Random Drug Facts Flashcards
What is the only licensed drug for the treatment of uncomplicated genital chlamydial infection that can be administered as a single dose?
Azithromycin
1g orally when given as a single dose
What is the treatment of choice to treat a PE in a patient with normal renal function and no CV compromise
Dalteparin sodium
Dose depends on patient weight
What would you give as a fluid bolus?
500ml crystalloid (containing 130-154mmol/L of sodium)
Recommended over 15 minutes
What is the first choice antibiotic for a pregnant woman with a UTI?
Amoxicillin- 500mg oral tds
Nitrofurantoin 50mg qds is also safe in pregnancy until term
What are some causes of deranged LFTs?
Amiodarone
Simvastatin
What medications can cause GI bleeding?
NSAIDs- aspirin
Antiplatelets: clopidogrel
What medications can raise BP?
Glucocorticoids- e.g. prednisolone
Antidepressants e.g. serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors such as venlafaxine
NSAIDs: Through salt and water retention
What are some medications that may aggravate symptoms of Parkinsons?
Dopamine agonists e.g. prochlorperazine and antipsychotics
What medications can raise K+?
ACEI: e.g. ramipril
K-sparing diuretics: e.g. spironolactone
What medications should be avoided in pregnancy?
Warfarin
Folate antagonists e.g. methotrexate
ACEI e.g. lisinopril: Adverse effects on fetal and neonatal BP, with some reports of fetal malformations.
What medications can cause constipation?
Opioids
Iron supplementation
After missing 3+ pills, what advice should you give a patient on a combined pill?
Additional contraception required until pills have been taken for 7 consecutive days
How would you manage a potential paracetamol OD in a child when there is uncertainty about the time of the OD?
Immediate acetylcysteine IV infusion
When is aciclovir indicated in the treatment of herpes zoster?
Within the first 72 hours after presenting with symptoms
How should you administer aciclovir in a patient with shingles who is not immunocompromised?
Oral treatment
What is the first line treatment of a patient with hypertension who is
ACEI
What should you warn patients about to receive an adenosine infusion about?
Effects unlikely to last more than 1-2 minutes
Requires ECG monitoring and resusc facilities due to risk of arrhythmias and AV block
Numerous heart SEs including angina, severe bradycardia or asystole
What do you need to warn a patient starting a gliclazide about?
Risk of hypos- must be aware and self-treat as required
Weight gain
What is an important side effect you must warn patients about before commencing carbimazole therapy?
Bone marrow suppression- agranulocytosis and neutropenia.
Warn must seek medical attention if any signs of infection e.g. sore throat, mouth ulcer, bruising or fever
What is the most likely side effect from nifedipine treatment?
Ankle oedema
What medications may cause hyperglycaemia?
Corticosteroids e.g. prednisolone
Antipsychotics e.g. clozapine, olanzipine, quetiapine
What medications are contraindicated with lithium?
Thiazide diuretics- increase serum lithium concentration
How should you manage a patient with a dry cough due to ACEI treatment?
Switch to an ARB e.g. losartan
What needs to be monitored when starting antipsychotic therapy?
FBC
Us&Es
LFTs
Annual monitoring
What additional monitoring needs to be carried out for clozapine?
Differential WCC- weekly for 18 weeks then fortnightly up to a year then monthly.
What should be monitored when starting an aminosalicylate?
Us&Es- before, at 3 months at annually on treatment
What can be monitored to provide an objective measure of blood loss?
FBC
What’s the most appropriate monitoring option to guide adjustment of insulin infusion during the first 24 hours post DKA?
Capillary blood glucose
What does “linear kinetics” mean?
Any change in dosage will lead to a proportionate change in serum concentration
What are some medications that have linear kinetics?
Digoxin
How would you manage hypercalcaemia due to dehydration?
Rehydrate the patient- IV sodium chloride 0.9%
What medications should be stopped without replacement preop?
OCP
Antiplatelets
Anticoagulants
What medications should be stopped and supplemented with other medications pre-op?
Anti-DM, insulin- replace with sliding scale
What is the treatment dose of aspirin? How long is it given for?
300mg- 2 weeks post stroke/MI (75mg thereafter)
Which NSAID doesn’t cause renal failure?
Aspirin
What medications predispose to gastric ulceration?
NSAIDs
Oral steroids
What drugs should you avoid changing pre-op?
Beta blockers
CCB
When should lithium be stopped preop?
Day before surgery
What are common causes of ARF?
Ibuprofen
What drugs can significantly reduce lithium excretion
NSAIDs
ACEI
(Thiazide) diuretics
What drugs should not be abruptly stopped?
Anti-Epileptics Beta blockers, CCBs Baclofen Antidepressants Steroids
What is the first line pharmacological management of a patient with kidney disease and T2DM?
Sulphonylureas e.g. gliclazide
What is the maximum daily dose of paracetamol?
4g
When are pro kinetic antiemetics e.g. metoclopramide CI?
Bowel obstruction
When are 5HT3 antiemetics most useful?
Chemically-induced nausea
When is haloperidol best used as an antiemetic?
Palliative care
What are the effects of steroids?
Gastric ulceration (oral)
Osteoporosis- give Ca ± bisphosphonates
DM
Hypertension
What drugs should not be prescribed with methotrexate?
Folate antagonists e.g. trimethoprim, co-trimoxazole
What dietary restrictions are in place while a patient is on steroids?
Grapefruit juice
What drugs are contraindicated in patients prescribed simvastatin?
Clarithromycin
When is methotrexate contraindicated?
Active infection
Pregnancy
What are the sick day rules for steroids?
Doubled to meet physiological standards
What medications are given for immediate relief of dyspepsia?
Magnesium carbonate, magnesium trisilicate,
What medications must have a stop/review date?
Antibiotics
What are the contraindications to stimulant laxative use?
Colitis
Cramps
What are examples of stimulant laxatives?
Senna, bisocodyl, sodium picosulfate (latter used for bowlel prep)
What are the best laxatives to prescribe in a patient requiring immediate (quick) relief from constipation?
Stimulant laxatives
What are contraindications to osmotic laxatives?
Bloating
What are examples of osmotic laxatives?
Lactulose
When should you give stimulant laxatives?
At night
What are the typical SEs of tramadol?
Agitation/hallucinations
What is the correct way to test tacrolimus level?
Trough doses before morning or evening dose
What is the best measure of serum response in DKA?
Serum ketones
What should trough levels of vancomycin be?
10-15mg/l
What are documented SEs of CCBs?
Ankle oedema
Facial flushing
What are the SEs of antimuscarinics?
Urinary retention, constipation, blurred vision, dried mouth, GI disturbance
What is an e.g. of an anti-muscarinic?
Cyclizine NB CI in HF
How should you manage a patient with a raised INR who is bleeding?
Vit K by slow IV injection
