Medications Flashcards
Donepezil (Aricept)
Acetylcholine esterase inhibitor used to treat Alzheimer’s dementia.
Common side effect: cardiac side effects (bradycardia, atrioventricular block), gastrointestinal discomfort (diarrhoea and nausea), insomnia
other: fatigue, muscle cramps, vomiting, weight loss
baclofen
Used to treat muscle spasticity (global effect)
Side effects: global weakness, confusion, dizziness/lightheadedness when getting up from supine, increased urination, nausea, trouble sleeping, unusual tiredness or weakness, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, muscle or joint pain
gabapentin
Used to treat partial seizures in adults and children. It is also used to treat neuropathic pain
side effects: dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, peripheral oedema, gait disturbance, weight gain
pregabalin
Medication used to treat neuropathic pain and epilepsy (usually, is other meds not working, start small dose)
side effects: dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, peripheral oedema, gait disturbance, weight gain
betaferon
A subcutaneous injection used for the treatment of relapsing remitting (and secondary progressive) MS. (anti-inflammatory action)
Side effects: risk of liver damage, leukopenia, thyroid disease and depression
botulinum toxin type A
Used to treat focal spasticity
dexamethosone
Corticosteroid use to treat inflamed areas of the body (used to swelling, severe allergies, arthritis/RA, asthma, blood or bone marrow problems etc.)
Side effects: long-term significant cardiovascular and osteoporosis side effects that limit along term use
Long term effects of corticosteroids,
osteoporosis
aseptic joint necrosis
adrenal insufficiency
gastrointestinal issues
ophthalmologic effects
hepatic/liver effects
growth suppression
congenital malformations
hyperlipidemia
prednisone
corticosteroid that works on immune systems to relieve swelling, redness, itching and allergic reactions
Used to treat acute relapses of MS (oral intake)
prednisolone
corticosteroid used to treat allergies, inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders and cancers
Levodopa
Used to treat Parkinsons.
(works by the levodopa crossing blood brain barrier and converting to dopamine to reverse the depletion of dopamine)
side effects: dizziness, weight loss, nausea, chest pain, insomnia, orthostatic hypotension etc.
Dopamine
peripheral vasostimulant use to treat low blood pressure, low heart rate and cardiac arrest
Intragam
used to treat Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
mannitol
Diuretic (increase urination to decrease salt and excess water, e.g., to treat swelling from heart, kidney or liver)
mestinon
Used to treat Myasthenia Gravis (condition where muscles weaken and tire easily especially after repeated use)
(also post-operative urinary retention/overactive bladder)
methylprednisolone
Corticosteroid, anti-inflammatory (used in acute relapses of MS)
nimodipine
Calcium channel blocker
Used to manage vasospasm following a subarachnoid haemorrhage
phenytoin
Used in the management of epilepsy (generalised tonic-clonic seizures, complex partial seizures and status epilepticus
(anticonvulsant)
sinemet
Used to treat symptoms of Parkinsons’s (same mechanism as levodopa)
side effects: dizziness, lightheadedness, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, trouble sleeping
stemetil
used to treat nausea, vomiting and dizziness of various causes
(antiemetic)
glucosamine
natural compound found in cartilage.
Supplement that Can be taken orally for arthritis ?effectiveness
Chondroitin
Mersyndol
Mersyndol contains the active ingredients paracetamol, codeine phosphate hemihydrate and doxylamine succinate. Mersyndol is used for short term use to relieve moderate pain and fever.
Madopar
Used to treat Parkinson’s disease. It contains two active ingredients called levodopa and benserazide
pulmozyme (dornase alpha)
used to treat CF.
mucolytic
salbutamol
Ventolin
reliever for asthma
Short-acting B2 adrenoreceptor agonist (SABA)
Salmeteral
asthma ‘controller’
long-acting B2 adrenoreceptor agonist (LABA)
Flixotide (fluticasone)
corticosteroid preventer for Asthma,
Pulmicort (budesonide)
corticosteroid preventer for Asthma
Seretide
(fluticasone and salmeteral)
combination preventer
corticosteroid + LABA
Serevent
(budesonide and eformoterol)
combination preventer
corticosteroid + LABA
Serc (Betahistine)
used to treat vertigo
(long term treatment for Meniere’s)
tPA
clot ‘busting’ (thrombolytic) drug that restores cerebral blood flow to ischemic brain tissue.
Must be administered within 3hrs to be effective
