Prescribing Flashcards
What dose of statin is used for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease?
Primary: 20 mg atorvastatin
Secondary: 80 mg atorvastatin
NOTE: rosuvastatin is a potent statin that is more likely to cause statin-induced myopathy
What dose of oral metronidazole is used to treat C. difficile infection?
400 mg every 8 hours for 10-14 days
Alternative: 500 mg every 8 hours
IMPORTANT: oral vancomycin should be used if it is a second episode of C. difficile colitis
What dose of omeprazole is used for peptic ulcers, gastro-oesophageal reflux and the prevention of ulcers?
Omeprazole 20 mg OD (usually for 4-8 weeks)
What is the first-line treatment option for cellulitis?
Oral flucloxacillin 250-500 mg QDS
2nd line: oral clarithromycin 250 mg BD for 7–14 days (up to 500 mg BD for severe infections)
Which dose of cyclizine is used in nauseated patients?
Cyclizine 50 mg 8-hourly IM/IV/oral
WARNING: can cause fluid retention so avoid in heart failure
What is the maximum dose of PRN paracetamol?
Paracetamol 1 g every 6 hours (maximum 4 g/day)
Which PRN pain relief should be given for patients with mild pain?
Codeine 30 mg up to 6-hourly
Which regular medication should be prescribed for patients with severe pain?
Co-codamol 30/500, 2 tablets every 6-hours
WARNING: pay attention to how much paracetamol a patient is taking if they are taking PRN co-codamol and regular paracetamol
Which PRN medication should be prescribed for severe pain?
Morphine sulphate 10 mg up to 6-hourly
Which medications are used first-line in neuropathic pain?
Amitriptyline 10 mg oral nightly
Pregabalin 75 mg oral 12-hourly
What dose of ibuprofen should be used for pain?
Ibuprofen 400 mg 8-hourly
What is the dividing factor for dosing when switching patients from oral codeine to oral morphine?
Divide by 10
Same with oral tramadol to oral morphine
For patients with advanced and progressive disease who are in pain, what should be prescribed provided there are no comorbidities?
20-30 mg modified-release oral morphine (or immediate-release based on patient preference) - e.g. 15 mg BD
With 5 mg immediate-release oral morphine for breakthrough pain
If a patient on 30 mg morphine sulphate BD is switched onto a syringe driver, what dose of subcutaneous morphine should be given?
30 mg in 24 hours
NOTE: if changing to SC morphine from oral morphine, the dose should be divided by 2 or 3
NOTE: if changing to SC diamorphine, it should be divided by 3
What should be coprescribed in patients who develop pneumonia after influenza?
Flucloxacillin (cover S. aureus)
What does 1% mean with regards to weight/volume calculations? (e.g. 1% lidocaine)
1 g in 100 mL (i.e. 10 mg in 1 mL)
What does PReSCRIBER stand for?
Patient details (name, DOB and hospital number)
Reaction (e.g. allergy)
Sign the front of the chart
Contraindications to each drug
Route
IV fluids necessary?
Blood clotting prophylaxis necessary?
Anti-Emetic necessary?
Pain Relief necessary?
What is the starting dose of ramipril and lisinopril in heart failure?
Ramipril: 1.25 mg OD
Lisinopril/Enalapril: 2.5 mg OD
When should ACE inhibitors be taken?
In the evening/night as it can cause postural hypotension
What dose of verapamil is used for rate control in atrial fibrillation?
40 mg 8-hourly
What is the usual daily starting dose of levothyroxine in hypothyroidism?
50-100 mcg
NOTE: in elderly patients and patients with comorbidities, a starting dose of 25 mcg OD may be used
What is the usual dose of amlodipine used for hypertension?
5 mg OD
Maximum of 10 mg OD
NOTE: it does not need to be taken at night
Which medications are usually taken at night?
Statins
Amitryptiline
NOTE: atorvastatin can be taken at any time of the day
What is an appropriate starting regime of analgesia for palliative patients?
20-30 mg per day of modified-release morphine + 5 mg morphine for breakthrough pain
Outline the rules for converting doses of opioids.
Oral codeine –> oral morphine = divide by 10
Oral tramadol –> oral morphine = divide by 10
Oral morphine –> oral oxycodone = divide by 1.5-2
Oral morphine –> SC morphine = divide by 2
Oral morphine –> SC diamorphine = divide by 3
Which opioids are preferred in CKD?
Buprenorphine and alfentanil
NOTE: the same drug should be used for maintenance and break-through pain (e.g. fentanyl 50 mcg/actuation nasal spray in each nostril repeated after 10 mins if required)
Which analgesic should you prescribe to a patient with renal colic?
IM diclofenac 75 mg
How big should the breakthrough dose of morphine be?
1/6 of the daily dose
What is the starting dose of methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis?
7.5 mg weekly
5 mg folic acid should be co-prescribed, to be taken more than 24 hours after the methotrexate dose
NOTE: methotrexate is available in 2.5 mg pills
List some p450 inducers.
Antiepileptics (phenytoin, carbamazepine)
Phenobarbitone
Rifampicin
St. John’s wort
Chronic alcohol intake
Griseofulvin
Smoking
List some p450 inhibitors.
Antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, clarithromycine/erythromycin)
Isoniazid
Cimetidine, omeprazole
Amiodarone
Allopurinol
Imidazoles: ketoconazole, fluconazole
SSRIs: fluoxetine, sertraline
Ritonavir
Sodium valproate
Acute alcohol intake
What are some adverse drug reactions associated with gentamicin and vancomycin?
Nephrotoxicity
Ototoxicity
Which antibiotics are particularly notorious for causing C. difficile colitis?
Cephalosporins
Ciprofloxacin
List some adverse effects of ACE inhibitors.
Hypotension
Electrolyte abnormalities (hyperkalaemia)
AKI
Dry cough
List some adverse effects of beta-blockers.
Hypotension
Bradycardia
Wheeze in asthmatics
Worsens acute heart failure (drops CO)
List some adverse effects of CCBs.
Hypotension
Bradycardia
Peripheral oedema
Flushing
List some adverse effects of heparins.
Haemorrhage (especially if renal failure or < 50 kg)
Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia
List some adverse effects of aspirin.
Haemorrhage
Peptic ulcers
Tinnitus
List some adverse effects of digoxin.
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhoea
Blurred vision
Confusion
Drowsiness
Xanthopsia (yellow-green visual perception)
List some adverse effects of amiodarone.
Interstitial lung disease
Thyroid disease
Grey skin
Corneal deposits
List some adverse effects of lithium.
Early - tremor
Intermediate - tiredness
Late - arrhythmias, seizures, coma, renal failure, diabetes insipidus
List some adverse effects of statins.
Myalgia
Abdominal pain
Increased ALT/AST
Rhabdomyolysis
List some common drugs that have a narrow therapeutic index.
Warfarin
Digoxin
Phenytoin
Theophylline
Which commonly used medications should be stopped before surgery?
Antiplatelets
Anticoagulants
COCP
Lithium (omit the day before surgery)
What is the usual daily dose of alendronic acid?
10 mg
NOTE: 70 mg can be given WEEKLY in patients with post-menopausal osteoporosis
List some commonly used classes of medication that cause indigestion.
NSAIDs
Steroids
Bisphosphonates
What is the usual treatment dose of enoxaparin?
1.5 mg/kg
NOTE: 40 mg is the prophylactic dose
Which medications can reduce renal excretion of lithium?
ACE inhibitors
Diuretics (particularly thiazides)
NSAIDs
NOTE: if diuretics must be used in a patient on lithium, use loop diuretics
What is the target range for TSH in a patient with hyperthyroidism?
0.5-5.0 microU/L
When might you expect fluid input to be greater than fluid output in a patient?
Correction of dehydration
Renal failure
What are the daily maintenance requirements of fluid and potassium when NBM?
Fluid: 3 L (i.e. 1 L per 8 hours)
K+: 40-60 mmol
So, 1 L 0.9% saline with 20 mmol KCl over 8 hours