Pharmacology (3.3) Flashcards

1
Q

What is the oral conventional treatment and topical treatment?

A

Oral conventional tx: Paracetamol, NSAIDs (including aspirin), codeine-containing analgesics.

Topical: NSAIDs, capsaicin (rubefacients)

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2
Q

PGH2 is divided into PGE2, PGD2,PGF2α, PGI2, TXA2

What do these eicosanoids do?

Eicosanoids are derived from arachidonic acid (C-20)

A
  • PGD2 : Mastcells
  • PGE2 : Macrophages
  • PGF2α : Corpus luteum (contraction of uterus)
  • PGI2 : Vascular endothelium
  • TXA2 : Platelets
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3
Q

What is the structural differences between COX-1 and COX-2

A
  • COX-1 has a active site
  • COX-2 has a hydophilic side pocket and hydrophobic channel
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4
Q

How do NSAIDs work?

A
  • Decrease levels of inflammatory mediators generated at site of tissue injury
  • Inhibits cyclooxygenase (this catalyses conversion of aa to pg, sensitize nerves to painful stimuli)
  • COX-1(constitutive), COX-2(constitutitve kidney/brain only, induced during inflammation), COX-3 (variant of COX-1 in CNS –> paracetamol wors here)
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5
Q

Describe the inhibition of cox

A
  • Reversible (except Aspirin)
  • competitive
  • Duration of action depends on pharmacokinetic clearance
  • Good oral absorption; protein bound; glomerular filtration or tubular secretion
  • Most (including Aspirin) organic acids (actively) –> accumulate at sites of inflammation
  • Some NSAIDs – strong O2 radical scavenging effects (secondary action)

Acute relief – use short ½ life (<6h)

Chronic relief – use long ½ life (>12 to 48h)

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6
Q

How does pain relief work?

A
  • Mild analgesics
  • Type of pain & level of intensity affect usefulness

> effective against pain due to local stimulation of pain fibres & hyperalgesia

> Eg, Endometrium release of PG during menstruation

> Bradykinin, TNFα, IL-1 all cause activation of prostaglandin-sensitive nociceptors

  • May also affect CNS, but at sites removed from opioid drugs

Headache relief: removal of vasodilator effect of cerebral vasculature

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7
Q

How does relief of fever work?

A
  • infection or tissue damage
  • Enhanced production of IL-1, IL-6, INF-α & β, TNFα
  • increased synthesis of PGE2 in hypothalamus –> this region controls temp regulation
  • PGE2 causes increase in body temp

NSAIDs reduces the PGE 2 - countering the effect above

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8
Q

How do selective inhibitors work specifically COX-1 and COX-2

A

Inhibit cox-2 but not cox-1

  • *Cox-1:** constitutive - homeostasis
  • *Cox-2:** induced during inflammation
  • large amounts of prostaglandins at site of inflammation
  • main cause of pathophysiological process
  • different sub set of PGs created

Inhibition supposed to share physiological PG synthesis (much less side effects)

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9
Q

What are side effects of current NSAIDs

A

Gastrointestinal ulceration - bleeding (MOST COMMON)

  • Ibuprofen/diclofenac (low)
  • COX-2 inhibitors (lower)
  • Use misoprostol (PGE1 analogue) to act on pariteal cells

Skin reactions - topical NSAIDs

  • Mild rashes

Blockade of platelet aggregation

Inhibition of uterine motility

Renal function

  • Decreased blood flow
  • Congestive heart failure if renal disease present
  • Increased NA and h20 retention
  • Increased K+ reabsorption

May cause hypertension

Hypersensitvity reactions

  • Aspirin most pronounced – bronchospasms
  • Mechanism via excess leukotrines

Dementia in elderly

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10
Q

CI of NSAIDs?

A
  • Active peptic ulcer. GI bleed
  • Aspirin hypersensitivity
  • Considerations

Considerations

  • Direct heart issues, hypertension, asthma, renal impairment, surgery, elederly, 3rd trisemester pregnancy - breastfeeding
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11
Q

Paradoxical effects of NSAID

A

NSAIDs potential to be pro-inflammatory

  • PGE2 and PGI2
  • Reduce toxic O2• from neutrophils
  • Reduce lymphocyte action
  • Reduce lysosomal enzyme release

NSAIDs would reverse this

> long term, could worsen condition

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12
Q

For paracetamol (Acetaminophen);

A) How does it work

B) Advantages

C) Side effects

D) Metabolism

A

A)

  • Analgesic & antipyretic effects similar to aspirin
  • COX inhibition in CNS (COX-3)
  • weak anti-inflammatory effects in periphery
  • no effect on cardiovascular or respiratory systems
  • No acid-base changes

B)

  • no gastric effects: ie bleeding, irritation or erosion
  • no platelet effects
  • substitute for aspirin for headache,fever and use with NSAIDs in RA and OA

C)

  • occasional rash
  • chronic use - renal toxicity

D)

  • 2-4 hour plasma ½ life
  • 4-8 hours for very high doses
  • If overdose (saturation of normal conjugating enzymes) –> increase glutathione in cells to overcome toxicity
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13
Q

For Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid);

A) How does it work

B) What is it used for

C) toxicities?

D) Kinetics

A

A)

  • Non selective
  • Irreversible acetylation of different serine residues between COX-1 & COX-2
  • Prevents access of arachidonic acid to active site of COX
  • Duration of effect determined by tissue capacity to regenerate COX
  • Stimulates lipoxin synth (Act on PMN-leukocytes to oppose proinflam action = “stop signal”)

B)

  • Benchmark for inflammation treatment in RA
  • Alleviate pain, fever in inflammatory conditions
  • Antipyretic
  • Reduces risk of colon cancer,cvd (for diabetics in elderly)

C)

  • Chronic - headache, nausea, tinnitus, confusion, drowsiness
  • Severe - convulsions, coma, acid-base disturbances, haemorrhagic phenomena, hyperpyrexia, cardiovascular collapse, CNS depression

D)

  • Dose dependent
  • Only aspirin covalent binding of COX
  • rapid hydrolysis to salicylate
  • t ½ for platelet action (15 min) – most common use
  • t ½ for general action 3h - 15h (dose dependant)
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14
Q

What is Reyes syndrome?

A
  • Do not use salicylates (Aspirin) in children or adolescents with chickenpox or influenza
  • Severe hepatic injury
  • Encephalopathy
  • Aspirin and viral illness may combine to damage mitochondria
  • Increased CO2 = increased respiration
  • Increased water sweat + respiratory acidosis
  • Rare but often fatal
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15
Q

Interactions of aspirin

A
  • increases effect of warfarin (aspirin only)
  • reduce urate excretion
  • interferes with probenecid and sulfinpyrazone
  • Methotrexate - impairs excretion
  • Reduces effectiveness of ACE inhibitors
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16
Q

What are fenamates used for?

A

Mefenamic Acid (Ponstan/Mefic)

  • dysmenorrhoea (period cramps)
  • inflammation associated pain

Short half life (2-4 hours)

Most common side effects:

  • 25% G.I. tract – including diarrhoea
  • some isolated haemolytic anaemia
  • Some skin rashes
17
Q

What are heteroaryl acetic acids? Give some examples

A

Diclofenac (Voltaren)

  • RA, OA, AS

Ketorolac (Toradol)​

  • post operative pain​
18
Q

What are some examples of Arylpropionic acids? What are they used for

A

Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Ketoprofen, Tiaprofenic Acid

  • RA, OA, AS, Acute gouty arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, dysmenorrhoea, migraine​
  • Comparable to aspirin
  • Less side effect intensity than high dose aspirin
  • Drugs of choice
  • Ibuprofen for patients with NSAID GI problems
  • 99% plasma protein bound
  • All alter platelet function & prolong bleeding time
  • Ibuprofen – liver metabolised % renal cleared
19
Q

What are enolic acids? What are they used for

A

Piroxicam (Feldene), Meloxicam (Mobic)

  • RA, OA, AS
  • Equivalent to aspirin
  • Long half life (30-60h)
  • Single daily dose
  • Effects on neutrophil activation, COX & collagenase
  • Greater Na+ & H2O retention
20
Q

What is diaryl substituted pyrazole?

A

Celecoxib

  • Contra-indications: if hypersensitive to other NSAID or with allergies to sulfonamides
  • OA, RA, dysmenorrhoea
  • More selective for COX-2
21
Q

What is Parecoxib (dynastat)

A

Prodrug of Valdecoxib (itself removed from sale)

  • IM (slow and deep) or IV inject (bolus ok)
  • Only for post operative pain relief
  • Onset of analgesia (10min) , peak effect <2 hours
  • increased risk of cardiovascular - thrombotic complications & anaemia. Also risk of renal impairment
22
Q

General points

A
  • If no beneficial effects seen in 2-3 weeks –> try another NSAID
  • No need to combine NSAIDs – no added effects
  • If on high level NSAIDs for extended periods (check liver function, blood count, creatinine CLR yearly)
  • New evidence of hearing loss across whole group
  • Codeine = part of nsaid combinations
23
Q

What is codeine?

A
  • Analgesic effect depends exclusively on demethylation to morphine
  • Converted to morphine by CYP2D6
  • Effect and side effects similar to low-dose morphine
  • Incidence of nausea and constipation limits its use
  • Given orally for mild to moderate pain
24
Q

What is Capsaicin - desensitiser

A
  • One of active ingredients of pepper spray (from Chilli peppers)
  • Seemingly paradoxical use of a pain causing agent to initiate pain relief
  • Allows so much extra Ca2+, Na+ & other cations into cell that it leads to nerve terminal degeneration
  • Takes many days to weeks to recover and heal the damage caused
  • In meantime – nerve terminal not able to forward signal to brain
  • initial sharp pain, followed by no pain for days. Also causes Vascular relaxation, increasing blood flow to skin (Rubefacient)

Adverse effects

  • If pain or original irritation in skin is strong prior to application – then further irritation caused by this agent may limit use in overly sensitive patients
  • Hypothermia: This should not occur if only used in localised topical settings