Serious side effects/complications

Question 1

What classes of drugs are commonly implicated in urinary retention?

Answer 1

Opiates 
Anticholinergics e.g. antipsychotics, antidepressants, respiratory drugs, detrusor relaxants 
General anaesthetics 
Benzodiazepines 
NSAIDs 
Alpha-adrenoreceptor agonists 
CaBs 
Antihistamines 
Alcohol

Question 2

What drugs/classes of drugs are commonly implicated in confusion?

Answer 2

Opiates
Metoclopramide
MORE

Question 3

What drugs/classes of drugs are commonly implicated in ototoxicity?

Answer 3

Macrolide antibiotics e.g. Gentamicin
Loop diuretics (high dose) e.g. furosemide
Platinum-based chemo agents e.g. cisplatin, vincristine

Auditory + vestibular assessments throughout treatment may be appropriate

Toxicity occurs most commonly in the elderly

Question 4

What drugs/classes of drugs are commonly implicated in anaphylaxis?`

Answer 4

B-lactams e.g. penicilin, cephalosporins

NSAIDs

Parentral iron injections

Vaccines

Chemotherapy

Other examples of anaphylactoid reactions (direct triggering of mast cell degranualtion):

• Vancymycin
• Morphine
• X-ray contrast