Miscellaneous Flashcards
A patient presents at the pharmacy complaining of mild diarrhoea, elevated temperature and some other flu-like symptoms. On further questioning they tell you that they returned from Bolivia three months ago. What do you do/ what product do you recommend for this patient?
Refer to GP ASAP, don’t recommend a product.
Bolivia is in South America and this area has Malaria. Patient could be displaying Malaria symptoms- refer in case.
What are the target levels of gentamicin in treating endocarditis?
Post-dose one hour PEAK serum concentration: 3-5 mg/L
Pre-dose TROUGH serum concentration: less than 1mg/L
A patient presents a prescription for Clobazam tablets, with no extra endorsements. What is the issue?
Clobazam is an SLS item. This means it can be prescribed for certain conditions only as listed in the drug tariff it can only be prescribed for epilepsy.
You should ask the patient what the indication is and return the prescription to the prescriber for endorsement of SLS if it is for epilepsy.
Which epilepsy drugs should prescribers ensure the same brand is maintained?
Phenytoin Carbamazepine Phenobarbital Primidone (all the P's!)
What is Atropine used as a reversal agent for?
Overdose of beta blockers!
What should be recommended for strained muscles?
RICE- Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
Ibuprofen good as its anti-inflammatory
Remember must be over 16 years old to buy ibuprofen, nurofen, paracetamol etc
A patient comes in to your pharmacy requesting an emergency supply as he is on holiday, he is on Zopiclone, simvastatin and Tramadol. What do you do?
I can give him a max 5 day supply of his Zopiclone as this is a Schedule 4 (Part I) CD.
I can give him max 30 days supply of his Simvastatin as this is a POM.
Tramadol is a schedule 3 CD therefore cannot be given as an emergency supply, only CD that can in Phenobarbital for epilepsy.
What age does one have to be to buy Curanail?
18 years and over
What is the active ingredient in Curanail 5% nail lacquer?
amorolfine
When should people requesting Curanail 5% nail lacquer be referred?
Should only be sold OTC for treatment of MILD cases of fungal nail infection
For treatment of 2 NAILS MAX- any more and refer!
Patients with underlying conditions, which predispose for fungal nail infection (impaired circulation, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression)
A patient on warfarin presents with an INR of 5.0, their usual range is 2.0- 3.0. They have recently started taking St Johns Wort for a mild depressive episode. What is going on here?
St Johns Wort is a CYP450 enzyme INHIBITOR.
Warfarin is metabolised by CYP450.
Metabolism is decreased, warfarin levels rise, thins blood even more and INR increased.
What parkinsons drug is known to cause a sudden onsets of drowsiness, so people should be careful driving?
Pramiprexole
What vitamin should pregnant women avoid?
Vitamin A
Do not eat liver or liver products, such as pâté, because these are very high in vitamin A.
Pregnant women should take Folic acid and Vitamin D supplements. When? Dose?
Folic acid 400mcg for first trimester (12 weeks)
Vitamin D 10mcg- whole of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
In an anaphylactic reaction, how would you expect the pulse to be?
Weak!
also may lose conciousness, confusion, dizziness
When is “prescribed for an animal under my care” needed on Vet prescriptions?
For CD’s!!
Prescribed under the veterinary cascade is needed for all other prescriptions
Is the strength of medication needed when entering in the POM book?
Only when MORE than one strength is available. Think in exam- is this the only strength
Use By date vs Expiry date?
Use by= end of previous month
Expiry= end of current month
A patient has an INR of 8.5 but is not experiencing any bleeding. What should be done?
Hospital admission needed: stop warfarin and give phytomenidione 5mg daily.
What drugs need to be handled with care?
Finasteride
Methotrexate
Vinocristeine injection
What is first line for preventing post-menopausal osteoporosis?
Bisphosphonates- alendronic acid, risedronate
Bisphosphonates are used for both preventing and treating post menopausal osteoporosis.
Other options (2nd line):
HRT
Calcitriol
Which NSAID has the most favourable thrombotic safety profile?
Naproxen
What is strontium?
Bone formation stimulant Used in osteoporosis Contra-indicated: Current/ previous VTE Temporary/ prolonged immobilisation Uncontrolled HTN
What vaccination produces small fluid-filled spots at the injection site?
BCG
What can phenytoin cause you to become deficient in?
Folate
Which antidepressant is recommended first line in children?
Fluoxetine
What antibiotics are used to treat C. diff?
Metronidazole or Vancomycin
Usually prescribe a 10-14 day course of these
What is tonsillitis most commonly caused by?
Mostly Viral e.g. adenovirus, rhinovirus
Also by Streptocococcus bacteria
Non-blanching rash = ?
Meningitis
refer to hospital ASAP
Means it does not disappear with a glass
Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant, has been prescribed with fluconazole. What do you need to do?
Interaction!
Tacrolimus is metabolised by CYP450
Fluconazole is an enzyme inhibitor
Therefore need to reduce the dose of tacrolimus, increased levels could lead to nephrotoxicity- monitor renal function
What happens to MCV and Hb in:
Iron deficient anaemia
B12 deficient anaemia
Folate deficient anaemia
Iron deficient: BOTH MCV and Hb LOW
B12 deficient: MCV HIGH, Hb LOW
Folate deficient: MCV HIGH, Hb LOW
For iron deficient- give ferrous sulphate
B12 deficient- give hydroxycabalamin
Folate deficient- give Folic acid
A patient with asthma requests to buy Feminax Ultra (Naproxen 250mg) OTC. What do you do?
Naproxen= NSAID
NSAIDs cautioned in asthma due to risk of bronchospasm.
Should ask patient if they have used NSAIDs before- if yes and was okay- sell but indicate need to have blue inhaler to hand just in case. If previous bronchospasm- probably would not sell.
Check they are over 15- licensed age to buy
What are bacterial throat infections caused by?
Group A beta-haemolytic streptococcus
(Streptococcus pyogenes)
“Strep throat”
What virus is glandular fever caused by?
Epstein Barr virus
What do strefen lozenges contain?
Flubiprofen 8.75mg
NSAID used for sore throats
can only be used in over 12y
max 5 lozenges in 24 hr, fo max 3 days
A 17 year old comes into your pharmacy asking for Galcodeine linctus for an unproductive, dry cough that they have had for the last month now. What do you do?
Do not sell
Codeine linctus is not allowed to be used in under 18’s according to MHRA advice- risks outweigh benefits.
Also the cough has been present for 3 weeks- referral symptom!
A patient has been using Nexium OTC for some time now, with no symptom improvement. You decide to refer, how long will they have been trying Nexium for?
Over 2 weeks
Nexium= Esomeprazole.
If symptoms do not improve after 2 weeks on a PPI then refer.
What are the side effects of omeprazole?
WhaHeadache Diarrhoea Constipation Abdominal pain N&V Flatulence Remember its all the GI SEs!
What PPI’s can be bought OTC?
Omeprazole 10mg: (Zanprol) P (TT OD)
Esomeprazole 20mg (Nexium) GSL
Pantoprazole 20mg (Pantoloc) P
Rabeprazole 10mg P
Omeprazole increases the concentrations of C_______ and T_______
Voriconazole increases the conc of O_______
Omeprazole decreases absorption and therefore activity of K______ and I________
Omeprazole increases [Cilostazol] for peripheral vascular disease and [Tacrolimus] used after transplants.
Voriconazole increases the conc of Omeprazole
Omeprazole decreases the absorption of Ketoconazole and Itraconazole due to it decreasing intragastric activity (as do all PPIs)
Calcium, magnesium and alluminium containing antacids can interact with which drugs?
These antacids chelate with the following to form insoluble complexes and therefore reduce their absorption: Tetracyclines Quinolones Imidazoles (Ketoconazole) Phenytoin Penicillamine Bisphosphonates
SO avoid taking antacids at the same time as these drugs!
Which dyspepsia medications are cautioned in patients with heart disease?
Antacids containing sodium (effects fluid balance)
Alginates (as usually sodium alginate)
Which metal ion in antacids can cause Contipation? Which can cause diarrhoea?
Constipation- Calcium and Aluminium
Diarrhoea- Magnesium
What PPI has a marked interaction with Clopidogrel?
Antiplatelet effect definitely reduced by omeprazole and esomeprazole.
Possibly, but not so much by lansoprazole, pantoprazole and rabeprazole. Pantoprazole safest PPI to use or switch to a H2 antagonist.
Once Ispaghula husk sachets have been made up, what should be done?
Drink it as soon as effervescence subsides! Otherwise the drink ‘Sets’ and becomes undrinkable
What is the issue with prolonged use of lactulose in children?
Development of dental caries (teeth breakdown)
What should patients avoid taking at the same time as bisacodyl (a stimulant laxative- Dulcolax)?
Antacids and MILK
Bisocodyl are enteric coated, these can break down the coating and lead to dyspepsia and gastric irritation
Which laxatives work fastest? Which have intermediate? Which take longest?
Stimulants quickest- 6-12 hours (Glycerol suppositories 30 mins), but can cause diarrhoea and abdo pain.
Lactulose and bulk forming take 48-72 hours for effects to be seen, bulk forming slightly faster.
Softeners are the slowest- take 3 days or more
What is the safest laxative to use in pregnancy?
Fibre supplementation and BULK- forming laxatives safest. Ispaguhula husk first line.
Stimulants and macrogols (osmotic) are safe but stimulants may cause diarrhoea and abdominal pains.
Why should caffeine drinks be avoided in constipation?
Caffeine can act as a diuretic and make constipation worse.
Diuretics can cause constipation as they act to get rid of excess fluid- they can cause dehydration and therefore constipation.
What medications do we need to be wary of when recommending travel sickness treatments. Hint these products contain Hyoscine and antihistamines such as cinnarizine, promethazine and meclozine
These drugs have ANTI-CHOLINERGIC side-effects: be careful of other drugs that have these due to the additive effects e.g.
Tricyclic Antidepressants (e.g. Amitriptyline)
Butyrophenones e.g. Haloperidol
Phenothiazines e.g. Chlorpromazine
Anti-travel sickness medications can cause drowsiness. What must you ask people requesting these?
Whether this will be a problem- i.e. are they going to be driving?
Contain things like promethazine which is very sedating
What is gastroenteritis caused by?
Virus- the Rotavirus (especially in children)
Also campylobacter in adults- bacteria- most common cause of food poisoning in the UK
Which anti-emetics should be avoided in Parkinsons disease? what is the drug of choice?
AVOID dopamine antagonists that cross the BBB as these will worsen Parkinsons-
Metoclopromide
Prochlorperazine
These will interact with alcohol because they cross the BBB.
Anti-emetic of choice- Domperidone (10-20mg TDS) as this is a dopamine antagonist that does not cross the BBB
What anti-sickness medication is available OTC? what are the brand names of these?
Prochlorperazine- Buccastem M (indicated for migraine related N and V)
Bismuth- pepto bismol- settles stomach
If Nausea and Vomitting have been present for over __ hours, Motilium cannot be recommended OTC.
What age is Motilium licensed in?
Motilium contains Domperidone
Licensed OTC for Nausea and Vomitting if less than 48 hours duration!
Licensed for use in over 16 years
When should vomitting in children be referred?
In neonates- up to 1 month old- Refer
Under 1 year old lasting over 24 hours
Projectile vomitting in under 3 months
Failure to respond to OTC
What is the best thing to recommended for a sore throat in pregnant women?
CANNOT have strepsils as these have a high alcohol content- manufacturer advises avoid
Can have soothers
Or simple linctus
What are the 3 most common bacterial organisms implicated in cystitis?
E Coli (Over 80% cases)
Staphylococcus
Proteus
What is pyelonephritis?
A complication of cystitis- where bacteria moves from bladder up ureter into Kidney. Symptoms- fever, chills, flank pain
Patient requires a 7 day course of ciprofloxacin 500mg BD.
Refer if a patients cystitis symptoms have lasted over 5-7 days as they may have developed pyelonephritis.
How many days does cystitis need to be present for to warrant referral?
What age groups with cystitis should we refer?
Present for over 7 days - as could have developed into pylonephritits (travelled up to kidney).
Children under 16 years- refer as could indicate urethral abnormality getting it this young
Women over 70 years- more susceptible to complications