Prescription Reviews Flashcards
Types of Heparin
Unfractionated heparin (UFH) - fondaparinux, argatroban, bivalirudin
Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) - dalteparin sodium, enoxaparin sodium, tinzaparin sodium)
max dose of paracetamol
4g in 24 hours, 1g 6hrly
Essential areas to check on each prescription
PReSCRIBER
Patient details
reaction (allergies, and reactions to drugs)
Sign the front of the chart
Contraindications (for each drugs)
Route: check the route for each drug
Blood: Provide blood clot prophylaxis if needed
Emesis: provide an antiemetic if needed
Relief: Provide pain relief if needed
What should be included in patient details
new chart = 3 pieces of patient-identifying information on the front (name, dob, hospital number) or sticker
which common antibiotics have penicillin in
Tazocin and co-amoxiclav
contraindicated drugs for people who are bleeding, suspected of bleeding or at risk of bleeding
Drugs that increase bleeding: aspirin, heparin, warfarin
What can increase your risk of bleeding
Those with long prothrombin time due to long term liver disease
when is prophylactic heparin contraindicated
acute ischaemic stroke, due to the risk of bleeding into the stroke
which type of drugs do you need to be wary of when prescribing warfarin
enzyme inhibitors (e.g. Allopurinol, omeprazole, disulfiram, erythromycin, valproate, isoniazid, ciprofloxacin, ethanol, sulphonamides).
can increase warfarin effect and thus prothrombin time (PT) and INR.
Side effects of Steroids
STEROIDS
Stomach ulcers, Thin skin, oEdema, Right and left heart failure, Osteoporosis, Infection (including candida), Cushings Syndrome
Cautions and Contraindications of NSAIDs
NSAID
No urine (renal failure), Systolic dysfunction (heart failure), Asthma, Indigestion (any cause), and Dyscrasia (clotting abnormality)
Which NSAID is not contraindicated in renal or heart failure, or in asthma
Aspirin
ACE-inhibitor example and side effects
ramipril, lisinopril, enalapril
dry cough, electrolyte imbalance (hyperkalaemia), hypotension (which can lead to dizziness and headaches), fatigue, loss of taste
ARB (angiotensin receptor blockers) example and side effects
Candesartan, losartan
Headache, fainting, dizziness, fatigue, rest symptoms, vomiting and diarrhoea, back pain, leg swelling, effect blood flow to the kidneys
CCB types, examples and side effects
dihydropyridines - nifedipine, amlodipine
non-dihydropyridines - diltiazem, verapamil
oedema, fatigue, palpitations, flushing, hypotension, bradycardia
Diuretics examples and side effects
thiazide - indapemide
Loop - Bumetanide, furosemide
Potassium Sparing - Spironolactone, Eplerenone, Amiloride
Dehydration (increased urination), electrolyte imbalance (Na loss), muscle cramp, joint disorders, impotence, renal failure. Loop diuretics (e.g. furosemide) can cause gout. k-sparing diuretics (e.g. spironolactone) can cause gynaecomastia
BB example and side effects
Bisoprolol, atenolol, propanolol
tired, dizzy, light headed, cold peripheries, difficulty sleeping, avoid in asthma patients (wheeze, airway narrowing), bradycardia, worsening of acute heart failure (helps in chronic heart failure)
which routes should be considered if patient is vomiting and for which drugs
non oral (IV, IM, SC) for antiemetics
However if vomiting likely to last a short term, changing the route of other prescribed medicine is usually not necessary
Doses of common antiemetics
Same regardless of route
cyclizine - 50mg 8-hourly
metoclopramide - 10mg 8-hourly
what route should patients have their medication if they are nil by mouth
however they are prescribed, patients should still receive their oral meds, including prior to surgery (apart from those you should stop obviously)
when are IV fluids prescribed
replacement - dehydrated and acutely unwell
maintenance - if nil by mouth
Which fluid should you use as replacement?
0.9% saline unless:
hypernatraemic (high sodium) or hypoglycaemic - then give 5% dextrose
Ascites - give human-albumin solution (HAS), sodium in saline will worsen ascites
in shock with systolic BP <90mmHg, give gelofusin
is shocked from bleeding: give blood transfusion
for replacement fluids: How much fluid should you give and how fast
if tachycardia or hypotensive, give 500ml bolus immediately (250ml if heart failure), then reassess HR, BP and urine output
if oliguric (urinary output less than 400ml per day or less than 20ml per hour) and not due to urinary obstruction, then give 1l over 2-4hrs then reassess
how can observations roughly predict how fluid depleted an adult is?
reduced urine output = 500ml fluid depletion
+ tachycardia = 1l fluid depletion
+shocked = >2l of fluid depletion