Pharma Credit II Flashcards
Cocaine produces vasoconstriction because it:
Prevents reuptake of noradrenaline
List the most common prescription medications with potential for interactions with herbal therapy
- Antidiabetics
- Antidepressants
- Anticoagulants
- Analgesics
List the clinical uses and effects of urea:
- Urea is used to treat dry/rough skin conditions
- Hydrating agent for skin
- Used in scaling conditions (psoriasis, eczema)
- Enhances penetration of other topical drugs
Succinylcholine is a:
Depolarising NM blocker
Severe Benzodiazepine overdose can be reversed with:
Flumazenil
Gross structural defects of a foetus can be caused by teratogen in:
First trimester
Give an example of a “time related (delayed) adverse effect”:
— Type D AE: e.g. teratogenic effect of thalidomide→phocomelia — malformations of limbs / Amelia = total absence
— Diethylstilbestrol→induces vaginal cancer in daughters of mothers taking it during pregnancy
— Ethanol→fetal alcohol syndrome
Neuropathic pain – description, basic characteristics, treatment:
Neuropathic pain: pain caused by abnormal neural activity that arises secondary to injury, disease, or dysfunction of the nervous system
Central pain: caused by CNS dysfunction (e.g., from lesions produced by an ischemic stroke, phantom limb pain)
Peripheral pain: caused by damage to peripheral nerves (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia)
- Pain, paraesthesia and hyperesthesia affecting the somatosensory NS
- 1st line treatment: tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline), SNRI (duloxetine), antiepileptics
(pregabalin & gabapentin), 5% lidocaine patches - 2nd line: opioids (tramadol), capsaicin cream (chilli)
What is the effect of
Alpha1 agonists on blood pressure:
Increases blood pressure
The effect of non-depolarizing NM blockers:
— is not competitive
— is reversed by an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor
— is potentiated by an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor
- Is reversed by Ach esterase inhibitors
Clinical use of barbiturates
- Effects are: sedation & CNS depression
- Uses in insomnia & anxiety (pentobarbital), general anesthesia and status epilepticus
(thiopental) and as general anticonvulsant drug (phenobarbital)
Phytotherapy is:
- Safe because natural
- An ineffective placebo
- A useful therapeutic alternative
(- Safe because natural)
(- An ineffective placebo)
- A useful therapeutic alternative — correct
Explain type A adverse drug reaction and give examples:
- Dose dependant adverse reaction
- Common, predictable, low mortality
- Can be managed by reducing dose
- Examples: hypotension caused by antihypertensives, dehydration caused by diuretics,
immunodeficiency and tendency for infections caused by immunosuppressant (cyclosporin A, methotrexate, glucocorticoids)
Potentiation means:
One drug increases the effect of another drug without having the same effect (1+ 0 > 1)
The following effect of adrenaline can be blocked by beta 1 adrenoceptor blockers.
- Constriction of blood vessels
- Dilation of blood vessels
- Increased heart rate
- Increased force of contraction
- Increased systolic blood pressure
Correct are:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased force of contraction
Isoprenaline stimulates:
- Beta 1 and beta 2 receptors
- Selectively beta 2 receptors
- M receptors
- Selectively beta 1 receptors
Correct is:
- Beta 1 and beta 2 receptors
What are emollients?
- Emollients help to keep the skin moist by covering it and thereby reducing water loss
Which of the following statements about neuropathic pain is true ?
- Neuropathic pain responds well to conventional non-opioid analgesics
- Neuropathic pain is usually chronic
- Treatment of neuropathic pain is successful in most patients
Correct is:
- Neuropathic pain is usually chronic
Which pharmacokinetic parameter best describes the absorption of a drug ?
- AUC and maximum concentration (Cmax)
- Clearance and volume of distribution
- Elimination rate constant (ke) and elimination half-life (t1/2)
Correct is:
- AUC and maximum concentration (Cmax)
Succinylcholine:
- Is a long acting NM blocker
- Its effect can be reversed by Ach esterase inhibitors
- Is a depolarizing NM blocker
- Can cause initial fasciculations
Correct is:
- Is a depolarizing NM blocker
- Can cause initial fasciculations
Tubocurarine:
- Acts on muscarinic receptors
- Is a depolarizing NM blocker
- Its effects can be reversed by Ach esterase inhibitors
- Can cause initial fasciculations
Correct is:
- Its effects can be reversed by Ach esterase inhibitors
Common herbs (that are frequently used in phytotherapy) with a high potential for interactions with prescription medications are (two examples):
- St. John’s wort (Serotonin syndrome)
- Feverfew (potentiates platelet aggregation)
- Garlic (potentiated hyperglycaemic and antiplatelet drugs)
- Ginger & gingko (may inhibit platelet aggregation)
- Ginseng (may increase digoxin levels)
- Goldenseal (may oppose anticoagulants)
Explain type B of adverse drug reactions:
- “bizzare”, non-dose related adverse reaction
- Unpredictable, uncommon, high mortality
- Not related to pharmacological action of the drug
- Can be immunological (hypersensitivity) or idiosyncratic (genetically defined)
Drugs used to decrease craving for alcohol are:
- Benzodiazepines, naltrexone, acamprosate
- Naltrexone, tiapridal, acamprosate
- Atenolol, tiapridal, acamprosate
Correct is:
- Naltrexone, tiapridal, acamprosate
Topical corticoids: use and side effects:
- Use: eczema, contact dermatitis
- Side effects: skin irritation, skin thinning, skin infections, allergy to topical drug, systemic side
effects (Cushing’s sy.)
Give at least two examples of drugs that are known to be teratogenic in humans:
- Warfarin→bone defects & internal bleeding→abortion and stillbirth
- Retinoids→facial and cardiovascular abnormalities
- Cytotoxic drugs (e.g. antifolates like methotrexate→neural tube defects)
- Diethylstilbestrol → vaginal carcinoma
- Thalidomide → phocomelia
- Ethanol→fetal alcohol syndrome
- Smoking
The extent of the drug absorption / exporuse is best characterized by:
- The area under the concentration- time curve (AUC)
The specific antidote of opioid analgesics is:
Naloxone
Atropine will oppose the effect of:
Ach on the intestinal smooth muscle