PSA Flashcards
Prescribe the most appropriate drug to rapidly relieve bronchospasm (COPD/asthma).
Salbutamol 1 mg/mL OR 2.5 mg/mL nebuliser liquid
Dose = 2.5-5 mg
Route = nebulised/inhaled
Frequency = PRN, up to 4 times daily
Treatment of confirmed DVT/PE
Factor Xa inhibitors:
Apixaban 10 mg PO BD
Rivaroxaban 15 mg PO BD
When is LMWH contra-indicated?
- Current or history of heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia
- Conditions that put the patient at high risk of bleeding complications (acute GI bleed, cerebral haemorrhage, serious coagulation disorders, recent stroke)
What is the treatment dose of LMWH for DVT/PE?
1.5 mg/kg every 24 hours until oral anticoagulation established
INITIAL TREATMENT of dehydration (no cardiac failure)
Sodium chloride 0.9% + Potassium chloride 0.3%/0.15
500 mL over 4-6 hours or 1 L over 8-12 hours
How quickly should potassium be replaced on the ward?
Max 10 mmol/hour
Primary prevention of cardiovascular disease
QRisk score >10% = atorvastatin 20 mg OD at night
QRisk score <10% = simvastatin 20 mg OD at night
What is the QRisk3 score?
Calculates a person’s risk of developing a heart attack or stroke over the next 10 years
What are the important dose-related adverse effects of statins?
Myalgia (rarely risk of myopathy, myositis, and rhabdomyolysis) Disturbed liver function GI disturbance Sleep disturbance Headache
How do NSAIDs work?
Inhibit COX2 enzyme and production of prostaglandins which protect the gastric mucosa against acid-related erosion and ulceration.
How does ibuprofen effect the kdneys?
Ibuprofen inhibits prostaglandin synthesis in the kidney so reduces cortical blood flow and renal function.
What is the significance of renal function and ramipril?
Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor which blocks intrarenal production of angiotensin 2. Angiotensin 2 is important for protecting GFR when renal blood flow is reduced.
Why are U&Es checked 1-2 weeks after starting ramipril?
If the patient has undiagnosed renal artery stenosis, then the kidney function will be significantly impaired.
Which two drugs (anti-hypertensive and NSAID) and taken together are bad for kidneys?
Ramipril and ibuprofen
What kind of drug is bendroflumethiazide and where does it work?
Thiazide diuretic - acts on the sodium/chloride-co-transporter in the distal convoluted tubule.
Causes excess sodium and water loss.
What kind of drug is spironolactone and where does it work?
Potassium-sparing diuretic - aldosterone agonist which inhibits aldosterone-dependent sodium-potassium-exchange channels in the DCT.
What is atenolol, what is it used for and how would it be prescribed?
Cardio-selective beta-blocker
Used to treat hypertension, angina, and arrhythmias
Normal range of dose = 25-50 mg for hypertension and 100 mg for angina
Absolute contra-indications for beta-blockers
History of asthma/bronchospasm Severe: Heart failure Bradycardia Heart failure Hypotension Peripheral arterial disease
What common drugs should be held in renal impairment?
Ramipril - reduced effectiveness of renin-angiotensin system means renal blood flow will not be correctly maintained and potassium is not excreted enough
Metformin - contraindicated in significant renal impairment and acutely unwell patients
What kind of drug is pioglitazone and what is one adverse effect?
Thiazolidinedione
Higher risk of hypoglycaemia episodes
What drugs can cause urinary retention?
Morphine + other opioid analgesics Anticholinergics (antipsychotics, detrusor relaxants, antidepressants) General anaesthetics Benzodiazepines NSAIDs CCBs Alcohol
What drugs can cause disorientation/confusion?
Metoclopramide Morphine Antipsychotics Antidepressants Anticonvulsants
Treatment of Wernicke’s encephalopathy?
Vitamin B substances with ascorbic acid (Pabrinex IV high potency)
IV infusion over 30 minutes 8-hourly
Management of DKA
Soluble short-acting insulin:
50 units in 50 mL 0.9% sodium chloride by IV infusion at a rate of 0.1 units/kg/hour
Treatment of hypertension
Age <55 = ACE inhibitor (Ramipril)
Age >55 or Afro-Caribbean of any age = CCB (Amlodipine)
Folic acid in pregnancy
Prevention of neural tube defects, taken until week 12 of pregnancy
High risk = e.g. family history of spina bidifa, malnutrition
5 mg OD
Low risk = 400 micrograms OD
What is alendronic acid and how should it be taken?
Bisphosphonate
10 mg daily or 70 mg once weekly
Take on empty stomach first thing in the morning, with water
Sit upright for 30 minutes
What are the main adverse events associated with bisphosphonates?
Atypical femoral fracture
Osteonecrosis of the jaw - dental appointment before starting
Osteonecrosis of the internal auditory canal
Hormone replacement therapy options
Combined = used in women with a uterus, used to reduce the risk of endometrial carcinoma associated with unopposed oestrogen Oestrogen-only = used in women without a uterus
What does a % solution mean?
grams per 100 mL
What are the adverse events associated with methotrexate?
Bone marrow suppression
GI toxicity
Liver toxicity
Pulmonary toxicity
What are the side effects most commonly associated with methotrexate?
Anaemia Anorexia Diarrhoea Fatigue GI upset Increased risk of infection Leucopaenia Skin reactions Vomiting
What antibiotic can cause ototoxicity?
Gentamicin - aminoglycoside antibiotic that can damage the vestibular nerve
Which antibiotic interacts with drugs metabolised by P450 system?
Clarithromycin
E.g. interacts with simvastatin and causes reduced clearance
How does allopurinol work?
Reduction of serum urate levels by inhibiting xanthine oxidase
What needs to be monitored in lithium therapy?
Renal function - nephrotic syndrome and nephrogenic DI
What can HRT do to blood pressure?
Hypertension
What should be done with LFTs when starting statins?
Measure before treatment
Repeat at 3 months and 12 months if asymptomatic
Stop therapy if 3x upper limit
Peak and trough concentration of gentamicin
Peak concentration = determined by dose
Trough concentration = determined by interval
Note: if the trough is too high - toxicity
Most common enzyme inducers
Enzyme inducers will decrease drug concentration.
PC BRAS:
Phenytoin
Carbamazepine
Baribiturates
Rifampicin
Alcohol (chronic excess)
Sulphonylureas
Most common enzyme inhibitors
Enzyme inhibitors will increase drug concentration.
AO DEVICES:
Allopurinol
Omeprazole
Disulfiram Erythromycin Valproate Isoniazid Ciprofloxacin Ethanol (acute intoxication) Sulphonamides
Why should metformin be stopped before surgery?
Will cause lactic acidosis
What drugs should be stopped in any patient that is bleeding?
Antiplatelets (aspirin)
Anticoagulants (LMWH, Factor Xa inhibitors)
Heparin - e.g. stroke
Consider drug interactions - e.g. erythromycin and warfarin causing a very high INR
What are the side effects of steroids?
STEROIDS
Stomach ulcers Thin skin oEdema Right and left heart failure Osteoporosis Infection Diabetes cushing's Syndrome
Side effects of anti-hypertensives
- Hypotension
- Bradycardia - beta blockers and some CCBs
- Elecrolyte imbalances - ACEi and diuretics
Specific:
- Ramipril = dry cough
- Beta blockers = wheeze in asthmatics
- CCBs = peripheral oedema and flushing
- Diuretics = renal failure, spironolactone = gynaecomastia, thiazide diuretics = gout
What is typically given for VTE prophylaxis for hospital inpatients?
Dalteparin 5000 units daily SC + compression stockings
What kind of drug is metoclopramide and when should it be avoided?
Dopamine antagonist
Avoid in patients with Parkinson’s and young women due to risk of dyskinesia
What is first-line treatment for neuropathic pain?
Amitriptyline 10 mg OD PO at night
Pregabalin 75 mg PO 12 hourly
How do ACE inhibitors affect potassium?
Cause hyperkalaemia through reduced aldosterone production and thus reduced potassium excretion in the kidneys
What drugs are notorious for causing confusion (esp in the elderly)?
Tramadol
Cyclizine
Diazepam
Why should NSAIDs be used with caution in patients on methotrexate?
Increased risk of nephrotoxicity
What drugs should DEFINITELY be avoided in patients taking methotrexate?
Other folate antagonists such as trimethoprim
What should be done to methotrexate in patients with active infection?
Stop it
Long half-life means it won’t affect control of chronic disease
What do potassium-sparing diuretics and ACE inhibitors do to potassium?
Hyperkalaemia
What do loop and thiazide diuretics do to potassium?
Hypokalaemia
What is the main side effect of amlodipine and what should be done?
Peripheral oedema
Stop the medication
What life-threatening side effect can be caused by clozapine?
Agranulocytosis
Stop the drug immediately and refer to a haematologist
Causes of normocytic anaemia
Anaemia of chronic disease
Acute blood loss
Haemolysis
Renal failure
Causes of neutropaenia
Viral infection
Chemo/radiotherapy
Clozapine
Carbimazole
What does raised urea indicate?
AKI or upper GI bleed (digestion of blood)
How do urea and creatinine rise in pre-renal vs post-renal AKI?
Pre-renal = urea > creatinine Post-renal = creatinine > urea
What are the vitamin K dependent clotting factors?
2, 7, 9 and 10
Causes of raised ALP
Fracture Post-hepatic liver damage Cancer Paget's disease Pregnancy Hyperparathyroidism Osteomalacia Surgery
In which projection does the heart appear larger on a CXR?
AP
How to tell if there is adequate inspiration on a CXR?
7th anterior rib (down-sloping) transects the diaphragm
Which way does the trachea deviate if there is a collapsed lung?
Towards affected side
Which way does the trachea deviate in a tension pneumothorax?
Away from the affected side
What would suggest a right upper lobe collapse on a CXR?
Widened mediastinum with tracheal deviation
Signs of heart failure on CXR
Alveolar oedema (bat wings) Kerley B lines Cardiomegaly Diversion of blood to upper lobes (large vessels) Pleural effusions