
- allergic reaction incl anaphylaxis
- thrombocytopenia
Contraindications:
- Hypersensitivity to fragmin, ot other low molecular weight heparins
- Ulcerative conditions
- Sympathetic block. Spinal and epidural puncture
Precautions
- Epidural or spinal anaethesia
- conditions with high risk of haemorrhage
- Osteporosis
- BF women
Interactions
- Enchanced anticoag effect with aspirin, NSAIDS, Vit K antagnosit
- Reduced coag effect with antihistamines, ascorbic acid
Explain: Cartia
Generic: Duentric coated low dose aspirin
Anticoagulant/ Antithrombotic
Use: helps reduce blood stickiness, the tendency to clot
Dose:
- 100mg 1 tab same time daily
Adverse reactions:
- heartburn
- nausea
- Rashes
- increased bleeding
- GI haemorrhage
Contraindications:
- allergy to NSAIDs or aspirin
- Pregnant or BF
- bleeding/clotting disorders
- severe kidney/liver failure
Precautions:
- Peptic ulcer,
- bronchial asthma;
- renal, hepatic impairment
- preop
Explain: Caffeine Citrate (Neonate medication)
Generic: Caffeine citrate/ Methylxanthine
Respiratory agent
Category A
Indication: Short-term treatment of apnoea of prematurity in infants (gestational age 28-< 33 wks)
Dose:
- IV Injection
40 mg/2 mL (Loading dose. 20 mg/kg IV and 5 mg/kg once daily IV)
- Oral Solution 25 mg/5 mL (5 mg/kg once daily)
Adverse reactions:
- irritability, jitteriness, restlessness
- fast heart beat
- stomach upset or vomiting
- rash
- passing large amounts of urine
Contraindications:
- allergy to caffeine or citrate
Interactions: - asthma medications - antibiotics - medicines containing caffeine - Cimetidine: used to trest reflux and ulcers - benzodiazapines and others....
Explain: Curosurf (Neonate medication)
Generic: Poractant alfa
Respiratory agent
Category ?
Indications: Pulmonary surfactant.
- Respiratory distress syndrome treatment in premature infants
Dose:
- Initial: Intratracheal Suspension is 2.5 mL/kg birth weight
- Repeat: Up to 2 repeat doses of 1.25 mL/kg birth weight, 12hr intervals
Precautions:
- Correction of acidosis, hypotension, anemia, hypoglycemia,
and hypothermia is recommended prior to CUROSURF
administration
Adverse effects:
- Transient: brachycardia, hypotension, endotracheal tube blockage and oxygen desaturation
Explain: Epilim
Generic: Sodium Valproate
Anticonvulsant, antipsychotic
Category D
Indication: epilepsy or mania
Dose:
- Adults: initially 600 mg/day,
- may inc.r by 200 mg/day at 3 day intervals
Adverse reactions:
- Incr suicide risk;
- neurological, reproductive, hepatic dysfunction
- GI upset
- tremor
- convulsion
Precautions:
- Abrupt withdrawal (incl in pregnancy);
- severe seizures
- neurological, renal impairment
- surgery;
- diabetes (syrup);
- thrombocytopenia;
- SLE
Contraindications:
- pregnancy
- Pre-existing hepatic dysfunction
- severe hepatitis family history
- known urea cycle disorder
Interactions:
- Other anticonvulsants eg phenytoin, phenobarbital etc
- CNS depressants incl alcohol
- Anticoagulants
- Antidepressants
Explain: Tegretol
Generic: Carbamazepine
Anticonvulsant, neurotropic/psychotropic
Category D
Indication: Epilepsy, terigeminal neuralgia
Dose:
- > 15 yrs: initially 100-200 mg 1-2 times daily;
- may incr to 400 mg 2-3 times daily
Adverse reactions:
- CNS (eg dizziness, ataxia, somnolence, fatigue, headache, diplopia),
- endocrine (eg oedema, hyponatraemia)
- hepatic disturbance
- blurred vision
- GI upset
Precautions:
- Not for status epilepticus, trivial facial pain, headache
- mixed seizure disorder
- cardiac, hepatic, renal impairment history
Contraindications:
- Hypersensitivity to structurally related drugs eg TCAs
- SLE
- bone marrow depression history
- hepatic failure
Interactions:
- HIV protease inhibitors
- oral anticoagulants
- Ca channel blockers
- inducers (incl other anticonvulsants, St John’s wort)
Explain: Lamictal
Generic: Lamotrigine
Antiepileptic (substituted asymmetric triazine antiepileptic)
Category D
Indication: partial and generalised seizures in adults and children.
Dose:
- 1-2 mg doses as 2 mg every 2nd day for 1st 2 wks
Adverse reactions:
- GI upset;
- incr suicidality risk;
- Severe, potentially life threatening rashes
- alopecia
- hypersensitivity incl fever,
- facial oedema
Precautions:
- Excessive initial dose,
- rapid dose escalation;
- abrupt withdrawal
Contraindications:
- Lamotrigine is contraindicated in individuals with known hypersensitivity to lamotrigine, or to
any other ingredient in Lamictal Tablets
Interactions:
- phenobarbital
- Na valproate
- hormonal contraceptives
Explain: Syntocinon
Generic: Oxytocin
Uterine stimulant
Category A
Indication:
- IOL
- 3rd stage management
- Em. PPH management
Dose:
IOL: IV
3rd stage: 5-10IU IM
Em. PPH : 40 units IV
Adverse reactions:
- rash, itching
- nausea
- abdominal pain
- dizziness, light headedness
- brady/tachycardia
Precautions:
- severe pre-eclamptic toxaemia
- CV disorder
- renal impairment
Contraindications:
- fetal distress
- abnormal fetal presentation
- cord prolapse
- grand multip
- placenta praevia, vasa praevia
Explain: Methadone Syrup
Generic: Methadone Hydrochloride
Synthetic opioid analgesic
Category C
Indication:
- treatment of dependence on opioids (Heroine)
- treatment of severe pain
Dose:
dependence- 10-20mg/day
Severe pain- 5-10mg every 6-8hrs
Adverse reactions:
- dpendence/tolerance
- respiratory depression
- GI upset
Precautions
- abrupt withdrawal
- prolonged use
- pregnancy/lactation
Contraindications:
- hypertension
- respiratory depression
- acute asthma
