Drugs for fun

Question 1

Glyceryl trinitrate spray / tablet

Answer 1

‘Angina spray’ - helps relieve pain/ discomfort usually felt in the chest by opening up the coronary arteries and improve blood supply to heart muscle

Question 2

Diazepam

Answer 2

Used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms and seizures/ fits (status epilepticus = seizure lasting longer than 5 minutes, or having more than 1 seizure in a 5 minute period)

Highly lipophilic so crosses the BBB easily; increases levels of GABA in brain (lessens the ability of neuron to create, receive, or send messages from/ to other neurons in the brain)

Metabolised to nordiazepam. If levels of diazepam and nordiazepam together increase -> toxicity (side effects: slurred speech, sedation, ataxia)

Question 3

Insulin

Answer 3

Helps move sugar from the blood into other tissues, where it is used/ converted into energy

Question 4

Salbutamol

Answer 4

Relieves asthma symptoms and of COPD by relaxing the muscles of the airways into the lungs - makes it easier to breathe

Question 5

Morphine

Answer 5

Works in the central nervous system by blocking pain signals to the rest of the body (also reduces anxiety/ stress caused by pain)

Question 6

Adrenaline

Answer 6

Can be administered as bolus injections for anaphylaxis (allergic reaction), severe asthma attacks, cardiac arrests, severe bradycardia, and asystole. It increases heart rate by vasoconstriction and causes bronchodilation (relaxes smooth muscles in airways).

Question 7

Nitrous oxide

Answer 7

Causes the brain to release noradrenaline, which inhibits pain signalling throughout the body.

Anaesthesia- mild analgesic effect during surgical procedures at subanaesthetic concentrations

Recreationally- inhalation can induce euphoria, relaxation, and a hallucinogenic state

Question 8

Topical steroid creams

Answer 8

Reduce inflammation/ irritation. Steroid molecules interact with DNA to produce lipocortin proteins which block the production of arachidonic acid (chemical central to the inflammatory response)

Question 9

Voltarol (NSAID)

Answer 9

Pain relief + reduces inflammation. Work by inhibiting COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, thereby preventing the production of prostaglandins (chemical messengers promoting inflammation, pain, fever).

Question 10

Diclofenac

Answer 10

Painkillers. Used to treat gout

Question 11

Tetracyclines

Answer 11

Antibiotics - inhibit bacterial protein synthesis

Question 12

Cholestyramine

Answer 12

Lowers cholesterol by binding bile acids in the GI tract, preventing them from being absorbed and instead facilitating excretion via kidney

Question 13

Charcoal solution

Answer 13

Given to counter alcohol poisoning. Upon absorption in the stomach/ small intestine, stops any more drug (aka ethanol, aka alcohol) from getting into the systemic circulation

Question 14

Tolbutamide

Answer 14

Hypoglycaemic agent (diabetes)

Question 15

Ibuprofen

Answer 15

Analgesic, antipyretic

Question 16

Salicyclic acid

Answer 16

Psoriasis, analgesic

Question 17

Carbamazepine

Answer 17

anticonvulsant (epilepsy)

Question 18

Phenacetin

Answer 18

Prodrug (analgesic, metabolised to paracetamol)

Question 19

Codeine

Answer 19

Prodrug (analgesic effect, also used recreationally but must be metabolised first - to morphine)

Question 20

Amphetamine

Answer 20

Used for ADHD/ narcolepsy, or recreationally

Question 21

Clozapine

Answer 21

Schizophrenia (metabolised to clozapine N-oxide)

Question 22

Paracetamol

Answer 22

Treats mild to moderate pain (one of its metabolites is NAPQI)

Question 23

Halothane

Answer 23

Volatile inhalation anaesthetic metabolised to trifluoroacetic acid