Pharmacology

Question 1

How long does an IM drug injection take to take effect in our body?

Answer 1

10 - 20 mins

Question 2

How long does a SC injection take to work in our bodies?

Answer 2

15 - 30 minutes

Question 3

Describe what is meant by the “brick and mortar” analogy for the model of the stratum corneum

Answer 3

The bricks are corneocytes, containing keratin filaments.

The mortar are the lamellar structures of intercellular lipids such as cholesterol

Question 4

How are hydrophobic drugs absorbed in the skin?

Answer 4

The are dissolved in the “mortar” and so can travel through the stratum corneum.

Question 5

What features of a drug make it suitable for transdermal delivery?

Answer 5

Lipophillic, potent and with a short half life

Question 6

Describe transdermal drug delivery

Answer 6

The drug is incorporated into an adhesive patch and then applied to the epidermis

Question 7

What is electroporation?

Answer 7

A short, high voltage pulse which disrupts cell membranes and enhances their permeability allowing the drug to be morse effectively absorbed across.

Question 8

How do micro needles aid in drug delivery?

Answer 8

They puncture the stratum corneum, allowing less lipophillic drugs to cross the membrane more easily.

Question 9

How many handprint areas does 1 finger tip unit cover?

Answer 9

2

Question 10

How many fingertip units is 1g?

Answer 10

2

Question 11

How many handprint areas are covered by 1g?

Answer 11

4

Question 12

In what 4 skin conditions are topical steroids widely used?

Answer 12

Psoriasis
Excema
Lichen planus
Keloid scars

Question 13

Name 4 effects on local corticosteroids.

Answer 13

1. Anti inflammatory
2. Immunosuppressant
3. Vasoconstricting
4. Anti proliferation action upon keratinocytes and fibroblasts

Question 14

Name 5 side effect of topical steroids.

Answer 14

Thinning of the skin
Stretch marks
Purpura
Rosacea
Telangactasia
Rebound flare
Systemic absorption

Question 15

What is a cream?

Answer 15

Semi solid emulsion of oil in water

Question 16

What is a lotion?

Answer 16

Liquid suspension in water or alcohol

Question 17

What is an ointment?

Answer 17

Semisolid grease/oil

Question 18

What is a gel?

Answer 18

A thickened aqueous lotion

Question 19

What areas are lotions very good for?

Answer 19

Scalp and other hair bearing areas

Question 20

What is a paste?

Answer 20

Semi solids with finely powdered material

Question 21

What are pastes often used for?

Answer 21

Cooling, drying, soothing bandages.

Question 22

Describe briefly how steroids work

Answer 22

• Steroid hormones are lipophillic and so enter cells by diffusion.
• Within the cell the combine with an intracellular receptor and produce a conformational chang.
• This exposes the DNA binding domain.
• The receptor - steroid complex moves to the nucleus where in binds to steroid response units.
• The transcriptions then switches on/off genes to alter mRNA levels and the rate of synthesis of inflammatory mediator proteins.

Question 23

Name a mild corticosteroid cream

Answer 23

Hydrocortisone 1%

Question 24

Name a moderate corticosteroid cream

Answer 24

Modrasone/Clobetasone/Butyrate 0.05%

Question 25

Name a potent corticosteroid cream

Answer 25

Elocon/Betamethasone/Valerate 0.1%

Question 26

Name a very potent corticosteroid cream

Answer 26

Clobetasol
Proprionate
0.05%

Question 27

Why do we try and avoid the use of systemic corticosteroids in skin disease?

Answer 27

There is often a good initial rest but when the steroid are stopped there will be a huge flare up.

Question 28

In a dry skin disease patient, how much emollient should you prescribe per week?

Answer 28

250 - 500g

Question 29

When would you use a potassium permanganate rinse?

Answer 29

Acute exudative eczema, pompholyx

Question 30

What topical antibiotic therapy would you prescribe for acne?

Answer 30

Clindamycin
Erythromycin
Tetracycline

Question 31

What topical antibiotics would you prescribe for rosacea?

Answer 31

Metronidazole

Question 32

What treatments would you prescribe for infected eczema?

Answer 32

Combined corticosteroid and antibacterial

Question 33

What treatment would you prescribe for impetigo?

Answer 33

Fusidic acid, Mupirocin

Question 34

What treatment would you prescribe for a herpex simplex lesion?

Answer 34

Topical acyclovir

Question 35

What treatment would you prescribe for herpes zoster (shingles)

Answer 35

IV/Oral aciclovir or valciclovir

Question 36

What is eczema herpeticum?

Answer 36

A widespread infection with herpes simplex in a patient with previous atopic excema

Question 37

How would you treat eczema herpeticum?

Answer 37

Oral valcicovir

Question 38

What kind of treatment do you need in a candida infection?

Answer 38

Anti yeast

Question 39

What kind of treatment do you need in a ringwork infection?

Answer 39

Anti fungal

Question 40

What kind of treatment do you need in pityriasis versicolor?

Answer 40

Anti yeast

Question 41

Given an example of two antipruritics?

Answer 41

Menthol
Capsaicin
Phenol
Coramiton

Question 42

What topical treatments could you prescribe for viral warts?

Answer 42

Keratolytics to soften the keratin

Question 43

How would you treat keratin plaques in the scalp?

Answer 43

Keratolytics

Question 44

How would you treat corns and calluses?

Answer 44

Keratolytics

Question 45

Give examples of treatments of warts:

Answer 45

Mechanical paring
Keratolytics (such as salicylic acid)
Formaldehyde
Silver nitrate
Cryotherapy using liquid nitrogen

Question 46

How do you treat genital warts?

Answer 46

Podophyllin

Question 47

How do you treat pruritus ahi?

Answer 47

Phenol/Camphor

Question 48

List some treatments used in psoriasis

Answer 48

1. Emollients
2. Coal tar
3. Keratolytic
4. Topical steroid
5. Dithranol

Question 49

List some treatments used in scalp psoriasis

Answer 49

1. Greasy ointments to soften scale
2. Tar shampoo
3. Steroids in alcohol base
4. Vitamin D analogue