Low weight topics. Flashcards
What is the treatment for arthritis?
DMARDs+ temporary corticosteroid
Which medicines are DMARDs?
Sulfasalazine (blood disorders)
Penicillamine (blood disorders)
Gold (blood disorders)
Hydrocychloroquine/ chloroquine (ocular toxicity)
Drugs affecting immune response:
methotrexate, azathioprine, ciclosporin, leflunamide
cytokine modulators:
Infliximab, etanacept (blood disorders, TB- treat first)
How is acute gout managed?
NSAIDs: diclofenac and naproxen first line (NOT ibuprofen/aspirin)
2nd line: colchicine (if NSAIDs contraindicated e.g in HF)
How is gout managed long term?
Allopurinol (take with food)
Febuxostat (causes serious hypersensitivity reactions like SJS)
DO NOT them during an attack, wait 1-2 weeks first.
Continue NSAID/ colchicine for 1 month after hyperuricemia corrected if starting on allopurinol as they may precipitate an attack.
However, if attack occurs while on them, continue as normal and treat attack.
What is myasthenia gravis?
Skeletal muscle weakness
What are some key side effects of quinine?
QT prolongation, convulsions, arrhythmias.
What drug options are there for spasticity (skeletal muscle relaxants)?
Baclofen- avoid abrupt withdrawal. Care with intrathecal use, you need a test dose + resuscitation available.
Others: dantroline, tizanidine, cannabis, diazepam.
When do the analgesic and inflammatory effects of NSAIDs take effect?
analgesic effect within 1 week
inflammatory effect within 3 weeks
Which NSAID is the drug of choice for inflammation?
Naproxen
Which medical conditions may be worsened by use of NSAIDs?
Asthma- bronchospasms.
HF- fluid retention- contraindicated.
Hypertension
Which NSAID has restricted use due to increased GI side effects and serious skin reactions?
Piroxicam - max 20mg OD
Prescribe with concomitant GI protective agent.
Which NSAIDs are lowest and highest risk of GI toxicity?
Lowest: COX-2 inhibitors (e.g celecoxib), ibuprofen
Highest risk: Ketoprofen, proxicam
Give with PPI if >45 or if NSAID is for arthritis and take with food to minimise this.
Which NSAIDS are at highest and lowest risk of cardiovascular events?
Which cardiovascular events?
Highest risk- high dose ibuprofen 2.4g OD, COX-2 inhibitors, diclofenac.
Lowest risk: low dose ibuprofen and naproxen
Increased risk of thrombotic events (MI and stroke)
NOTE: NSAIDS are contraindicated in HF.
Can NSAIDs be used in pregnancy?
What happens?
No- especially third trimester.
Delays labour
Causes pulmonary hypertension in newborn
Premature closure of foetal ductus arteriosus.
What are some side effects of NSAIDs?
Bleeds (especially GI) Fluid + sodium retention- oedema Asthma exacerbation Nephrotoxicity Cardiovascular events
Which medicine when used with NSAIDs can cause convulsions?
Quinolones- e.g cipro.
NSAIDs can reduce excretion and hence cause toxicity of which high risk drugs?
Methotrexate and lithium.
Which medicine can cause reversible female infertility?
NSAIDs
When should eye drops be discarded?
After 28 days if at home
After 1-2 weeks if in hospital
Single use only if outpatient/ surgery.
Which medicines can stain contact lenses orange?
Rifampicin and sulfasalazine.
If using more than one eye drop how long should a patient wait between applications?
5 minutes
What is glaucoma?
How is it managed?
Do the medicines have any side effects?
Raised intraocular pressure
1st line: beta blocker drops e.g timolol (C/I in asthma)
or
prostaglandin drops e.g latanoprost (can cause long eyelashes and darker iris colour/ dark flecks in the eye)
2nd line: sympathomimetic drops e.g brimonidine
carbonic anhydrase inhibitors e.g dorzolamide . Acetazolamide can be given systemically but it can cause blood and skin reactions- STOP.
What do you know about systemic chloramphenicol?
Serious haematological side effects.
AVOID in pregnancy- grey baby syndrome
What is closed angle glaucoma?
A medical emergency!
Cloudy eye, N+V headache, intense eye pain, rainbow coloured rings around lights.
How can otitis external be managed?
Topical preparations such as neomycin and clioquinol can be used- 7 days.
Acetic acid 2% (ear calm) can also help.
NOTE: aluminium is an astringent and also helps as an anti- inflammatory.
How can otitis media be managed?
Usually self limiting.
Can give oral amoxicillin if no improvement after 72 hours.
What is in naseptin and bactroban?
naseptin- neomycin
bactroban- mupirocin (for MRSA)
What is the MHRA associated with emollients?
Fire risk with paraffin- based skin emollients.
Clothing/ bedding easily ignited by naked flames, do not smoke.
What can Benzyl alcohol cause in neonates?
Fatal toxicity syndrome
When can topical corticosteroids be used? When are they contraindicated?
Used in inflammatory skin conditions: eczema, dermatitis.
Contraindicated in: acne, rosacea, skin infections (exacerbates them)
NOTE: apply maximum BD
Which are the mild, moderate, potent, very potent steroids?
Very potent:
clobetasol (dermovate)
Potent:
Betamethasone 0.1% (betnovate)
hydrocortisone butyrate
mometasone (elocon)
Moderate:
clobetasone (eumovate)
betamethasone 0.025% (betnovate- RD)
Mild:
hydrocortisone <2.5%
What medicines are used for eczema and psoriasis?
emolients topical steroids coal tar ( long contact overnight) dithranol (short contact 5-60 minutes) Tacrolimus (Protopic)
Psoriasis: UVB therapy, system methotrexate, cyclosporin, acitretin.
What MHRA alerts are associated with brimonidine?
What is it for?
For rosacea
Risk of systemic cardiovascular effects
Risk of exacerbation of rosacea
What medicines can be used for acne?
1st line: adapaline (retinoid) +/- bezoyl peroxide
azelaic acid
topical- clindamycin
Oral- oxytetracycline, lymecycline, trimethoprim co cyprindiol (women only)