random 5 Flashcards
What drug can be used to decrease the frequency of sickle cell anaemia crises?
Hydroxycarbamide
What is G6PD deficiency?
Patients are susceptible to developing acute haemolytic anaemia when they take a number of common drugs (and fava beans). Risk and severity is almost always dose related.
Name three drugs that should not be given to people with G6PD deficiency?
Dapsone, nitrofurantoin, quinolones, rasburicase, sulfonamides
A patient with CKD may be given which one of the following to treat anaemia?
Darbopoetin
Folic acid
Hydroxycobalamin
Darbopoetin - EPO deficiency
May also be given iron
MHRA important safety information r/e epoietins
Overcorrection of Hb conc. in patients with CKD may increase the risk of death and serious CVD. In patients with cancer may increase the risk of thrombosis. Only treat if symptomatic anaemia. Target range of 10-12 (or what relieves symptoms)
Why might you advise against using epoietins in patients with a tumour?
There is a risk of tumour progression, blood transfusion may be the preferred treatment
True/False - parental iron will correct Hb levels quicker than oral iron
False - parental iron does not produce a faster Hb response than oral iron, provided that oral iron is taken reliably.
When Hb is within normal range, iron supplements should be continued for a further X months to replenish the patients stores
3 months
What is pernicious anaemia?
Lack of gastric intrinsic factor resulting from an autoimmune gastritis causes malabsorption of vitamin B12
Which of the following is preferred for treating B12 deficiency? Hydroxycobalamin or cyanobalamin
Hydroxycobalamin is vitamin B12 of choice - patient is loaded then it is given at intervals of 3months usually for life
Why should folic acid not be given in undiagnosed megaloblastic anaemia?
Should only be given in undiagnosed megaloblastic anaemia if vitamin B12 is given concurrently otherwise neuropathy may be precipitated.
Why should folic acid NEVER be given alone for pernicious anaemia?
May precipitate subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
How long should folate deficient anaemia be treated with folic acid supplements?
Give 5mg OD usually for 4 months - this will bring about remission and replenish stores
Why must filgastrim be prescribed by brand?
It is a biosimilar medicine
Idiopathic thrombocytopenia can be treated with what?
Corticosteroid
Why might patients with renal artery stenosis require potassium supplementation?
Renal artery stenosis is associated with hypoaldosteronism and this can cause hypokalemia
What are the 3 options for treating hyperkalemia?
Calcium gluconate 10%
IV soluble insulin (e.g. actrapid)
IV or neb salbutamol
why must chronic hyponatremia be corrected slowly?
To avoid the risk of osmotic demyelination syndrome
What can be used to treat severe hypocalcemia?
IV calcium gluconate
How should severe hypercalcemia be managed?
Dehydration should be corrected first with NaCl
Drugs which promote hypercalcemia e.g. thiazides and vitamin D should be stopped
Bisphosphonates may be required (pamidronate is probably the most effective)
Could use corticosteroids if due to vitamin B toxicity but takes several days to achieve desired effect.
What is the 1st line treatment for N+V in pregnancy, if lifestyle measures have failed?
Promethazine
OR prochlorperazine and metoclopramide are options
Co-beneldopa can discolour the urine what colour?
Reddish
Bisphosphonates are C/I in patients with what electrolyte disturbance?
Hypocalcemia
If a patient is experiencing nightmares while taking bisoprolol what alterantive beta blocker could you switch them to?
Atenolol or nadaolol are very water soluble as so less likely to pass the BBB.
(Sotalol is aswell but this shouldn’t be used often)
Nystatin can be used for the treatment of oral thrush, how long should you advise someone to use it for?
For 10 days
Until the thrush has cleared up
Until 24 hours after the thrush has cleared
Until 48 hours after the thrush has cleared
Nystatin should be continued until 48 hours after all the lesions have resolved.
Child has had a fever for the past couple of days and has now developed a rash all over the trunk and face of their body. The rash consists of small, raised red spots.
What does the child have? What advice do you give?
Chicken pox
If child has a fever can give paracetamol. Do not give ibuprofen
Gentleman explains that has a tingling or painful feeling on the right side of his body. There is a red blotchy rash going across his chest and tummy.
Shingles - refer to GP asap
Child has had cold like symptoms for the past couple of days and has since developed small white spots in his mouth. He also has a botchy rash that started at his hair line.
Measles
Refer to GP
Patient has a red-pink skin rash and swollen glands. Glands have been swollen for a while now
Rubella - should always refer to GP
Child has a red prominent red rash on face.
Slapped cheek syndrome - normally fades within 2 weeks, do not need to stay off school and do not need to refer to GP as gets better on its own.
Child has a sore throat, temperature and has lost her appetite. She has also recently developed mouth ulers and as rash on her hands and feet.
Hand foot and mouth disease. No specific treatment, needs to run its course. Refer to GP if no improvement after 7-10 days
Baby has a temperature, being sick and cries when taken outside. Also has a blotchy-dark purple rash that is non blanching
Refer to A+E as meningitis
What is mirabegron used for?
Overactive bladder syndrome
How should nocturnal enuresis be treated?
If <5 years old treatment is not needed as it is likely to resolve.
Ideally use an alarm but can treat with oral or S/L desmopressin (not intranasal)
What is the first line treatment for urinary retention in men?
1st line is usually an alpha blocker
When might finasteride be used first line for urinary retention?
In patients with an enlarged prostate, a raised PSA and who are considered high risk of progression
What counselling must you provide a patient newly started on doxasozin?
Can cause first dose hypotension - lie down if feel dizzy
Tamulosin can be sold OTC for BPH. What age range can you sell it to? And for how long for?
Can be sold to men age 45-75 years for up to 6 weeks before they need to make an appointment
Finasteride MHRA alert
Reports of depression
Finasteride side effects
Breast enlargement, decreased libido and impotence
Report any signs of male breast cancer
At what age is it recommended that COC are not continued and a more suitable alternative is offered?
50 years
How long before surgery should oestrogen containing contraceptives be stopped? When should they be restarted?
Stop 4 weeks before elective surgery
Restart 2 weeks after full mobilisation
How to switch from COC to POP?
Start POP at the end of COC cycle without taking the 7 days break
Which oral antidiabetic drugs can be taken as normal during the peri-operative period?
Pioglitazone, DPP-4 inhibitors, and GLP-1 agonsits can be taken as normal during the whole peri-operative period.
Why should SGLT2 inhibitors not be given on the day of surgery?
Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors should be omitted on the day of surgery and not restarted until the patient is stable; their use during periods of dehydration and acute illness is associated with an increased risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis.
How should sulfonylureas be managed during surgery?
Sulfonylureas are associated with hypoglycaemia in the fasted state and therefore should always be omitted on the day of surgery until the patient is eating and drinking again
When can metformin be continued during surgery?
If only one meal will be missed during surgery, and the patient has an eGFR greater than 60 mL/minute/1.73m2 and a low risk of acute kidney injury (and the procedure does not involve administration of contrast media), it may be possible to continue metformin hydrochloride throughout the peri-operative period—just the lunchtime dose should be omitted if the usual dose is prescribed three times a day.
What is the risk of giving metformin during surgery?
Metformin hydrochloride is renally excreted; renal impairment may lead to accumulation and lactic acidosis during surgery.
True/False metformin should always be stopped after contrast medium
False - There is no need to stop metformin hydrochloride after contrast medium in patients missing only one meal or who have an eGFR greater than 60 mL/minute/1.73m2. If contrast medium is to be used, and eGFR is less than 60 mL/minute/1.73m2, metformin should be omitted on the day of the procedure and for the following 48 hours.
A patient taking canagliflozin, tells you they have got a stomach bug. What advice would you give them?
Sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors are associated with increased risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis during periods of dehydration, stress, surgery, trauma, acute medical illness or any other catabolic state, and should be used with caution during these times. The MHRA has advised (2016) that these drugs should be temporarily stopped in patients who are hospitalised for acute serious illness until the patient is medically stable.
Ciprofloxacin warning labels
Do not take MILK, indigestion remedies, or medicines containing iron or zinc, 2 hours before or after you take this medicine
Space the doses evenly throughout the day. Keep taking this medicine until the course is finished, unless you are told to stop
Swallow this medicine whole. Do not chew or crush
Doxycyline warning labels
Do not take indigestion remedies, or medicines containing iron or zinc, 2 hours before or after you take this medicine
Protect your skin from sunlight—even on a bright but cloudy day. Do not use sunbeds
Take with a full glass of water
Sumatripan should not be sold OTC to patients who experience more than X number of attacks per month?
4 attacks per month - refer
What is seretide?
Combined ICS/LABA inhaler containing salmeterol and fluticasone
Which antiemetic should not be given after GI surgery?
Metoclopramide - is contraindicated in patients who have had GI surgery the previous 3-4 days
Patients taking a PPI OTC, should be referred to their GP if they see no improvement after how many days?
14 days
True/false - controlled drugs cannot be provided under a PGD
False - CDs can be considered in a PGD.
How is addisons disease treated?
Replace cortisol with hydrocortisone
and mineralcorticoid with fludrocortisone
How should you manage a patient on prednisolone about to undergo minor surgery?
Advise they take their usual corticosteroid dose in the morning OR IV hydrocortisone at induction (no additional cover is needed)
How should you manage a patient on prednisolone about to undergo moderate surgery?
Usual dose of prednisolone on morning of surgery AND hydrocortisone IV at induction. Hydrocortisone TDS for 24 hours following moderate surgery
How should you manage a patient on prednisolone about to undergo major surgery?
Usual dose of prednisolone on morning of surgery AND hydrocortisone IV at induction. Hydrocortisone TDS for 48-72 hours following major surgery
What action should be taken if someone taking prednisolone is exposed to chicken pox for the first time?
Passive immunisation is needed
corticosteroids should not be stopped, and dosage may need to be increased
When do steroids need to be withdrawn gradually?
> 40mg prednisolone for more than one week
Pt has been given repeated doses in the evening
Received >3 weeks in treatment
Recent repeated courses
taken a short course within 1 year of stopping long term therapy
patient has other possible causes of adrenal suppression
How can cushings be treated?
Most types are treated surgically.
Metyrapone is helpful in controlling symptoms
ketoconazole
What level should BG be kept above while driving?
> 5mmol/l
What action should a diabetic take if their BG level drops <4 while driving?
If <4 should have a snack and wait 45 minutes after BG has returned to normal
How often should diabetics be advised to measure their blood glucose while driving?
every 2 hours while driving
How often should HbA1c be monitored in T1DM?
every 3 -6 months
How often should HbA1c be monitored in T2DM?
Monitor every 3-6months, then 6 monthly once stable
Fasting BG target
4-7
BG target on waking
5-7
BG target after eating
5-9
What is the 1st line treatment regimen for patients with T1DM?
Twice daily insulin determir should be offered as long action basal.
Rapid acting insulin before meals (Avoid routine admin after meals)
When might metformin be given to patients with type 1 diabetes?
Patients with a BMI >25 (>23 and south asian)
What is the GOLD or CLARKE score used to assess?
Patient awareness of hypos. Should be assessed annually
When should drug treatment be intensified in type 2 diabetes?
If HbA1c is poorly controlled >58 then the drug treatment should be intensified