Side Effects & Toxicity Flashcards
What are the five types of drug toxicity that may occur?
- allergic reactions (immediate/delayed hypersensitivity and GI side-effects)
- thrush
- liver toxicity
- neurological toxicity
- haematological toxicity
What drugs most commonly cause allergic reactions?
Beta-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins)
What causes immediate hypersensitivity?
anaphylactic shock following parenteral administration
What are the symptoms of delayed hypersensitivity?
- rash
- fever
- serum sickness
- Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (fatal, sulphonamide associated)
What care the causes and symptoms of GI side-effects of drug toxicity?
- vomiting/nausea/diarrhoea caused by clostridium difficile infection
What is CDAD?
mild diarrhoea caused by c. diff infection, can lead to pseudomembranous colitis
How is c. diff infection treated?
Vancomycin
Metronidazole
What causes thrush (oral/vaginal candidiasis)?
- suppression of normal flora and overgrowth of resistant organisms
- broad spectrum beta-lactam treatment leads to candida albicans infection
What are the symptoms of liver toxicity?
- transient enzyme elevation right up to severe hepatitis
What can cause liver toxicity?
Flucloxacillin treatment
What are four types of neurological toxicity?
- ototoxicity (ear)
- optic neuropathy
- encephalopathy and convulsions
- peripheral neuropathy
What antimicrobials can cause ototoxicity?
aminoglycoside/vancomycin
What antimicrobials can cause optic neuropathy?
Ethambutol
What antimicrobials can cause encephalopathy and convulsions?
High beta-lactam volume/acyclovir
What antimicrobials can cause peripheral neuropathy?
Metronidazole/Nitrofurantion
