PSA Flashcards
Drugs contraindicated in asthmatics and COPD patients
- Beta Blockers
- NSAIDs
- Adenosine
What are exacerbating factors of psoriasis?
- trauma
- alcohol
- drugs: beta blockers, lithium, antimalarials (chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine), NSAIDs and ACE inhibitors, infliximab
- withdrawal of systemic steroids
What medications could exacerbate heart failure? Contraindicated
- VERAPAMIL - negative inotropic effect
- NSAIDs/GLUCOCORTICOIDS - should be used with caution as they cause fluid retention, low-dose aspirin is an exception - many patients have coexistent CVD and benefits of taking aspirin outweigh risks
- Thiazolidinediones, PIOGLITAZONE is contraindicated as it causes fluid retention
- Class I antiarrhythmics - Flecainide
What two drugs should never be prescribed together as it may cause life-threatening bradycardias?
Beta Blockers and Verapamil
What medications are usually prescribed weekly in the UK?
- Bisphosphonates - Alendronate (alendronic acid)
- Methotrexate
Also folic acid IF methotrexate is also being prescribed, or as a prophylaxis of folate deficiency in patients receiving parenteral nutrition, otherwise in other scenarios it is given daily
What are some common side effects of sulfonylureas (gliclazide)?
Hypoglycaemia
Weight gain
Hyponatraemia secondary to SIADH
Should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding
What are some examples of osmotic laxatives?
Lactulose - draws water from body into bowel to soften stool, then it makes stool easier to pass
Macrogols
Rectal phosphates
What are some examples of stimulant laxatives?
Senna
Bisacodyl
Sodium Picosulfate
Glycerol
What drugs are contraindicated in pregnancy?
TERATOWA
Other drugs not mentioned in picture:
statins
sulfonylureas
cytotoxic agents
What antibiotics are contraindicated in pregnancy?
- Tetracyclines
- Aminoglycosides (gentamicin)
- sulphonamides and trimethoprim
- quinolones
What are some factors that may potentiate warfarin?
- liver disease
- P450 enzyme inhibitors
- cranberry juice
- drugs which displace warfarin from plasma albumin, e.g. NSAIDs
- inhibit platelet function: NSAIDs
P450 enzyme inhibitors:
- Antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin/erythromycin
- Amiodarone
- Allopurinol
- Imidazoles: ketoconazole, fluconazole
- SSRIs: fluoxetine, sertraline
- Sodium valproate
- Omeprazole
- Isoniazid
What are the adrenaline doses in anaphylaxis?
What drugs CAN you give in women who are breastfeeding?
SPLASH, Sodium Valproate, Penicillins, Levothyroxine, Antipsychotics (apart from clozapine), Salbutamol, Heparin
- antibiotics: penicillins, cephalosporins, trimethoprim
- endocrine: glucocorticoids (avoid high doses), levothyroxine*
- epilepsy: sodium valproate, carbamazepine
- asthma: salbutamol, theophyllines
- psychiatric drugs: tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics (apart from clozapine)
- hypertension: beta-blockers, hydralazine
- anticoagulants: warfarin, heparin
- digoxin
What are drugs that should be AVOIDED in women who are breastfeeding?
LAMBASTS - Lithium, Aspirin, Methotrexate, Benzo’s, Amiodarone, Sulphonamides, Tetracyclines, Sulfonylureas
- antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulphonamides
- psychiatric drugs: lithium, benzodiazepines
- aspirin - risk of Reye’s syndrome in the baby
- carbimazole
- methotrexate
- sulfonylureas
- cytotoxic drugs
- amiodarone
What are some common side effects of Adenosine?
Chest pain
Bronchospasm
Transient flushing
What is a common side effect of amlodipine?
Ankle swelling
What is important to remember about Augmentin (co-amoxiclav) and Tazocin?
They are both penicillin containing antibiotics
What two classes of drugs commonly cause hyperglycaemia?
Steroids (dexamethasone commonly)
Thiazide diuretics
What 3 situations would you do a gradual withdrawal of corticosteroids?
- received more than 40mg prednisolone daily for more than one week
- received more than 3 weeks treatment
- recently received repeated courses
What is the paracetamol overdose management?
Patients who present within 1 hour may benefit from activated charcoal to reduce absorption of the drug
Acetylcysteine should be given if:
- there is a staggered overdose or there is doubt over the time of paracetamol ingestion, regardless of the plasma paracetamol concentration
- the plasma paracetamol concentration is on or above a single treatment line joining points of 100 mg/L at 4 hours and 15 mg/L at 15 hours, regardless of risk factors of hepatotoxicity
What 2 medications are usually taken at night?
The following medications are usually taken at night:
- statins
- amitriptyline
What is an absolute contraindication to starting COCP in women aged 35 and over?
Smoking more than 15 cigs a day
What are the most common enzyme inducers?
PC BRAAS:
- Phenytoin
- Carbamazepine
- Barbiturates
- Rifampicin
- Alcohol (chronic)
- Sulphonylureas
Enzyme activity increases, drug concentration decreases
OR
CRAP GPS induce
- *C**arbamazepine
- *Ri**fampicin
- *A**lcohol (chronic)
- *P**henytoin
- *G**riseofulvin
- *P**henobarbitol
- *S**ulphonyureas
What are the most common enzyme inhibitors?
AODEVICES:
- Allopurinol
- Omeprazole
- Disulfiram
- Erythromycin
- Valproate
- Isoniazid
- Ciprofloxacin
- Ethanol (acute intoxication)
- Sulphonamides
OR
SICKFACES.COM =common cytochrome P450 inhibitors
- *S**odium valproate
- *I**soniazid
- *C**imetidine
- *K**etoconazole
- *F**luconazole
- *A**lcohol & Grapefruit juice & Amiodarone
- *C**hloramphenicol
- *E**rythromycin
- *S**ulfonamides
- *C**iprofloxacin
- *O**meprazole
- *M**etronidazole
What are the drugs to stop before surgery?
I LACK OP
- Insulin
- Lithium
- Anticoagulants/antiplatelets
- COCP/HRT
- K+ sparing diuretics
- Oral hypoglycaemics
- Perindopril and other ACEi
PReSCRIBER mnemonic
Patient details
Reaction (allergy plus the reaction)
Sign chart
Check for Contraindications
Route for each drug
Prescribe IV fluids (if needed)
Prescribe Blood clot prophylaxis (if needed)
Prescribe antiEmetic (if needed)
Prescribe pain Relief (if needed)
How should you take oral bisphosphonates like alendronate?
Current BNF advice on how to take oral bisphosphonates is:
Tablets should be swallowed whole with plenty of water while sitting or standing; to be taken on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before breakfast (or another oral medicine); patient should stand or sit upright for at least 30 minutes after taking tablet
What is given in a heparin overdose?
Protamine Sulphate
What drugs may worsen seizure control in patients with epilepsy?
- alcohol, cocaine, amphetamines
- ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin
- aminophylline, theophylline
- bupropion
- methylphenidate (used in ADHD)
- mefenamic acid
medications such as benzodiazepines, baclofen and hydroxyzine may provoke seizures whilst they are being withdrawn.
Other medications may worsen seizure control by interfering with the metabolism of anti-epileptic drugs (i.e. P450 inducers/inhibitors)
What is 1 in 10,000 adrenaline the same as?
1g in 10,000ml
or
1000mg in 10,000ml