Pharm Blessings Flashcards
What is Samter’s triad?
ASA allergy, asthma, and nasyl polyps
What is the DOC for acute asthma attacks?
short-acting beta-2 agonist
e.g. albuterol [ventolin hfa] or levalbuterol [xopenex hfa]
What is the DOC for asthma maintenance?
inhaled corticosteroids
e.g. fluticasone [flovent]
There are multiple dosages of asthma medications.
How should you prescribe them?
Start with lowest dosage and walk your way up if needed
(so as not to overmedicate)
Which type of asthma medication slows progression of the disease?
corticosteroids
What type of asthma medication helps to relieve sx, but does nothing for the progression of the disease?
long-acting beta agonists
e.g. salmeterol [serevent diskus] or formoterol [foradil]
What’s the issue with prescribing LABA drugs like formoterol [foradil] for asthma?
(Like why should we NOT prescribe those?)
What are the LABA drugs that come with this warning?
Black Box Warning!
Increased risk of asthma-related deaths
Therefore, try to stay away from Formoterol [foradil], Salmeterol [servent diskus], Umeclidinium/Vilanterol [anoro ellipta], Fluticasone/Salmeterol [advair], and Budesonide/Formoterol [symbicort]
Your patient needs a rescue inhaler. He is hypertensive with no other conditions. What should you give him?
Levalbuterol [xopenex hfa]
(Albuterol is c/i for HTN)
What’s a huge issue with prescribing teenagers asthma inhalers?
They don’t want to do it in front of their friends
(tell them to suck it up)
How many times per day should a person take their inhaled corticosteroids?
2x per day
How often should albuterol [ventolin hfa] be taken?
What’s the problem with long term use of it?
No more often than every 20 minutes during an attack.
However, wears out with long-term use. Does nothing to slow progression of disease, so must get patient on ICS (inhaled corticosteroids).
What is the DOC for exercise-induced asthma?
What are the directions for taking it?
Albuterol [ventolin hfa]
Take 5 min before exercise and PRN
What is the DOC for a person with a 1y history of wheezing, dyspnea with sports, and awakening with SOB 2-3 times per week?
So he’s got something MORE than intermittent asthma
Will give albuterol [ventolin hfa] for acute attacks, but will give fluticasone [flovent] for LT maintenance
(SABA + ICS)
What combo products can you use for more severe cases of asthma that haven’t responded to initial tx?
Combo of ICS and LABA
e.g. fluticasone/salmeterol [advair] or budesonide/formoterol [symbicort]
If a person doesn’t know their inhaler, what can you ask them so that YOU can know?
Whether their it’s a spray or a disk
What color it is
How long do you put a patient on a long-term maintenance asthma therapy?
(And do you remember the DOC for long-term asthma maintenance?)
Usually for life because we always need to be slowing the progression of the disease.
And the DOC is inhaled corticosteroids like Fluticasone [Flovent]!
(Good job! and if you got it wrong, you’ll get it next time, champ)
Fluticasone [flovent] comes in both MDI and diskus. How do you decide which to give?
Diskus is more expensive, so start with MDI.
If patient is having a hard time with MDI, can give diskus.
How long does it take fluticasone [flovent] to start working?
2 weeks. def not a rescue inhaler.
What should you do after using inhaled corticosteroids?
Rinse your mouth out to prevent flush.
What are the options for a patient who wants to quit smoking?
Nicotine replacement via:
- Nicoderm patch
- Nicorette gum
- Nicotrol inhalation
- Nicotrol nasal spray
Drug options:
- Varenicline [chantix]
- Buproprion [wellbutrin/zyban]
If your patient has dentures, which nicotene therapy is no longer available to them?
Gum
Which nictotine cessation drug is better to begin with?
Buproprion [wellbutrin/zyban]!
Chantix - more expensive, results are iffy
psychological problem could occur with either, but it’s better to realize it when on the cheaper drug!
What is the MOA of varenicline [chantix]?
partial nicotene agonist
prevents nicotene stimulation of the dopamine system
What is the MOA of buproprion [zyban/wellbutrin]?
atypical antidepressant
unknown MOA, but believed to work on dopamine, serotonin, and NE receptors
What is the most common side effect of varenicline [chantix]?
bad dreams
Which anti-smoking aide should you avoid in patients with seizure disorder?
Buproprion [zyban/wellbutrin]