Medications Flashcards
What is tocilizumab?
What are its current main uses in adults?
Interleukin-6 receptor antagonist. Leads to a reduction in cytokine and acute phase reactant production
Uses:
- Giant cell arteritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis as second line, if TNF fails or can’t be used
Main risk -> bowel perforation in previous diverticulitis
What is abatacept?
What are its current main uses in adults?
CTLA-4 fusion protein. Selective costimulation modulator, inhibits T-cell activation by binding to CD80 and CD86 on antigen presenting cells
Uses:
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis, may be used as monotherapy or in combination with other DMARDs
SEs: Infusion site reaction, headache, dizziness
What is Tofacitinib?
What are its current main uses in adults?
JAK inhibitor, preventing cytokine or growth factor-mediated gene expression and intracellular activity of immune cells
Uses:
- Psoriatic arthritis as second line after methotrexate or other DMARDs
- Rheumatoid arthritis, as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate or other nonbiologic DMARDs) in adults who have had an inadequate response to, or are intolerant of, methotrexate
- Ulcerative colitis as second line after TNF inhibitors
SEs: High risk of shingles
What is Belimumab?
What are its current uses?
Monoclonal antibody that inhibits the soluble form of a B-cell survival factor (known as BLyS or BAFF). Inhibits survival of memory B cells and plasmablasts making autoantibodies
Uses:
- SLE that is treatment refractory
No data in CNS or renal disease
What is Trastuzumab?
What are its uses?
Monoclonal antibody against HER2 receptor
Used in HER2 positive breast cancer as adjuvant chemotherapy
What is the main mechanism of action of antipsychotics?
Dopamine D2 blockers or partial blockers
What is the most efficacious antipsychotic?
Clozapine
Which antipsychotic has highest risk of EPSE?
Which has the lowest?
Haloperidol
Clozapine
Which antipsychotic leads to most prolactin elevation?
Paliperidone
Which antipsychotic has highest metabolic / weight gain risk?
Olanzepine
Which antipsychotic is highest risk for QT prolongation?
Amisulpride
What substance has a higher risk of addiction than heroin?
Tobacco
What is the common pathway activated by many drugs of abuse?
Mesolimbic dopamine system
Which two neurochemical systems are involved in ETOH intoxication?
GABA
NMDA
What is the long-term treatment of choice for opioid replacement?
Suboxone -> buprenorphine + naloxone
Question A woman with metastatic breast cancer and painful bone secondaries develops nausea and vomiting. She is found to have a bowel obstruction and is admitted and made nil orally. She usually takes MS Contin 70 mg bd, and 2 mls of morphine mixture 10 mg/ml for breakthrough pain, usually twice each day. The bowel obstruction has not exacerbated her pain. The best estimate of the equivalent parenteral four hourly dose of morphine is: A. 2 mg. B. 10 mg. C. 5 mg. D. 50 mg. E. 20 mg.
B - 10mg (q4hourly)
Calcium Carbonate absorption would be most affected by the co-administration of: A. Alendronate B. Cholestyramine C. Hydrochlorothiazide D. Omeprazole E. Rifampicin
D. Omeprazole
- Correct, as above, reduces gastric acidity which reduces absorption of calcium carbonate
Which of the following will help most to improve systolic function in heart failure: A. ACE Inhibitors B. Beta Blockers C. Digoxin D. Hydralazine E. Spironolactone
B - beta blockers
Question 5. Medication withdrawal is frequently undertaken in elderly patients with polypharmacy. Which of the following medications can be stopped abruptly with minimal risk of a withdrawal syndrome in older people? A. Levodopa. B. Metoprolol. C. Oxazepam. D. Sertraline. E. Amlodipine.
E - amlodipine
Question 2010 A31
What is the main mechanism of action of the dihydropyridine calcium channel antagonists?
A. inhibition of the RAAS
B. Decreased sympathetic activity
C. Reduction in vascular smooth muscle tone
D. Decreased sodium excretion
E. Negative ionotropic effect
C. Reduction in vascular smooth muscle tone
Which of the following ratios best estimates the equivalent oral to parenteral morphine? A. 1:1 B. 2:1 C. 3:1 D. 4:1 E. 5:1
C - 3:1
Question 61. Which of the following drugs newly prescribed to a patient with stable and therapeutic lithium levels is most likely to produce an increase in his serum lithium? A. Fluoxetine B. Theophylline C. Captopril D. Hydrochlorothiazide E. Aspirin
D - thiazide
HCT → MAKES YOU HYPONATRAEMIC → BODY RELEASES ALDOSTERONE AND ADH → REABSORPTION OF NA THROUGH ENAC CHANNELS → INCREASING LITHIUM REABSORPTION THROUGH ENAC CHANNELS
What effect do changes in urinary pH have on drug metabolism?
i.e. If urine is more alkali, what effect will this have on acidic drugs and basic drugs?
If urine is more acidic, what effect will this have on acidic drugs and basic drugs?
Alkaline urine: acidic drugs are more readily ionised
Acidic urine: alkaline drugs are more readily ionised
Ionised substances = polar = more soluble in water and so dissolve in the body fluids more readily for
excretion.
In alkali urine, acidic drugs have increased excretion
In acidic urine, basic drugs have increased excretion
QUESTION 3 28 year old woman admitted to high dependency unit 4 hours after an overdose of amitriptyline for cardiac monitoring. She is drowsy and nauseated. Her ECG shows a QRS length of 140msec. Which one of the following would help minimise risk of amitriptyline related cardiac toxicity? A. Activated Charcoal B. Haemodialysis C. Magnesium D. Metoprolol E. Sodium Bicarbonate
E - Sodium bicarb
Treatment/Antidote Sodium bicarbonate -> Serum alkalinisation for prolonged QRS o QRS >100ms is the indication o Reverses the toxic effects of TCAs -> 100mmol (2mmol/kg) every few mins