Pharmacology Top Drugs Flashcards

Most commonly prescribed drugs and their uses

1
Q

Alendronic acid (Alendronate)

A

To treat/prevent OSTEOPOROSIS

  • It’s a Bisphosphonate (class of dugs used to prevent bone loss)
  • Patient needs to stand or sit UPRIGHT

Contraindications:

  • Hypocalcaemia (need to be corrected before treatment)
  • Patients that cant stand/ sit upright for 30min
  • Pregnant/trying to become pregnant
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Amlodipine

A

Treat HYPERTENSION

Treatment/Prohphylaxis for heart disease, MI, stroke, etc

CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER ( others e.g. Felodipine, Nicardipine etc)

Ca channel blockers usually first line in afrocarribean patients

Contraindications:

  • Pregancy
  • Liver or kidney disease
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Amoxycillin

A

Antibiotic, bacterial infections. (E.g. chest infections/pneumonia, UTI etc)

Contraindications:
- Allergic reaction to penicillin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Aspirin

A

Pain relief as an NSAID

OR

Daily low dose as ANTIPLATELET:
lower risk of CVD etc

Contraindications:

  • children under 16
  • Peptic ulcers or history of peptic ulcers (fairly common to prescribe PPI in patients that take NSAIDs chronically)
  • Haemophilia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Bendroflumethiazide

A

Thiazide DIURETIC used for:

  • Odema of cardiac, hepatic, renal origin
  • High blood pressure

Contraindications:

  • Hyponatremia
  • Hypokalaemia
  • Caution with renal or hepatic impairment
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Amitriptyline

A

Treatment of DEPRESSION (NOT RECOMMENDED, INC RISK OF FATALITY IN OVERDOSE)

OR

Pain releif:

  • Neuropathic pain (unlicensed use)
  • Migrane prophylaxis (unlicensed use)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Bisoprolol

A

Treat high blood pressure HYPERTENSION
Treatment/prophylaxis of CVD (angina, stroke, MI etc)

BETA BLOCKER ( others e.g. Propranolol, Atenolol etc)

Contraindications:

  • Asthama
  • Hypotension
  • Bradycardia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Celecoxib

A

NSAID
Treating pain and inflammation of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis

Contraindications:
- Gastro intestinal bleeding 
- GI ulceration 
- Ischaemic heart 
- Mild/severe heart failure
(Controversial possibility of it increasing risk of heart attacks) therefore causation with cardiac patients

(Celecoxib, diclofenac, naproxen arth pain)
CELECOXIB SEEMS TO BE THE MOST EFFECTIVE AND SAFEST IN TREATING OSTEOARTHRIRITS BETWEEN THE 3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Cetirizine

A

Antihistamine, ALLERGY, hayfever

Mild/moderate allergy symptoms, hayfever, sneezing, runny nose, eczema, etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Co-trimoxazole

Combination of Sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim= co-trimoxazole

A

Combination of 2 ANTIBIOTICS

Treatment bacterial infections e.g:

  • PNEUMOCYSTIS PNEUMONIA (commonly seen in AIDS)
  • UTI
  • Ear infection
  • etc
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Cyclosporin

A

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT

  • Organ transplantation
  • Bone marrow transplantation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Diamorphine

A

Strong OPIOD

  • Cancer pain
  • Surgical operation pain
  • Possibility for chronic pain use
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Diclofenac

A

NSAID pain swelling inflammation etc

  • MSK disorders e.g Gout
  • Rheumatoid arthritis pain and inflammation
  • Osteoarthritis
    (Diclofenac, Celecoxib, or Naproxen can be used for arth)
  • Postoperative pain
  • Migrane
  • Back pain
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Doxycycline

A

ANTIBIOTIC

  • PNEUMONIA (Doxcycline OR Macrolides such as azithromycin, erythromycin, clarithromycin etc used as first line med for pneumonia )

(Can be given adjunct to quinine for malaria)
- STI’s e.g Chlamydia
- Skin infections
etc

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Gentamycin

A

ANTIBIOTIC

  • Eye infections
  • Ear infections
  • certain endocarditis
  • CNS infections
    etc
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q
Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
e.g GTN spray
A

Treat ANGINA

  • Treatmetn after angina occurs
  • Prophylaxis to prevent angina occurring
  • Anal fissures (tear of skin around anal) (GTN inc blood supply to fissure so faster healing time etc)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Hydrocortisone

A

CORTICOSTEROID

exists as creams, lotions, ointments, IV etc

  • IV for angiodema of upper resp tract and anyphalxis (adjunct to adrenaline)
  • Mild eczemas
  • Nappy rash
  • Psoriasis
  • Life threatening acute asthma IV
  • Hormaone replacement therapy in adrenocortical insufficiency
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Lansoprazole Omeprazole Esomeprazole etc

A

PROTTON PUMP INHIBITORS (PPI)
dec stomach acid

  • Heart burn/Acid reflux
  • GORD
  • Treat/prevent gastric, duodenal ulcers
  • Helicobacter pylori eradication
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Metformin

A

DEC BLOOD SUGAR (BIGUANIDE)
First line med for TYPE 2 DIABETES

Works by inhibiting gluconeogensis in liver and increasing sensitivity to insulin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Methotrexate

A

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT

  • Severe chron’s disease
  • Moderate/sever Rheumatoid arthritis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Nitrofurantoin

A

ANTIBIOTIC

  • FIRST LINE UTI TREATMENT (trimethoprim also first line option)
  • UTI treatment/prophylaxis
  • lower and upper urinary tract
  • also kidney infections

Can be used for UTI in pregancy, unlike trimethoprim

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Oxybutin

A

OVERACTIVE BLADDER

  • Urinary urgency
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Frequent urination
  • Nocturnal Bladder instability
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Salbutamol

A

Asthma (short acting beta2-adrenergic agonist)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Simvastatin

A

STATIN lower cholesterol

  • Hypercholesterolaemia
  • Prophylaxis of CVD
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Tamoxifen

A

OESTROGEN INHIBITOR

  • Oestrogen-receptor positive Breast cancer
  • Gynaecomastia ( in men if radiotherapy unsuccessful)
  • Anovulatory infertility (infertility due to lack of ovulation)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Trimethoprim

A

ANTIBIOTIC

  • (Trimethoprim or Nitrofurantoin usually one of them first line UTI treatment)
  • mainly used to treat UTI
  • also prophylaxis of UTI
  • sometimes other infections such as Chest, Ear etc

(Also used in combination with sulfamethoxazole= Co-trimoxazole —> pneumocystis pneumonia= Opportunistic infection seen in AIDS and other conditions)

AVOID IN PREGNANCY (use Nitrofurantoin instead)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Warfarin

A

ANTICOAGULATN

  • ‘blood thinner’
  • inhibits liver utilisation of vitk to produce clotting factors
  • Prophylaxis and treatment of CVD, MI, Thrombus, Embolism etc
28
Q

Tamsulosin

A

Treatment of PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA
(benign prostate enlargement)

ITS AN ALPHA BLOCKER LIKE DOXAZOSIN

29
Q

Tramadol

A

OPIOD Pain killer

  • Moderative to sever pain
  • Post operative pain

side effects of all opioids:

  • Respiratory depression
  • Addiction/Withdrawal

Overdose:

  • Can induce coma
  • Pinpoint pupils
  • Respiratory depression
30
Q

Atenolol

A

Treat HYPERTENSION, ANGINA, ARRYHTMIAS
BETA BLOCKER

also:

  • Migraine prophylaxis
  • early IV intervention within 12hours of MI
31
Q

Chloramphenicol

A

ANTIBIOTIC

  • EYE INFECTIONS (e.g. CONJUCTIVITIS)
  • OTITIS EXTERNA INFECTION

also
- Life threatening infections e.g. Typhoid fever

32
Q

Ciprofloxacin

A
ANTIBIOTIC 
(fluoroquinolone type e.g. gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin etc)
- EYE INFECTIONS 
- OTITIS EXTERNA INFECTION
- RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS 
- UTI's
33
Q

Mebendazole

A

WORM INFECTIONS (Anti-parasite med)

  • THREADWORM commonest in UK
  • Hookworm
  • Whipworm
  • Pork, fish, dog tapeworms etc
34
Q

Chloroquine and/or Quinine

A

treatment and prophylaxis MALRAIA (plasmodium falciparum)

35
Q

Allopurinol

A

GOUT treatment and prophylaxis
Prophylaxis of certain kidney stones

Decreases uric acid levels

36
Q

Naproxen

A

JOINT PAIN
Rheumatoid/Osteoarthritis, Gout

NSAID
(Celecoxib, diclofenac, naproxen)

COMMON SIDE EFFECT OF MANY NSAIDS ESPECIALLY IBUPROFEN AND NAPROXEN IS CONSTRIPATION

37
Q

Piperacillin + Tazobactam

A

Common combination

Used in COMPLICATED INFECTIONS- Beta lactamase RESISTANT infections

Piperacillin is a penicillin
Tazobactam is a Beta lactamase inhibitor

38
Q

Ramipril

A

Treat HYPERTENSION
MI prophylaxis in heart failure patients

ACE inhibitor
(pril suffix is usually ACE inhibitor, e.g. Benzapril, Lisinopril, Captopril etc)

(Diuretics typically better+safer as initial treatment for some patients with hypertension compared to ACE inhibitors since ACE inhibitors can cause hyperkalemia, not much risk in normal patients but risk in kidney disease/renal failure patients)

In affrocaribeanpatiens typically ca channel blockers first line

In non affrocaribean typically ACE or ARB

39
Q

Furosemide

A

LOOP DIURETIC
OEDEMA, RESISTANT HYPERTENSION

loop diuretics work by inhibiting NKCC2 , so less Na, K, Cl reabsorbed in loop of henle
Therefore can promote hypokalemia

40
Q

Give examples of Opiods

A
Morphine, Codeine, Tramadol
Diamorphine, Oxycodone, Dihydrocodeine 
Fentanyl
Buprenorphine = Partial agonist
Co-codamol = Combined Codeine+Paracetamol
41
Q

Drug used to treat Opiod overdose

A

NALOXONE = opiod antagonist

Opiod cautions:

  • Addiction
  • Respirstory depression
42
Q

Paracetamol overdose potential treatment

A
  • ACTIVATED CHARCOAL

- serious overdose= ACETYLCYSTEINE

43
Q

Aspirin overdose potential treatment

A

SODIUM BICARBONATE

44
Q

What drug would you use to treat anaphylaxis

A

ADRENALINE

After resuscitation give an antihistamine
such as CHLORPHENAMINE

45
Q

Split opiods into weak and strong opiods

A

MILD TO MODERATE PAIN, WEAK OPIODS:

  • Tramadol
  • Codeine
  • Dihydrocodiene

MODERATE TO SEVERE PAIN, STRONG OPIODS:

  • Morphine
  • Oxycodone
  • Fentanyl
  • Buprenorphine
46
Q

Heparin (i.e. Unfractionated Heparin) Vs Low molecular weight Heparins (LMWHs)

A

LMWHs e.g. Enoxaparin, Dalteparin, Bemiparin

47
Q

Donepezil

A

Treat/Slow down some types of DEMENTIA

ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE INHIBITOR

48
Q

Give examples of classes of BP lowering medications

A
  • Beta blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Alpha blockers (Alpha 1 adrenergic receptors promotes vasoconstriction)
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Combined alpha-beta blockers
  • Diuretics
49
Q

Enoxaparin

A

THROMBOPROPHYLAXIS, treatment of some DVT in some patients

LOW MOLECULAR WEIGHT HEPARIN

50
Q

What is a first line med for post-operative nausea and vomiting (antiemetic)

A

Prochlorperazine or Cyclizine

Prochlorperazine blocks dopamine receptors, so AVOID USE IN e.g. PARKINSONS patients

51
Q

Meds used to treate addison’s

A

Hydrocortisone to replace cortisol

Fludrocortisone to replace aldosterone

52
Q

How do sulfonylureas work

A

Sometimes used in T2D treatment
Work by inc insulin release from beta pancreatic cells by binding to the K ATPase channel on the beta cell

e.g.GLICLAZIDE

52
Q

Fluconozole

A

Anti-fungal

53
Q

What drug is used to treat Hypothyroidism

A

Levothyroxine (T4)

54
Q

What drug is used to treat hyperthyroidism

A

Carbimazole

Serious potential side effect is agranulocytosis, 1% prevalence, fist sign is sore through so stop treatment if sore throught

55
Q

Fluconazole, Nystatin

A

Anti-fungal medication (e.g Onychomycosis = fungal nail)

56
Q

Amiodarone

A

Treatment of ARRHYTHMIAS (e.g. AF, tachycardias, ventricular fibrillation etc) Particularly when other drugs are ineffective or contraindicated

CAN PROMOTE HYPO & HYPERTHYROIDISM due to its high iodine content

SIDE EFFECT MAY CAUSE GYNACOMASTIA

57
Q

Atracurium

A
NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKADE (neuromuscular blocking drugs) 
Used in anaesthesia for surgery
58
Q

Azathioprine

A

IMMUNOSUPPRESSANT used in RH ARTHRITIS, CHRON’S DISEASE, ULCERATIVE COLITIS etc

59
Q

Metronidazole

A

Clostridium difficile infection

60
Q

First line steph aureus antibiotic

A

Flucloxacillin (resistant to beta lactamase)

61
Q

Primaquine

A

Used un conjunction with chloroquine/quinine in malaria to eliminated dormant hypnozoites

62
Q

Digoxin

A

Used to treat ATRIAL FIBRILATION AF

MAY CAUSE GYNACOMASTIA

63
Q

Spironolactone

A

Aldosterone antagonist , used in e.g. conns syndrome

64
Q

Amiloride

A

K sparing diuretic

65
Q

Doxazosin

A

Alpha blocker