Pharmacology Flashcards
What medication can cause Dupuytren’s contracture?
phenytoin
What drugs cause gingival hyperplasia?
Phenytoin, ciclosporin, calcium channel blockers - especially nifedipine
What are common side effects of thiazide diuretics?
dehydration,
postural hypotension
hypontraemia, hypokaemia, hypercalcaemia,
gout
impaired glucose tolerance, impotence
What are the adverse effects of amiodarone?
Thyroid dysfunction: both hypo and hyperthyroidism
Corneal deposits
Pulmonary fibrosis/pneumonitis
Liver fibrosis/hepatitis
Peripheral neuropathy
Photosensitivity
Bradycardia
Lengthens QT level
What are important drug interactions with amiodarone?
decreased metabolism of warfarin, therefore increased INR
increased digoxin levels
What is the moa of goserelin?
synthetic GnRH agonist - provides negative feedback to the anterior pituitary
What is Alport’s syndrome?
inherited x-linked dominant disorder - deficit in type IV collagen resulting in an abnormal GBM
What are the features of Alport’s syndrome?
microscopic haematuria
progressive renal failure
bilateral sensorineural deafness
lenticonus: protrusion of the lens surface into the anterior chamber
retinitis pigmentosa
renal biopsy
What vitamin deficiency causes bleeding gums?
Vitamin C
What vitamin deficiency causes diarrhoea, confusion and eczematous skin?
niacin
What vitamin deficiency causes osteomalacia?
vitamin D
what are the adverse effects of metoclopramide?
extrapyramidal side effects: acute dystonia e.g. oculogyric crisis
diarrhoea
hyperprolactinaemia
tardive dyskinesia
parkinsonism
what are the criteria for starting acetylcysteine in paracetamol OD?
- plasma conc is on or above a single treatment line of 100mg/L at 4 hrs
- staggered overdose (over >1 hour) or there is doubt over the time of paracetamol ingestion regardless of the plasma paracetamol concentration
- pts who present 8-24 hours after ingestion of an acute OD of more than 150mg/kg even if plasma conc is not yet available
- pts who present > 24 hrs if they are clearly jaundiced or have hepatic tenderness, their ALT is above the upper limit of normal
What is TEN?
Toxic epidermal necrolysis
Life threatening skin disorder commonly seen secondary to a drug reaction
Skin develops a scalded appearance over an extensive area
What are the features of TEN?
Systemically unwell e.g. pyrexia, tachycardia
Positive Nikolsky’s sign: the epidermis separates with mild lateral pressure
What drugs cause TEN?
Phenytoin
Sulphonamides
Allopurinol
Penicillins
Carbamazepine
NSAIDs
what should you do if you miss one COCP pill at any time in the cycle?
take the last pill even if it means taking two pills in one day and then continue taking pills daily, one each day, no additional contraceptive protection needed
what should you do if you miss 2 or more of your COCP pills?
take the last pill even if it means taking two pills in one day, leave any earlier missed pills and then continue taking pills daily, one on each day
women should use condoms or abstain from sex until she has taken pills for 7 days in a row
if pills are missed in week 1 (day1-7): emergency contraception should be considered if she had unprotected sex in the pill free interval or in week 1
if pills are missed in week 2 (day 8-14): after seven consecutive days of taking the COC there is no need for emergency contraception
if pills are missed in week 3 (day 15-21): she should finish the pills in her current pack and start a new pack the next day; thus omitting the pill free period
what are the features of organosphosphate insecticide posioning?
DUMBELS:
D - defaecation and diaphoresis
U - urinary incontinence
M - Miosis (pupil constriction)
B - bradycardia
E - emesis
L - lacrimation
S - salivation
What are symptoms of aspirin toxicity?
acute symptoms: tinnitus, vertigo, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea
Subsequent symptoms that suggest more severe intoxication: altered mental status, hyperpyrexia, non-cardiac pulmonary oedema, coma
what should you do if a patient on warfarin has INR 5-8 but no bleeding?
with-hold 1 or 2 doses of warfarin and reduce subsequent maintenance dose
what antibiotic most commonly causes cholestatic hepatitis?
co-amoxiclav
what sort of bacteria is strep pneumoniae?
gram positive
diplococci
blue/violet on gram stain
what sort of bacteria is strep pneumoniae?
gram positive
diplococci
blue/violet on gram stain
what is a phase 3 clinical trial?
comparing a new agent with an existing therapy
What are the signs of TCA overdose?
sedation, confusion, delirium, hallucinations
cardiac conduction delays, arrhythmias, hypotension and anticholinergic toxicity e.g. hyperthermia, flushing, dilated pupils are also common