Pharmacology

Question 1

Antiemetics (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 1

Use: An antiemetic is a drug that is effective against vomiting and nausea. Antiemetics are typically used to treat motion sickness and the side effects of opioid analgesics and general anaesthetics.
Side effects: drowsiness, dry mouth, mild nausea, stomach pain and headache, fever,
ADR’s: hearing loss
Common drugs: metoclopramide, prochlorperazine, domperidone

Question 2

analgesics (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 2

Use: Pain relief
Side effects: constipation, nausea, vomiting, sedation, depression of respiratory centre
ADR’s: dependence
Antidote: Naloxone reverses effect of opioid drugs in over doses; Parvolex, paracetamol overdose
Common drugs: opioid, NSAIDS, DMARDS, benzodiazepines,

Question 3

diuretics (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 3

renal
Use: Promotes production of urine
Side effects: fluid and electrolyte disturbance, dry mouth, muscle cramps, hypokalaemia, transient deafness, hypotension, blood dyscrasias, dizziness, fatigue, dehydration Frusemide – hyperglycaemia, glycosuria, visual disturbance, transient deafness
Common drugs: loop diuretics, thiazide diuretics, aldactone, amiloride, triameterene, osmotic diuretics, barbonic adhydrase inhibitors

Question 4

anti hypertensive (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 4

cardiac
Use: treat hypertension
Side effects: first dose effect: headache, drowsiness, light-headedness, weakness, fatigue, dry mouth, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, rash
ADR: hypotension
Common drugs: alpha adrenoreceptor blocking agents, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin-II-receptor antagonists, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, peripheral vasodialator,

Question 5

antiarrhythmia (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 5

cardiac
Use: AF, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, arrhythmias
Side effects: bradycardia, ectopic beats, confusion, headache, nightmares
Common drugs: Digoxin, disopyramine, lignocaine, flecanide, atentolol, amiodarone, verapamil

Question 6

anticoagulant (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 6

Vascular and cardiac
Use: prevents coagulation of blood (blood clots)
Side effects: Haemorrhage, local irritation, mild pain, osteoporosis, arrhythmias, hypotension, hypersensitivity, fever
Common drugs: heparin, asprin, thrombolytics,

Question 7

anti-infective (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 7

Use: treatment of infection
Side effects: Ototoxicity, nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, rarely hepatotoxicity, GI effects, hypersensitivity, rash, fever, muscle weakness, blood dyscrasias, bone marrow suppression
Common drugs: aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fluroquinolones, penicillins

Question 8

bronchodilators (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 8

respiratory
Use: dilates the bronchioles and airways
Side effects: headache, tachycardia, palpitations, tremor
ADR’s: hypokalaemia
Common drugs: Subutamol, salmeterol, Theophylline, Budesonide, sympathomimetic brocnhodialators,

Question 9

steroids (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 9

respiratory
Use: Used in chronic asthma to decrease airway obstruction due to inflammation.
Side effects: dry mouth and throat, hoarse voice, opportunistic oral infections
Common drugs: corticosteroids, systemic corticosteroids, mast cell stabilisers,

Question 10

insulin/oral hypoglycaemic agents (use, side effects, ADR’s)

Answer 10

endocrine
Use: reduce blood sugar levels, hyperglycaemia
Side effects: hypoglycaemia: tremor, sweating, hunger, palpitations, pallor, dizziness, slurred speech, insulin resistance
ADR’s: hypokalaemia
Common drugs: insulin (lispro, regular, isophane, ultralete, mixtard), sulphonylureas, biguinides, meglitinides, glitazones

Question 11

hormones

Answer 11

endocrine
Use: insufficiency of naturally occurring hormones, increase hormone levels
Side effects: hypersensitivity, fluid retention, hypertension, electrolyte imbalance
Common drugs: carbimazole, thyroxine, vasopressin, corticotrophic hormone,