Pharmacology Flashcards
What are some non-specific therapy examples?
- Correction of fluid/electrolyte balance
- Resting GI tract through starvation
- Nutritional support e.g. commercial diets
- Bland diet modification
- Pain management
What does severe/chronic vomiting lead to?
Loss of hydrogen ions causing metabolic alkalosis
What is the purpose of a temporary bland diet modification?
- Supplies easily digested protein and carbohydrate
- Limits dietary fat which can cause diarrhoea
Which pain management drugs are used for colic in horses?
NSAIDS - flunixin meglumine, dipyrone, phenylbutazone
What are very strong pain killers?
Opiates - morphine, butorphanol
What are the objectives of antacids?
- Inhibit acid secretion
- Neutralise existing acid
- Coat/protect the gastric/duodenal mucosa
Name the acid secretion inhibitors
Histamine2 blocker
e.g. cimetidine, ranitidine
What are examples of locally acting antacids that neutralise existing acid in the gut lumen?
Aluminium or magnesium salts
What is the function of Sucralfate?
Gastric protective - viscous gel at pH < 4 – binds to ulcerated protein protecting from acid / pepsin
What is the function of an emetic?
Stimulate vomiting
How do emetics function?
- Vomiting triggered by vomiting centre
- Can be centrally or peripherally stimulated
Give examples or centrally and peripherally acting emetics
Central = Apomorphine Peripheral = NaCl
What are the 3 different anti-emetics?
- Anti-histamines
- Anti-cholinergics
- Antidopaminergic agents
How to antihistamines work as anti-emetics?
Block histaminergic and cholinergic afferent pathways from vestibular organs to vomiting centre
How do anticholinergics work as anti-emetics?
Block cholinergic afferent pathways from GI tract to vomiting centre
Give 3 examples of antidopaminergic agents
- Phenothiazines
- Metoclopramide
- Neurokinin-1 antagonists
What are laxatives/cathartics used for?
- Relief of acute non-dietary constipation
- Removal of toxic ingestants
- Prevention of tenesmus
- Evacuation of bowel prior to surgery/radiography
Name the lubricant used for constipation
Liquid paraffin
What are the functions of irritant cathartic and give an example of them?
Stimulate peristalsis (movement of food aborally) & reduce fluid absorption - Castor oil
What are the functions of osmotic cathartics and give examples of them?
- Non-absorbable therefore osmotically retain water in intestinal lumen
- Magnesium sulphate
- Sodium sulphate
How does lactulose work during constipation?
Osmotic cathartic
Lactulose metabolised by colonic bacteria into organic acids (lactic, formic, acetic) – increase osmotic pressure
What must be corrected when a patient has diarrhoea, how is this done?
Dehydration
- oral rehydration therapy
What is the function of opiates in treating diarrhoea?
Inhibit acetylcholine release – increased segmental contractions and decreased peristalsis slow transit time and increase water absorption
What is the function of anti-cholinergic agents in treating diarrhoea?
- Inhibit propulsive and non-propulsive GI motility
- Also inhibit cholinergic-mediated basal secretions of GI tract
Give 3 examples of opiates
- Diphenoxylate
- Loperamide
- Codeine
When would appetite stimulants be used?
Anorexia is common in disease - an animal going off its food.
Malnutrition will exacerbate disease
Give the 3 drug types used as appetite stimulants, with an example of each
- Benzodiazepines e.g. diazepam, oxazepam
- Cyproheptadine
- Glucocorticoids e.g. prednisolone, dexamethasone
Compare a probiotic and a prebiotic
Probiotic = a sample of normal intestinal microbes Prebiotic = substrates that promote normal intestinal microbes
Give examples of drugs used as anti-inflammatories in bowel inflammation
- Sulfasalazine
- Olsalazine
- Tylosin
- Metronidazole
What are pancreatic enzyme supplements used for?
Used in treatment of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency - contains lipases, amylase, proteases
What can be used in patients with hepatic encephalopathy to reduce blood ammonia levels?
Lactulose
What are the 2 hepatobiliary cytoprotective agents?
S-adenosylmethionine
Silymarin
Vitamin E
What is a consideration when giving oral medication to calves/lambs?
Oesophageal groove must be stimulated to ensure drugs bypass the developing rumino-reticulum
The rumen should be at what pH for efficient fermentation?
5-5.7
How can closure of the oesophageal groove be induced?
Warm milk
Sodium bicarbonate
Copper sulphate
What can be used to treat mild cases of rumen acidosis?
Rumen antacids - aluminium hydroxide, calcium carbonate
What is the function of rumen acidifiers?
- Treat excessive bicarbonate influx from hyper-salivation
- Used in acute urea poisoning by converting ammonia into ammonium which reduced absorption
What different things are used in treating a medical colic?
- Anti-spasmodics = Butylscopolamine
- NSAIDS for pain
- Oral fluids for pelvic flexure impaction
