PSA Flashcards
What drug may be given in an anaphylactoid reaction?
Chlorphenamine
MOA of chlorphenamine
Antihistamine
What drug may be given in an anaphylactoid reaction with significant bronchospasm?
Salbutamol
How would a patient with repeated anaphylactoid reactions to acetylcysteine be managed?
Prophylactic antihistamines (chlorphenamine and ranitidine)
First line drug for anaphylaxis, with dose and administration
Adrenaline 0.5mL 1 in 1000 IM
Anti-hypertensives in pregancy
Labetalol, Methyldopa, Nifedipine
Advice to women on antihypertensive who are planning pregnancy
Risk of congenital malformations so consider switching to a safer drug
Drugs that cause hyperkalaemia
ACEi
ARB
Spironolactone / Eplerenone / Amiloride
Co-amilofruse
Drugs that cause hypokalaemia
Bendroflumethiazide / Indapamide
Furosemide
What vitamin should be prescribed in pregnancy (and dose)
Folic acid 5mg PO OD
Vitamin C name
Ascorbic acid
Vitamin K drug name
Menadiol
Advice for patients taking long term steroids
Don’t stop suddenly
Drugs that cause hyponatraemia
PPIs SSRIs ACEi Diuretics Carbamazepine
Tests before starting amiodarone
CXR, U&Es, TFTs
Concerning ADR of statins
Rhabdomyolysis
Tests before adalimumab
CXR, CRP, FBC
ADRs of thiazides
Common adverse effects: dehydration postural hypotension hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia, hypercalcaemia* gout impaired glucose tolerance impotence
Rare adverse effects: thrombocytopaenia agranulocytosis photosensitivity rash pancreatitis
Indication for mycophenolate mofetil
Prevention of transplant rejection
MOA of dipyrimadole
Anti-platelet
MOA of ticagrelor
Anti-platelet
MOA of prasugrel
Anti-platelet
What drug is used in scabies?
Permethrin
MOA of metoclopramide
Dopamine receptor antagonist (anti-emetic)
Contraindication of metoclopramide
Parkinson’s
Children
Indications for metoclopramide
Nausea
GORD
Gastroparesis secondary to diabetic neuropathy / migraine
ADRs of metoclopramide
Parkinsonism / tardive dyskinesia
Prolonged QT
ADRs of digoxin
GI upset
Arrhythmias
Yellow vision
Gynaecomastia
MOA of cetuximab
Monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor
Indications of cetuximab
Metastatic colorectal or head and neck cancer
MOA of infliximab
Anti-TNF antibody
Indications for infliximab
RA and Crohns
MOA of rituximab
Anti-CD20 antibody
Indications for rituximab
RA and non-Hodgkin lymphoma
MOA of trastuzumab
HER2 receptor antagonist
Indications for trastuzumab
HER2 positive breast cancer
ADRs of beta-2 agonists
Angioedema, arrhythmias, tremor, rash, hypokalaemia
Contraindications for beta-2 agonists
Cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, hypokalaemia
ADRs of muscarinic antagonists
Constipation, cough, dry mouth, GI disturbance, headache
Contraindications of muscarinic antagonists
Arrhythmias, heart failure, recent MI
MOA of ondansetron
Serotonin receptor antagonist (anti-emetic)
Indication for ondansetron
Nausea
MOA of mycophenolate
Immunosuppressant
Indications for mycophenolate
Prevention of transplant rejection Inflammatory arthritis (off label)
Drug that reduces desire to drink
Naltrexone
ADRs of PPIs
Short term: Diarrhoea, Nausea
Long term: increased risk of pneumonia and hip fractures
ADRs of histamine antagonists
Headache, Diarrhoea, Dizziness, Tolerance
Indication for cabergoline
Prolactinoma
Indication for tolvaptan
SIADH
Contraindication of carbimazole
First trimester of pregnancy
How often is methotrexate taken?
Weekly
What should be co-prescribed with methotrexate?
Folic acid 5mg once per week (taken on a different day to the methotrexate)
Indications for methotrexate
Inflammatory arthritis
Crohn’s disease
Come leukaemia chemotherapy
ADRs of methotrexate
mucositis myelosuppression pneumonitis pulmonary fibrosis liver fibrosis
Pregnancy advice with methotrexate
women should avoid pregnancy for at least 6 months after treatment has stopped
the BNF also advises that men using methotrexate need to use effective contraception for at least 6 months after treatment
Methotrexate monitoring
FBC and renal and LFTs before starting treatment and repeated weekly until therapy stabilised, thereafter patients should be monitored every 2-3 months
Methotrexate interactions
Trimethoprim
Aspirin
Treatment of methotrexate toxicity
Folinic acid
ADRs of dapagliflozin
urinary and genital infection (secondary to glycosuria)
normoglycaemic ketoacidosis
increased risk of lower-limb amputation: feet should be closely monitored
MOA of syntocinon
Synthetic oxytocin
Use of ergometrine
Can be used as alternative to oxytocin in the third stage of labour
Drugs used in medical termination of pregnancy
Mifepristone and misoprostol
Contraindication of pethidine
Renal failure
First line in neuropathic pain
Amitriptyline OR pregabalin
Second line in neuropathic pain
Amitriptyline AND pregabalin
First line in diabetic neuropathic pain
Duloxetine
Metformin ADRs
gastrointestinal upsets are common (nausea, anorexia, diarrhoea), intolerable in 20%
reduced vitamin B12 absorption - rarely a clinical problem
lactic acidosis with severe liver disease or renal failure
Metformin contraindications
chronic kidney disease: review if eGFR <45 and stop if eGFR < 30
Recent MI / sepsis / stroke / AKI
iodine-containing x-ray contrast media (day of and two days after procedure due to risk of renal impairment
alcohol abuse is a relative contraindication
How to start metformin
metformin should be titrated up slowly to reduce the incidence of gastrointestinal side-effects
How does sotalol work
Blocks K+ channels
Route of administration of heparin and LMWH
Heparin: IV
LMWH: SC
Duration of action of heparin and LMWH
Heparin: Short
LMWH: Long
Reversal agent for heparin
Protamine sulphate
ADRs of heparin
Bleeding
Heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia (HIT)
Osteoporosis
(lower risk with LMWH)
Three drugs given acutely in anaphylaxis
Adrenaline, hydrocortisone, cholrphenamine
Adrenaline dose in anaphylaxis in adults
500 micrograms (0.5ml 1 in 1,000) IM. Repeat every 5 minutes if necessary
Adrenaline dose in anaphylaxis in children 6-12
300 micrograms (0.3ml 1 in 1,000) IM. Repeat every 5 minutes if necessary
Adrenaline dose in anaphylaxis in children under 6
150 micrograms (0.15ml 1 in 1,000) IM. Repeat every 5 minutes if necessary
Indication for letrozole
Breast cancer in post-menopausal women
MOA of letrozole
Aromatase inhibitor
ADRs of letrozole
Osteoporosis
Flushing
Night sweats
Indication for tamoxifen
Breast cancer in pre-menopausal women
MOA of tamoxifen
Oestrogen receptor blocker
First line in Wilson’s disease
Penicillamine
ADRs of pioglitazone
weight gain
liver impairment (monitor LFTs)
fluid retention (therefore contraindicated in heart failure)
increased risk of fractures and bladder cancer
Common ADRs of beta blockers
bradycardia
dizziness
syncope
Common ADRs of digoxin
arrhythmias
diarrhoea
skin reactions
Common ADRs of ACE inhibitors
cough
angioedema
hyperkalaemia
Common ADRs of furosemide
dizziness
electrolyte imbalance
muscle spasms
Common ADRs of spironolactone
electrolyte imbalance
malaise
skin reactions
Cautions of ACE inhibitors
pregnancy and breastfeeding - avoid
renovascular disease - may result in renal impairment
aortic stenosis - may result in hypotension
hereditary of idiopathic angioedema
potassium >= 5.0 mmol/L - seek specialist advice
Monitoring of ACE inhibitors
urea and electrolytes should be checked before treatment is initiated and after increasing the dose
(a rise in the creatinine and potassium may be expected after starting ACE inhibitors
acceptable changes are an increase in serum creatinine, up to 30% from baseline and an increase in potassium up to 5.5 mmol/l)
How to start allopurinol
Start 2 weeks after attack of gout has settled
Start on a low dose and titrate up every few weeks
Consider colchicine cover
ADRs of allopurinol
The most significant adverse effects are dermatological and patients should be warned to stop allopurinol immediately if they develop a rash
Allopurinol interactions
Azathioprine
Cyclophosphamide
Theophylline
First line in severe malaria
Artesunate
Follow-up therapy in severe malaria
Riamet
First line in non-severe plasmodium malaria
Riamet or malarone
Main treatment for non falciparum malaria
Quinines
Indication for rasburicase
Tumour lysis syndrome
Indication for colchicine
Gout / pseudogout
Treatment for pseudogout
Joint injection (corticosteroid and lidocaine) useful if symptoms limited to ≤2 joints. Medications (NSAIDS / colchicine) useful if multiple joints affected or joint injection not possible. Corticosteroids second line Recurrent episodes (≥3 annually) may require prolonged treatment with colchicine
Drugs to avoid in G6PD deficiency
- Quinines (for malaria)
- Nitrofurantoin (an abx)
- Quinolones (abx)
- Chloramphenicol (abx)
- Sulfonamides (abx)
Indications for mycophenolate mofetil
Organ transplants
Autoimmune conditions
What drug may be used to close a patent ductus arteriosus
Ibuprofen (reduces prostaglandin)
Symptoms of Meniere’s disease
vertigo, tinnitus, hearing loss and aural fullness
Indication for tolvaptan
PCKD
MOA of tolvaptan
ADH antagonist
What is Augmentin?
Brand name for co-amoxiclav (amoxicillin and clavulanic acid)
MOA of leflunomide
DMARD
What is co-trimoxazole?
sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim
Common side effect of amlodipine
Ankle swelling
Drug to treat HSV / VZV
Aciclovir
Drug to treat Hep C / RSV
Ribavirin
Drug to treat influenza
Oseltamivir
Screening for osteoporosis in steroid use (who should be screened and how?)
Screen people under 40 on high-dose steroids or under 50 on lower or frequent steroid
DEXA scan
First line antibiotic in a pregnant woman with a UTI
Nitrofurantoin
Tests needed before starting amiodarone
CXR, U&Es, TFTs, LFTs
Monitoring amiodarone
LFTs and TFTs every 6 months
Gentamicin ADRs
Ototoxicity
Nephrotoxicity
Monitoring gentamicin
Peak and trough levels
MOA of ranolazine
Inhibits late inward sodium channels, which reduces calcium overload in cardiomyocytes
Indication for ranolazine
Second line in angina
Drug used in benzodiazepine overdose
Flumazenil
Drug used in amphetamine or cocaine overdose
Benzodiazepines
Drug used to manage opioid overdose
naloxone
MOA of naloxone
Opioid antagonist
Indication for disulfiram
Chronic alcohol use
What does disulfiram do?
Produces unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed (decreasing desire to drink)
Reversal of warfarin
Vitamin K, prothrombin complex concentrate
Management of lithium overdose
Volume resuscitation
Dialysis if severe
Management of digoxin toxicity
Digoxin-specific antibody fragments
Second line meds in tonic clonic epilepsy
Levetiracetam, Clobazam and Topiramate
First line in focal epilepsy
Carbamazepine
Monitoring when starting clozapine
FBC weekly for 18 weeks (risk of agranulocytosis)
Drugs that can be used in hypercalcaemia
Bisphosphonates
Calcitonin
Length of action of bisphosphonates
Long term (weeks)
ADRs of baclofen
GI side-effects (constipation/diarrhoea), confusion, low mood, dry mouth, headache, paraesthesia or rarely bradyarrhythmias and hypothermia
Indication for baclofen
spasticity
Medication to consider stopping in gout
Thiazides
ADRs of sodium valproate
drug-induced liver injury, pancreatitis, agranulocytosis, severe cutaneous reactions, confusion, abnormal behaviour and increased suicide risk
Administration method of aminophylline
Loading dose followed by slow IV injection
Tests before starting biologics
Bloods and CXR to check it’s safe e.g. check there’s no latent TB
MOA of celecoxib
NSAID
Indication for densosomab
Osteoporosis, prevention of pathological fractures in patients with bony mets
Method of administration of densusomab
SC injection
Either every 6 months (for osteoporosis) or every 4 weeks (for bony mets)
First line in osteoporosis
Bisphosphonates e.g. alendronate
Side effects of bisphosphonates
GI disturbance
Oesophagitis
Headache
Osteonecrosis of the jaw
Patient advice for taking bisphosphonates
All patients should be advised to swallow tablets whole with plenty of water while sitting or standing, which should be done on an empty stomach at least 30 minutes before breakfast. They should then remain stood or sat upright for 30 minutes post dose.
First line in myasthenia gravis
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors e.g. pyridostigmine
Meds that can precipitate worsening myasthenia gravis
Abx
Cardiac meds
Neuromuscular meds
Steroids
What drug is usually given with levodopa and why?
dopa decarboxylase inhibitor to prevent break down of levodopa
Alternative to levodopa in younger adults with parkinsons
Dopamine agonists
ADRs of older dopamine agonists
Fibrotic disease e.g. lung / kidney fibrosis
MOA of tamsulosin
alpha blocker
ADRs of tamsulosin
Postural hypotension
Ejaculatory dysfunction
MOA of finasteride
5-alpha reductase inhibitor (reduces DHEA, an androgen)
Indications for finasteride
BPH
ADRs of finasteride
Can result in reduced libido, erectile dysfunction and less commonly ejaculatory dysfunction
How long does finasteride take to work?
Up to 6 months
Length of treatment in a UTI
3 days in females
7 days in pregnancy, catheterised patients or males
Trade name of viagra
sildenafil
First line in erectile dysfunction
sidenafil
Contraindications for sildenafil
patients taking nitrates and related drugs such as nicorandil
hypotension
recent stroke or myocardial infarction (previous 6 months)
ADRs of sildenafil
visual disturbances nasal congestion flushing gastrointestinal side-effects headache
Drugs associated with agranulocytosis
antiepileptics e.g.g carbamazepine
antithyroid drugs e.g. carbimazole
antibiotics e.g. penicillin, chloramphenicol
antipsychotics e.g. clozapine
Drugs associated with anaemia
causing bleeding e.g. NSAIDs
myelosuppression e.g. cytotoxic drugs
inducing haemolysis e.g. methyldopa, high-dose penicillin
Monitoring of lithium
Serum-lithium monitoring should be performed weekly after initiation and after each dose change until concentrations are stable, then every 3 months for the first year, and every 6 months thereafter.
Indication for lithium
Mood stabiliser
Symptoms of lithium toxicity
coarse tremor (a fine tremor is seen in therapeutic levels) hyperreflexia acute confusion polyuria seizure coma
MOA of pyridostigmine
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
ADRs of pyridostigmine
cholinergic side-effects including excess secretions, diarrhoea, GI upset, bronchospasm, sweating and urinary incontinence.
Indication for memantine
Moderate to severe alzheimers
Contraindication of statins
Acute liver failure or decompensated cirrhosis
Anticoagulant of choice in DVT
DOAC first line
If not suitable then LMWH
ADRs of isoniazid
Polyneuropathy
Hepatotoxic
ADRs of rifampicin
Pink secretions
Hepatotoxicity
ADRs of pyrazinamide
Gout
Hepatotoxicity
ADRs of ethambutol
Optic neuritis
Monitoring of TB meds
Baseline LFTs then routine LFT monitoring
What should be co-prescribed with isoniazid?
pyridoxine (reduce risk of neuropathy)
Second line to statins
Ezetimibe
MOA of ezetimibe
Reduces bile secretion to minimise fat absorption
MOA of ivabradine
Inhibits funny current to reduce heart rate
MOA of nicorandil
Calcium channel blocker
MOA of ransolazine
Sodium channel blocker
Medication following an MI
Beta-blocker
ACE inhibitor
Statin
Anti-platelet for a year
What is entresto?
a combination of sacubitril and valsartan which acts as a diuretic and ARB
Medication to treat prolactinoma
Cabergoline
MOA of cabergoline
Dopamine agonist
MOA of tolvaptan
ADH inhibitor
Medication to treat SIADH
tolvaptan
First line medication in hyperthyroidism
Carbimazole
Second line medication in hyperthyroidism
Propylthiouracil
Contraindication to carbimazole
First trimester
What allergies are contraindications to naseptin?
Peanut and soya
First line in Wilson’s disease
D-penicillamine
MOA of D-penicillamine
Copper chelating agent (increases excretion)
Contraindication of ramipril
Severe renal failure
Test prior to starting ramipril
U&Es
Monitoring of ramipril
U&Es 1-2 weeks after initiation or increasing dose (check for renal damage)
MOA of phenobarbital
Anti-convulsant
First line in most epilepsy
Sodium valroate
First line in focal epilepsy
Carbamazepine
Second line anti-epileptics
carbamazepine, lamotrigine, levetiracetam and phenytoin
MOA of carbamazepine
Anti-epileptic
MOA of phenytoin
Anti-epileptic
MOA of levetiracem
Anti-epileptic
MOA of lamotrigine
Anti-epileptic
What is in tazocin?
Penicillin and tazobactam
What is in co-amoxiclav?
Amoxicillin and cluvanic acid
Pre-eclampsia medication to avoid around birth
Methyl-dopa
Second line meds in pre-eclampsia
Nifedipine or methy-dopa
Indication for Hydroxycarbamide/Hydroxyurea
Sickle cell (various indications)
Medication for pre-eclampsia prophylaxis
Aspirin
What meds should be given prior to anticipated pre-term labour?
Steroids or magnesium sulphate (helps with lung maturation)
Abx used in bacterial vaginosis
Metronidazole
Abx used in siphilis
Single dose IM penicillin
Abx used in gonorrhoea
Single dose of IM ceftriaxone
First line in manic episode
Antipsychotic
Medication to reduce intraocular pressure
IV acetazolamide
Indications for denosumab
Osteoporosis
Hypercalcaemia of malignancy
Diuretic of choice in ascites
Aldosterone antagonist e.g. spironolactone
ADRs of sulphonamides
hyperkalaemia
headache
rash