Pharm (Exam 3) Flashcards
What are the geriatric issues with drug use?
- Increased drug use
- Altered response to drug
- Adverse drug reaction
What is the concept of “appropriate” drug use in the elderly?
- Elderly patients take more drugs because they suffer more illnesses
- Consequently they also suffer more adverse drug reactions
What is polypharmacy defined as?
- over 5 meds
- Better definition is use of any inappropriate/ unnecessary meds
What is an indicator of polypharmacy?
Patient’s drug regimen includes one or more unnecessary medications
What are the features of polypharmacy?
- No apparent reason for drug
- Duplicate drugs
- Contraindicated drugs
- Interacting drugs
- Inappropriate dose
- Use of drugs to treat adverse drug reactions (ADRs)
- Improvement when drugs discontinued
What are the consequence of polypharmacy?
- More adverse drug reactions
- More drug interactions
- Financial, adherence issues
- Creates vicious cycle
Describe the cycle of polypharmacy starting at elderly take more drugs
Elderly take more drugs –> increase risk of side effects –> increase symptoms –> more drugs prescribed –> Elderly take more drugs
When the elderly take drugs there is an altered response, what are the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes?
- Pharmacokinetic: Elderly handle drugs differently
- Pharmacodynamic: Drugs affect elderly differently
Where does drug metabolism occur and what are the changes of this site in the elderly?
Liver
- Decreased mass
- Decreased blood flow
- Decreased enzyme activity
Where does drug excretion occur and what are the changes of this site in the elderly?
Kidney
- Decreased mass
- Decreased blood flow, GFR
- Decreased tubular function
Why is drug elimination often decreased or delayed in older adults?
Decline in liver and kidney function
Pharmacodynamic changes in the geriatric population can occur at what two levels?
- Cellular level
- Systemic level
How do pharmacodynamic changes occur at the cellular level in the geriatric population?
- Receptor binds
- Transmembrane signaling
- Intracellular response
What pharmacodynamic changes can occur at the systemic level in the geriatric population?
Decline in homeostatic mechanisms
- Orthostatic circulatory response
- Posture/balance
- cognitive function
- muscle strength/endurance
- others
Name some additional factors that can affect the elderly drug profile
- Disease, comorbidity
- Nutrition, general health
- Inadequate drug testing
- Patient education, adherence
- Hoarding & sharing
- other chemicals
What are some examples of societal drugs?
- Alcohol
- nicotine
- caffeine
What are some examples of over the counter drugs?
- Laxatives
- analgesics
- vitamins
- many others
What is an adverse drug reaction?
any unwanted, potentially harmful effect
What dose can adverse drug reactions occur at in the elderly? What are they often misinterpreted as?
- Occurs at recommended dosage
- Misinterpreted as symptoms
T/F: The elderly are 2-3 times more likely to experience adverse drug reactions
True
T/F: Even though elderly experience adverse drug reactions more often the reactions are not any more severe than in other age groups
False- More severe
What are some risk factor for adverse drug reactions?
- > 75 year old
- small stature
- multiple drugs
- high risk drugs
- organ dysfunction
- previous adverse drug reactions
What are some ways to prevent adverse drug reactions and inappropriate drug use in older adults?
- Adequate evaluation
- “Low & slow” prescribing
- Periodic re-eval of long term meds
- early recognition of ADRs
- education/communication
Where did marijuana (MJ) come from?
- Cultivated 12,000 yrs ago in west/central Asia
- Used for medicinal purposes > 4000 yrs
- Spread throughout Asia/Europe
- Brought to Western world in 1500-1600’s
Marijuana was used extensively through Europe in 1800’s and well into 20th century in US for medical use because physicians documented benefits in treating what?
- Anxiety
- Sleep disorders
- Headache/migranes
Marijuana was used extensively through Europe in 1800’s and well into 20th century in US for medical use… what happened?
- 1937: US government placed extreme legal & financial restrictions on medical use
- Made it difficult or impossible to prescribe or recommend MJ for therapeutic reasons
T/F: Restrictions of marijuana occurred against the advice of AMA
True
In 1970, MJ was classified as Schedule I controlled substance and reconfirmed in July 2016 what is a Schedule I substance?
- High abuse potential
- no current accepted medical use
- Lacks adequate safety
What is the current status of MJ use as of November 2021?
- Some form of medical MJ is available in 36 states & Washington DC
- Recreational MJ currently approved in 18 states
- MJ use decriminalized in most other states
What is MJ?
- Species of Cannabis plant (3 primary species C. sativa, C. indica, C. ruderalis)
- Typically refers to C. sativa (contains high levels of psychoactive substance called cannabinoids)
Species of Cannabis that are low in psychoactive substances are classified as what?
Hemp (C. ruderalis)
What is the active ingredient in MJ?
Cannabinoids
There are 2 important cannaboids (THC & CBD) which one produces most of psychoactive effects and high association with MJ?
THC
T/F: CBD is not as psychoactive as THC but may provide certain medicinal effects
True
How do cannabinoids affect humans?
Through Endogenous cannabinoid system
What are the 3 primary components of endogenous cannabinoid system?
- Cannabinoid receptors
- Substance produced within the body (endocannabinoids)
- Enzymes that synthesize and degrade endocannabinoids
There are two primary subtypes of Cannabinoid receptor (CB1 & CB2). Where are CB1 receptors found?
- Found throughout nervous system
- Especially prevalent in pain pathways
There are two primary subtypes of Cannabinoid receptor (CB1 & CB2). Where are CB2 receptors found and what is the function?
- Found on immune & hematopoietic tissues
- Generally modulate immune responses and inflammation
CB1 may help modulate pain but it also produces most of what effects?
psychotropic effects (cannabinoid high)
Which cannabinoid receptor may provide immunosuppression and anti inflammation without psychotropic effects?
CB2
A specific drug or exogenous cannabinoid that affects only CB2 may produce beneficial effects without what side effect?
Psychotropic effects
What are the 2 primary substances of endocannabinoids?
- Anandamide
- 2 arachidonylglycerol (2-AG)
What are endocannabinoids produced by?
By CNS & peripheral tissues when tissues are injured or disturbed
What are some physiological processes that endocannabinoids can play a role in regulating?
- Appetite
- Digestion
- Metabolism
- Thermoregulation
- Reproduction
- Cardiovascular response
- Fluid/ electrolyte balance
- immune responses
- learning
- memory
- stress responses
- pain perception
Both Anandamide and 2-AG are degraded by what?
Fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)
What are the implications of Anandamide and 2-AG?
Drugs that enhance synthesis or inhibit breakdown may be beneficial
What are the enzymes Anandamide and 2- AG synthesized from?
Anandamide: NAPE-PLD enzyme
2- AG: DAGL
What are the sources of cannabinoid?
- Marijuana plant
- Edible products
- Synthetic THC and/or CBD
What are administration methods of cannabinoid?
- Inhaled (smoking, vaporization)
- Oral (tablets, mucosal sprays, edible products)
What are some pros to smoking administration route of cannabinoids?
- Provide rapid onset & effects
- Easy to adjust dose
What are some cons to smoking administration route of cannabinoids?
- May damage respiratory tissues
- May contain toxins in plant vaporization
In regards to oral administration of cannabinoids, what is the pro and cons of edibles?
- Pro: Easy convenient, no respiratory issues
- Con: long delay before onset/peak effects; difficult to adjust dose
In regards to oral administration of cannabinoids what is the best method for regulating dose but what is a con to this method?
- Tablets/capsules
- Con: long delay before onset/peak
In regards to oral administration of cannabinoids what is the positives of using oromucosal sprays?
- Rapid onset
- Fairly easy to adjust dose
- Avoids 1st pass effect
Plant based (marijuana):
- Route?
- Onset?
- Peak?
- Duration?
- Route: Inhaled by smoking or vaporization
- Onset: Within minutes
- Peak: 15-30 min
- Duration: 2-3 hours
Edible products
- Route?
- Onset?
- Peak?
- Duration?
- Route: Oral
- Onset: 30-90 min
- Peak: 2-3 hours
- Duration: 4-12 hours
Synthetic THC
- Route?
- Onset?
- Peak?
- Duration?
- Route: oral (tablets)
- Onset: 30-60 min
- Peak: 1-4 hours
- Duration: 4-12 hours
Plant extracts
- Route?
- Onset?
- Peak?
- Duration?
- Route: oral mucosal sprays
- Onset: 10-15 min
- Peak: 2-4 hours
- Duration: Unknown
Topical administration of products containing CBD have become popular what are some of these products?
- Cream
- Lotion
- Salve
- Can penetrate through skin to treat subcutaneous structures
T/F: Topical & Transdermal Administration products often contain other ingredients and the amount and frequency of use varies depend on each product
True
What are some prescription products of cannabinoids?
- Plant based (marijuana)
- Synthetic THC (tablets)
- Synthetic THC & CBD (in equal amounts)
Prescription cannabinoids: Dronabinol (tablet)
- Trade name?
- Cannabinoid?
- Approved indications?
- Current status?
- Trade name: Marinol
- Cannabinoid: THC
- Approved indications: Anti- emetic for CINV, Appetite stimulant for HIV/AIDs
- Current status: Received FDA approval in 1985, currently available in US as schedule III controlled substance
Prescription cannabinoids:
Nabilone (tablet)
- Trade name?
- Cannabinoid?
- Approved indications?
- Current status?
- Trade name: Cesamet
- Cannabinoid: THC
- Approved indications: Anti-emetic for CINV
- Current status: Received FDA approval in 1985, currently available in US as a schedule II controlled substance
Prescription cannabinoids:
Nabiximols
- Trade name?
- Cannabinoid?
- Approved indications?
- Current status?
- Trade name: Sativex
- Cannabinoid: THC & CBD
- Approved indications: Spasticity in MS pain in advanced cancers
- Current status: Approved for use in UK, Canada, other countries; Phase 3 clinical trials in US
Prescription cannabinoids:
Cannabidiol
- Trade name?
- Cannabinoid?
- Approved indications?
- Current status?
- Trade name: Epidiolex
- Cannabinoid: CBD
- Approved indications: Drug resistant epilepsy in children
- Current status: Approved by FDA in June, 2018 to treat seizures in Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndrome
What are some neuromusculoskeletal indications for cannabinoids?
- Pain (cancer, neuropathic pain, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic back/neck pain, others)
- Spasticity (esp MS)
- Seizures (esp resistant seizure in children)