Midterm Flashcards
Which of the following is the best food source of vitamin A (not beta-carotene)?
a. Eggs
b. Pumpkin
c. Kale
d. Barley
Eggs
- Preformed vitamin A is only found in animal source foods.
- Liver, because vitamin A is stored there, is by far the richest source
- Top US food sources are dairy, liver, fish, and fortified cereals
Which of the following has been associated with excessive vitamin A intake?
a. Pseudotumor cerebrii and cerebral edema
b. Follicular hyperkeratosis
c. Nail bed changes
d. Respiratory failure
Pseudotumor cerebrii and cerebral edema
Too much beta-carotene from the diet or supplements is associated with _______.
a. little risk of vitamin A toxicity symptoms
b. birth defects
c. headache
d. GI distress
little risk of vitamin A toxicity symptoms
Which of the following is accurate about steroid use for asthma?
a. nebulized steroids are only for use when disease cannot be controlled with long acting bronchodilators
b. nebulized steroids are best used as burst therapy to control disease flares
c. oral steroid burst therapy is generally for a single day at a dose about 50% of physiologic production
d. nebulized steroids are delivered bid to qid
Nebulized steroids are delivered bid to qid
Which of the following would NOT demonstrate substandard medication control of asthma?
Select one:
a. Uses SABA > 2x per week
b. Required oral steroids to control symptoms 3 months prior
c. FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7
d. Wakes > 2x month with symptoms
FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7
Which of the following would be a likely group of side effects from SABA use?
Select one:
a. GI upset, ulceration, diarrhea
b. hypotension, fainting, fatigue
c. hypomagnesemia, bone loss
d. anxiety, palpitations, headache
Anxiety, palpitations, headache
You might consider reducing asthma medication intensity after ________ of consistent good control.
Select one:
a. 2 to 6 weeks
b. 5 to 10 years
c. 1 to 2 years
d. 3 to 6 months
3 to 6 months
- If worsening sx, step up q 2-6 wks
- If improving, step down after 3-6 mos of good control
*All pts with asthma should have SABA (albuterol). Other meds guided by the algorithm.
Which of the following medication classes can be a first line therapy for persistent asthma symptoms, and can also help to control seasonal allergies?
Select one:
a. decongestants (e.g., Sudafed)
b. leukotriene receptor antagonists (e.g., Singulair)
c. antihistamines (e.g., benedryl)
leukotriene receptor antagonists (e.g., Singulair)
According to GOLD guidelines, we would choose to use prophylactic antimicrobials for COPD patients only in the following circumstance:
Select one:
a. none of the above
b. two or more episodes of pneumonia in past year
c. meets diagnostic criteria for chronic bronchitis
d. history of pulmonary embolus in past three months
e. over the age of 90
none of the above
All of the following medications or classes can be used as bronchodilators, EXCEPT:
Select one:
a. Opioid medications
b. Theophylline
c. Beta-2 agonists
d. Anti-cholinergics
Opioid medications
Which of the following is most accurate about medication prescribing for COPD?
Select one:
a. Short-acting bronchodilators are used in the earliest stages of disease
b. Generally speaking, we would use a nebulized steroid, and consider adding a long-acting bronchodilator if steroid alone is unable to manage symptoms
c. We should refer to pulmonary rehab as next step after steroids if disease control is substandard
d. The order of prescribing in the medication algorithm is oxygen -> theophylline -> steroid -> LABA
Short-acting bronchodilators are used in the earliest stages of disease
Which of the following is most true of theophylline?
Select one:
a. It is only associated with modest benefit in COPD
b. In terms of risk / benefit ratio, theophylline is a much better choice than LABA, so is more frequently used
c. It is an anticholingergic
d. It increases the risk of infection, as it is immunosuppressive
It is only associated with modest benefit in COPD
Potentially dangerous intervention at the top end of dose range.
Vitamin A is a potentially dangerous intervention at the top end of dose range. You’ll need to monitor safety.
What are 2 uses of vitamin A?
prevention of deficiency and supraphysiologic dosing, don’t confuse these two intents
Vitamin A + Antibiotics effect?
Concurrent use with tetracycline antibiotics is potentially contraindicated, because many of the adverse events caused by vitamin A seem to be more common during tetracycline treatment
Vitamin A + Statins?
Statin drugs may elevate serum retinol levels by altering liver function.
Vitamin A + Immune system?
Vitamin A may (Increase) reduce the suppression of immune function and wound healing caused by administration of glucocorticoids.
Major uses of vitamin A?
- Immune function-improve vaccine response and reduce mortality from infectious disease
- Retinitis pigmentosa- heritable degenerative condition
- Acne vulgaris
- Iron deficiency anemia-deficiency can worsen iron deficiency anemia, via down regulation of erythropoietin production in the kidney Probably limited to people with frank deficiency
Vitamin A toxicity
Symptoms include liver damage, pseudotumor cerebrii, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, dry skin
- Teratogenic->Doses above 10K/day potentially
- Increased osteoporosis risk- High intakes of vitamin A, either via supplements or diet, have been correlated
- Increased LDL and decreased HDL->Vitamin A supplements at 25K/day have been associated
Beta-Carotene sources
Sweet potato, spinach, carrots, and pumpkin pie all contain over 100% of the DV for vitamin A RAE.
More generally speaking, many fruits and vegetables are strong sources of beta-carotene
Beta-Carotene Dosing
15 mg of beta-carotene should be enough to prevent vitamin A deficiency is practically all individuals
This would be 1250 RAE, and higher than the DRI for each age and demographic group
1 Retinal Activity Equivalent (RAE) = 12 mcg of beta-carotene
Beta-carotene toxicity
You can turn orange, this is called carotemia.
Deficiency of beta-carotene does not exist
Asthma-Treat to target goals
- Peak flows > 80% of personal best
- Use of SABA < 2x/wk
- Wakes from sx < 2x/mo
- No more than one burst of oral steroids in past year
*** Regardless of your treatment strategy, failure to meet these goals is indicative of need for more aggressive treatment
Asthma-Short acting bronchodilators (SABA)
- Albuterol
- Stimulates beta-2 receptors, leading to bronchodilation
- Usually delivered by metered dose inhaler (MDI), but can also be given by nebulizer
- Half-life is 1.6 hrs
- Dose: 2 puffs of MDI (usu 180 mcg) q 4-6 hrs prn
- SE: anxiety, palpitations, headache, dry mouth
Asthma-Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)
- ICS is mainstay of persistent asthma treatment
- Ex: beclomethasone, budesonide
- Usually delivered via MDI, often 2-4 doses / day
- Dose will vary by medication, but generally, start at the lowest dose and work upward as needed
- SE: sore throat, hoarse voice, thrush
- Need to use spacer to ensure that steroids are inhaled, not swallowed
- -*Have pt rinse mouth after administration to prevent swallowing, tooth decay
Asthma-Oral steroids
- Used in acute exacerbations, and often at the beginning of a new course of treatment
- Burst tx: 20-30 mg bid x 3-10 days
- Long term: 7.5-60 mg qd or qod (should refer if req this level of tx). Qod dose is considered safer.
- SE: agitation, blood sugar elevation, weight gain, bone loss, immune suppression
Asthma-Long-acting bronchodilators (LABA)
- Example: salmeterol, 50 mcg bid
- Would never use for immediate sx relief
- Never use w/o concurrent steroid
- SE: tachycardia, tremor, hypokalemia, heart rhythm disturbance
- Several combo meds combine steroid and LABA tx
Asthma-Leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA)
- Example: montelukast (Singulair)
- Blocks effect of LTD4 in lungs
- Also used for seasonal allergies
- Adult dose 10 mg qd. No addt’l benefit from higher dose
- SE: GI upset, hypersensitivity, insomnia, possibly neuropsychiatric issues (anxiety, aggression, etc)