Pain Flashcards
What is the mechanism of action for paracetamol?
Not very clear but thought to inhibit Peoxidase enzyme needed to make prostaglandin from arachidonic acid
How does an overdose of paracetamol present?
Liver damage
Nausea and vomiting
Right sub costal pain after 24hr can indicate hepatic necrosis
Is paracetamol anti-inflammatory?
No
What is the action mechanism of opioids?
What is an example of a weak and strong opioid?
Activates the opioid receptor on cells causing increased tolerance to pain (by acting as a cell depressor)
Weak- codeine
Strong- morphine
What are the side effects of opioids?
How will an overdose present?
Nausea
Vomiting
Constipation- due to opioid receptor causing hypomotility in gut
OVERDOSE: respiratory depressions
What is the action mechanism of co-amoxiclav?
It’s a penicillin so it binds to the bacterial penicillin binding proteins and inhibits transpeptidation and therefore inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis
What is the action mechanism of lactulose?
As it’s a disaccharide, it reaches the larger bowel unchanged causing water retention via osmosis and therefore stool easier to pass.
Also if it gets metabolised by colonic bacteria it can have a laxative effect
Why is lactulose sometimes given alongside opioids?
Constipation is a very common side effect of opioids
But takes 8-12hr or even 2 days to improve constipation