Respiratory- MEDIUM Flashcards
What is asthma?
A chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways
An exaggerated bronchoconstrictor response to a wide variety of exogenous and endogenous stimuli
Recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness and coughing, particularly at night or in the early morning
What are the treatment options for asthma?
- Beta 2 agonists
- Antimuscarinics
- Theophylline
- Corticosteroids
- Cromoglicate
- Leukotriene antagonists
- Omalizumab
When is oral route for asthma considered for use?
Why is inhaled preferred?
When inhalation is not possible
Preferred because:
* Drug delivered directly to lungs (avoids first pass metabolism)
* Smaller dose required than with oral admin.
* Fewer S/E than with oral admin.
What is the treatment pathway for asthma?
What is COPD?
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD)
- Airflow limitation, not fully reversible
- Usually progressive and associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lungs to noxious particles or gases
Who should be considered for COPD spirometry testing?
People over 35, current or ex-smokers, and have a chronic cough
How is COPD diagnosed?
- The Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale graded breathlessness
- Post-bronchodilator spirometry to confirm diagnosis
- Chest radiograph to exclude other pathologies
- FBC to identify anaemia or polycythaemia
- BMI calculated
What are the main points of COPD treatment?
- Smoking cessation!!
- Vaccinate against infection- can complicate COPD
- Pulmonary rehabilitation, if indicated
What is the treatment pathway for COPD?
When should LAMA+LABA or LABA+ICS be offered to patients?
- Have spirometry confirmed COPD
AND - Do not have asthmatic features
AND - Remain breathless or have exacerbations despite treatment for tobacco dependence, relevant vaccinations and use of a short acting bronchodilator
When should LAMA+LABA+ICS be considered for patients already taking LABA+ICS?
- Those who’s symptoms continue to adversely impact their quality of life or have a severe exacerbation (requiring hospitalisation)
OR - Have 2 moderate exacerbations within a year
When should LAMA+LABA+ICS be considered for patients already taking LABA+LAMA?
*Those having a severe exacerbation (requiring hospitalisation)
OR
*They have 2 moderate exacerbations within a year
What is the advice surrounding oral corticosteroid use in COPD?
*Long-term use is not normally recommended
* Those with advanced COPD may need long-term oral corticosteroids, but the dose should be kept as low as possible
What is a spirometry test?
Tests how an individual inhales or exhales volumes of air as a function of time
The primary signal measured in spirometry may be volume or flow
Define Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)
Forced Vital Capacity (FVC)- the maximal volume of air exhaled with maximally forced effort from a maximal inspiration
Define FEV1
Forced Expired Volume in one second (FEV1)- volume expired in the first second of maximal expiration after a maximal inspiration
What is FEV1/FVC
FEV1 expressed as a percentage of the FVC, gives a clinically useful index of airflow limitation
What is a clinically healthy FEV1/FVC?
And that of airflow limitation?
Healthy = 70-80%
Limited airflow = < 70%
What are the benefits of spacers for inhalers?
- Suitable for children and elderly who find pMDIs difficult
- Reduces aerosol velocity, gives more time for evaporation of propellant therefore, larger proportion of particles reach target
- Useful for high dose ICS and patients prone to candidiasis (thrush)
Points to consider for spacers?
- Size of spacer is very important, as well as size of face mask (if using)
- Replace spacer every 6-12 months
- Clean once monthly with mild detergent, air dry
- Inhale from spacer asap after activation as aerosol is short-lived
What is the mode of action of sympathomimetics?
- Relax airway smooth muscle
- Inhibit mediator release
- Increase ciliary activity
Examples:
* Epinephrine (adrenaline)
* Isoprenaline (isoproterenol)
* β2 selective agents
What is formoterol (Oxis, flutiformm symbicort)
typically indicated for?
- Chronic asthma
- Exercise-induced bronchospasm
What is indacterol (Onbrez) indicated for?
COPD
- Improves the ability of patients with COPD to exercise
- Ultra-long acting and fast onset of action
- As effective as tiotropium bromide
What is salbutamol (Salamol, Ventolin) indicated for?
Asthma and other conditions associated with reversible airways obstruction
Rapid onset of action; drug of choice as relief for symptoms of bronchospasm
What is salmeterol (Severent) indicated for?
- Prophylaxis of bronchospasm
- NOT for acute attacks, has long onset of action
What is terbutaline (Bricanyl) indicated for?
- Treatment of asthma and other conditions associated with reversible airways obstruction
What is the mode of action of beta-2 agonists?
Act directly on Beta-2 receptors, causing smooth muscle relaxation and dilation of the airways
What are the common S/E for Beta-2 agonists?
- Palpitations (less common with non-selective; vasodilation and reflex tachycardia; direct stimulation of β-2 in the heart)
- Hypokalaemia (K+ in skeletal muscle and in serum; tolerance)
- Fine tremor of skeletal muscle (hands)
- Nervousness, sleep disturbances
Where do Beta-2 agonists need to be used in caution?
- Hyperthyroidism
*CVD (HTN, arrhythmias, susceptibility to QT prolongation)
Diabetes (risk of ketoacidosis- glycogenesis in liver)
What is the mode of action of adrenaline (epinepherine)?
- Effective and rapidly acting bronchodilator (inh/SC)
- Simulates Beta-1+2 receptors (non-selective)
Common S/E of adrenaline?
- Tachycardia
- Arrhythmia
- Dry mouth
- Insomnia
- Restlessness
What are adrenaline’s uses in emergencies?
- Acute allergic reactions (anaphylaxis)
- Angioedema
- Management of severe croup (RTS- seal coughing in children)
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
What is the mode of action of antimuscarinic bronchodilators?
- Reduce vagal cholinergic tone, the main reversible component of COPD
- Inhibit the effect of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors
- Block contraction of airway smooth muscle
- Block the secretion of mucus
Give an example of a naturally occurring antimuscarinic
Atropine
Give examples of synthetic antimuscarinics
- Ipratropium bromide
- Oxitropium bromide
- Tiotropium bromide
When should antimuscarinic therapy be used in caution?
- Glaucoma
- Prostatic hyperplasia
- Bladder outflow obstruction
What is ipratropium indicated for?
- Short term relief in chronic asthma (SABA preferred)
Can be added if asthma fails to improve with standard therapy - Short-term relief in COPD (if not on LAMA)
Onset is 15-30 mins
Maximum effect is 60-90 mins after admin. (COPD)
What is aclidinium (Eklira) indicated for?
Maintenance for COPD (not suitable for acute bronchospasm)
What is glycopyronium bromide (Seebri) indicated for?
Maintenance therapy for COPD and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
What is tiotropium (Spiriva) indicated for?
Dosing regimen?
- COPD maintenance- 18mcg OD
- Once daily dosing
- Maximum effect 90-120 mins after inhalation
Spiriva RESPIMAT restricted for use in COPD for patients with poor manual dexterity
What are the common S/E for tiotropium?
- Dry mouth
- GI motility (diarrhoea, constipation)
- Cough
- Nausea
- Angle closure glaucoma
Under what class does Theophylline fall under?
What do these class of med do?
Any downsides?
Xanthines
- Have bronchodilator and anti-inflammatory effects
- β2 agonists are more effective as bronchodilators and corticosteroids have greater anti-inflammatory effect
Points to consider for theophylline therapy?
- Despite extensive use in respiratory disease, molecular action not fully understood
- Metabolised by CYP450
- Has a very narrow therapeutic window (requires close monitoring)
What is the effective therapeutic window for theophylline?
Plasma conc. : 10-20 mg/L
Doses must be adjusted in individual patients according to their their plasma concentration
What are the monitoring requirements for theophylline?
Plasma concentration
What can cause increases plasma concentrations of theophylline?
- Heart failure
- Hepatic impairment
- Viral infection
- Elderly
What can cause a decrease in plasma concentrations of theophylline?
- Smokers
- Alcohol consumption
Does prescribing need to be by brand on theophylline?
What is the most common brand?
Yes- the rate of release from MR preps varies
If no brand mentioned on Rx- contact prescriber
Most common- Uniphyllin Continus
What is the MAX dosing for theophylline?
400mg 12-hourly
What are the S/E associated with theophylline?
- CNS: increased alertness, insomnia, tremor, headache
- CVD: inotropic and chronotropic positive effects tachycardia
- GI: stimulates gastric acid secretion, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, gastro-oesophageal reflux
- Kidney: diuretic
- Smooth muscle: Bronchodilation
What decreases the metabolism of theophylline?
and therefore increases serum concentration
- Old age
- Arterial hypoxemia (low oxygen sat.)
- Respiratory acidosis
- Congestive cardiac failure
- Liver cirrhosis
- Erythromycin
- Quinolone antibiotics
- Cimetidine (NOT ranitidine)
- Viral infections
- Herbal remedies (St. John’s Wort)
What increases the metabolism of theophylline?
and therefore decreases serum concentration
- Tobacco smoking
- Alcohol
- Anticonvulsant drugs
- Rifampicin