FRCPC Pharmacology Review Flashcards
What is the most common side effect of cephalosporins?
- Diarrhea
Why do we no longer use codeine to control post operative pain?
- Some children are ultra fast metabolizers of codeine and in these children there is an increased risk of mortality due to overdose
A mother wants to use nasal decongestants for her 4 year old. Why do you recommend against it?
Increased risk of rebound nasal congestion
List 5 drugs associated with pseudotumor cerebri
- Tetracyclines
- Systemic tretinoin (not topical)
- Vitamin A
- Sulfonamides
- Nalidixic acid
- Corticosteroid therapy and withdrawal
- Nitrofurantoin
- Cytarabine
- Cyclosporin
- Phenytoin
- Mesalamine
Mother is concerned about the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on her child’s height. What do you tell her?
Will lose about 1cm of his genetic height potential
What is the teratogenic effect of carbemazepine?
Neural tube defects
Asthmatic patient needs sedation. Which medication would you try to avoid because of the excess histamine release associated with it?
Morphine
What is the most common side effect of diazepam in the neonate?
Respiratory depression
Which antiepileptic medication causes bilateral renal calculi?
Topiramate
An 8 year old child is status post renal transplant and is started on clarithromycin for AOM. He had normal cyclosporine levels initially but three days later his cyclosporine levels are elevated. What is the most likely explanation?
Clarithromycin (and other macrolides) are inhibitors of the p450 enzyme system in the liver which would cause decreased metabolism of the cyclosporine.
9 year old boy is on phenytoin and valproic acid for epilepsy. Mother noticed gum hypertrophy. What would you recommend?
Discontinue the phenytoin
List 5 consequences of using anabolic steroids
- In men: Testicular atrophy, decreased sperm count, gynecomastia
- In women: acne and menstrual irregularities, hirsutism and male pattern baldness
- Cholestasis without signs of inflammation (toxic hepatitis)
- Liver cancer
- Jaundice
- Acne
- Marked striae
Child with AOM is prescribed amoxiclav in a 4:1 dose and presents with vomiting and diarrhea. What is the reason why?
Dose of clavulin is too high, should be prescribed in a 7:1 dose to maximize treatment benefit while minimizing side effects like vomiting and diarrhea
During RSI when is succinylcholine contraindicated?
Muscular dystrophy
Which sedative drug has the most amnestic effect?
Midazolam
List 5 side effects associated with marijuana use
- Gynecomastia
- Galactorrhea
- Conjunctival injection
- Decreased intraocular pressure
- Cough, sputum production, inflammatory changes
- Increased risk of lung cancer, HEENT cancer, bladder cancer
- Psychosis
- Tachycardia, hypotension
- Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
- Decreased sperm count
Mother is worried about the risk of drug dependency in her child who was just started on a stimulant for ADHD. What do you tell her?
- In general, kids with ADHD are at a higher risk for substance use problems than kids without ADHD
- Of the children with ADHD who are treated, their risk of substance use problems is decreased compared to kids with ADHD who are not treated.
What is a late onset side effect of stimulants?
Depression
Why is diazepam rarely used as an anticonvulsant in neonates?
Decreased hepatic clearance
What are the main differences between a neonate and an adolescent with respect to drug dosing?
Increased distribution of liquid
What is one long term side effect of anthracycline chemotherapy?
Dilated cardiomyopathy, all kids who received it should be screened with an echo
What is one estrogenic side effect of an OCP?
Breast tenderness
Why should ketamine not be used for kids where there is a risk of raised ICP?
Symathomimetic effect can further raise ICP
List 5 absolute contraindications of OCPs
- Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding
- Migraine with aura
- Severe hypertension
- History of CVA, DVT, PE
- Liver disease
- Pill induced HTN
- Pregnancy
- Breast cancer
- SLE
- HUS
- TTP
How long after a child receiving IVIG do you need to wait before giving live vaccines?
11 months
A child on dilantin is given septra for an infection. She returns ataxic with abnormal speech. What is the mechanism of this interaction?
Septra causes decreased metabolism of dilantin
What is one treatment you can recommend for neuropathic pain?
Gabapentin