Pharmacology Flashcards
What is oral allergy syndrome?
IgE mediated hypersensitivity to specific plant based foods
Test for food allergies and pollen
Skin prick testing
Test for contact dermatitis
Skin patch testing
Test for food allergies, inhaled allergens like pollen, and venom
RAST
Radioallergosorbent test
How does RAST testing work?
Determines amount of IgE that reacts specifically with suspected or known allergen
Anaphylaxis dose of adrenaline age <6 months
150 micrograms
0.15ml of 1 in 1000
Anaphylaxis dose of hydrocortisone <6 months
25mg
Anaphylaxis dose of chlorphenamine <6 months
250 microgram per kg
Anaphylaxis dose of adrenaline 6 months till 6 years
150 micrograms
0.15ml of 1 in 1000
Anaphylaxis dose of hydrocortisone 6 months till 6 years
50mg
Anaphylaxis dose of chlorphenamine 6 months till 6 years
2.5mg
Anaphylaxis dose of adrenaline 6 to 12 years
300 micrograms
0.3ml of 1 in 1000
Anaphylaxis dose of hydrocortisone 6 to 12 years
100mg
Anaphylaxis dose of chlorphenamine 6 to 12 years
5mg
Anaphylaxis dose of adrenaline >12 years
500 micrograms
0.5ml of 1 in 1000
Anaphylaxis dose of hydrocortisone >12 years
200mg
Anaphylaxis dose of chlorphenamine >12 years
10mg
What causes oral allergy syndrome?
cross-reaction with a non-food allergen most commonly birch pollen
What is the starting dose of oral morphine for a palliative patient?
20-30mg MR per day
5mg for break through
What is the breakthrough dose of morphine?
1/6th the daily dose of morphine
Options for analgesia in palliative patients with mild to moderate renal impairment
oxycodone
Options for analgesia in palliative patients with severe renal impairment
alfentanil
buprenorphine
fentanyl
What percentage should you increase the dose of opioids by in palliative patients?
30-50%
How to convert oral codeine to oral morphine
Divide by 10
How to convert oral tramadol to oral morphine
Divide by 10
How to convert oral morphine to oral oxycodone
Divide by 1.5 to 2
What are the differences in side effects between oxycodone and morphine?
Oxycodone has less sedation, vomiting and pruritis
but more constipation
What does a 12 microgram transdermal fentanyl patch equate to in oral morphine?
30mg oral morphine
What does a transdermal buprenorphine 10 microgram patch equate to in oral morphine?
24mg oral morphine
How to convert oral morphine to subcutaneous morphine
Divide by 2
How to convert oral morphine to subcutaneous diamorphine
Divide by 3
How to convert oral oxycodone to subcutaneous diamorphine
Divide by 1.5
Medications that cause postural hypotension
Nitrates Diuretics Anticholinergics Antidepressants Beta blockers L-Dopa ACE inhibitors
Palliative care management of agitation and confusion
1st line, 2nd line and terminal phase
1st line = haloperidol
2nd line = chlorpromazine, levomepromazine
Terminal phase = midazolam
Treatment of nausea due to reduced gastric motility
Metoclopramide
Treatment of nausea which is chemically mediated
Ondansetron
Haloperidol
Levomepromazine
Treatment of nausea which is due to raised intracranial pressure
Cyclizine
Dexamethasone
Treatment of nausea due to vestibular system
Cyclizine
Management of hiccups in palliative care
1st line and 2nd line
Chlorpromazine
2nd line = haloperidol, gabapentin, dexamethasone
Schedule 1 drugs
Cannabis
Lysergide (LSD)
Schedule 2 drugs
Diamorphine Morphine Pethidine Amphetamine Cocaine
Schedule 3 drugs
Barbituates
buprenorphine
midazolam
temazepam
tramadol
gabapentin
pregabalin
Schedule 4 drugs
Benzodiazepines, zolpidem, zopiclone
Androgeneric and anabolic steroids, hCG, somatrophin
Schedule 5 drugs
Codeine
Pholcodine
Oramorph
Drug interactions with amiodarone
Decreases metabolism of warfarin (so increased INR)
Increased digoxin levels
Side effects of amiodarone
Thyroid dysfunction Corneal deposits Pulmonary fibrosis Liver fibrosis, hepatitis Peripheral neuropathy Photosensitivity Slate grey appearance Bradycardia Lengthens QT interval
What percentage of delayed prescribing scripts are used?
32%
What extra information do children need on their prescription?
Their age until age 12
Examples of quinolone antibiotics
Ciprofloxacin
Levofloxacin
What type of antibiotic is ciprofloxacin?
Quinolone
What type of antibiotic is levofloxacin?
Quinolone
Adverse effects of quinolone antibiotics
Lower seizure threshold in epilepsy
Tendon damage and rupture
Lengths QT interval
Contraindications for quinolone antibiotics
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Avoid in G6PD
Examples of macrolide antibiotics
Erythromycin
Clarithromycin
Azithromycin
Adverse effects of macrolides
Prolonged QT interval GI side effects Cholestatic jaundice P450 inhibitor (stop statins)
Azithromycin is associated with hearing loss and tinnitus
Which antibiotics associated with hearing loss?
Gentamicin
Azithromycin