Parasitology Pharmacology Flashcards
What two drugs are a part of the Nitroimidazole class?
Metronidazole, tinidazole
What can you treat with nitroimidazoles?
Giardia, Entamoeba
How do nitroimidazoles work?
Toxic metabolites generate free radicals, inducing DNA damage
What is toxicity for nitroimidazoles?
Disulfram (avoid alcohol)
Nausea, diarrhea, metallic taste
Disturb normal GI flora
What does Nitazoxanide treat?
Giardia and cryptosporidium
Since nitazoxanide is rapidly metabolized, what would you give with it?
Loperamide (anti-peristaltic)
What drugs are often given for crypto in someone with immunocompromise?
HAART
What is the mechanism of iodoquinol?
Unknown
What does iodoquinol used to treat?
Amebic dyssentery
What is the toxicity of iodoquinol?
Loss of visual acuity
Use caution with patients with thyroid disease
What is the mechanism of action of paromomycin?
Targets 30S ribosomal subunit
What is toxicity for paromomycin?
Diarrhea, other GI effects because affects normal flora
What is the distribution for paromomycin?
Luminal (minimal absorption)
What is paromomycin used for?
Intestinal protozoa, but only partially affective against crypto
What are good drugs for luminal amebicide?
Iodoquinol
Paromomycin
What are good drugs for tissue amebicide?
metronidazole
Tinidazole
What is the spectrum for TMPSMX
Broad spectrum antibiotic
Apicomplexans including Toxoplasma and
Cystoisospora
Cyclospora
What two drugs are used to target roundworms and tapeworms?
Albendazole
Mebendazole
What is the mechanism of albendazole and mebendazole?
Bind to parasite Beta-tubulin and inhibit microtubule formation
Which of the “benzimidazole” drugs is better for targeting tissue-migrating larvae?
Albendazole (better absorbed)
What are some toxicities for benzimidazole drugs?
Liver/bone marrow damage
Abd pain, nausea, dizziness, headache
Embryotoxic and teratogenic
What is the mechanism of action of levamisole and pyrantel pamoate?
Opens an acetylcholine receptor calcium channel in nematode nerve and muscle
What is the mechanism of action of ivermectin?
Binds to glutamate gated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells
How is ivermectin toxic to humans?
Itchy, swollen lymph glands
Inflammatory reaction due to adult worm death
What is ivermectin specific for?
Nematodes (ascaris, strongyloides, onchocerca)
What is the mechanism of action of praziquantel?
Increased permeability to divalent cations, leading to contraction of worm’s musculature
What is the toxicity for praziquantel?
Well tolerated
Nausea, dizziness
What is the spectrum for praziquantel?
Tapeworms
Trematodes (flukes)
