Therapeutic medications Flashcards
The class of medications including miotics, glaucoma treatments, antimicrobials, antiallergic, and anti-inflammatories are known as
Therapeutic medications
_______ cause the iris sphincter muscle to contract, producing miosis (pupillary constriction), which leads to a reduction in light entering the eye.
Miotics
What are some therapeutic uses of miotic drops?
- Increase the patient’s depth of field-helping with refractive errors
- break attacks of angle-closure glaucoma
- some accommodative strabismus problems in children
- as a preoperative drop prior to laser iridotomy or penetrating keratoplasty
What are some side effects of miotic drops?
brow ache, myopia, tearing
Examples of miotics include:
Pilocarpine 0.5-6% and Carbachol 1.5/3%
The major glaucoma medications are subdivided into __ categories based on their chemistry or the body system they affect.
8
These types of drops work by decreasing aqueous production in the eye and are often Rx’d as an adjunct to or in combination with Prostaglandins
Beta-Adrenergic blockers
What are some common beta-adrenergic blocking drops?
Timolol (Timoptic, Betimol), Betaxolol, Levobunolol
This type of drop works by increasing aqueous outflow
Adrenergic stimulating agent
What is the one adrenergic stimulating agent Rx’d?
Dipivefrin (Propine)
These agents decrease the formation and secretion of aqueous humor, thereby lowering IOP.
Oral and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
What are some examples of topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors?
Brinzolamide (Azopt) and Dorzolamide (Trusopt)
What are some examples of oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors?
Acetazolamide (Diamox) and methazolamide (Neptazane)
These drugs work by decreasing the rate of aqueous humor production and can be used alone or in combination with other anti-glaucoma drops
Alpha(2) selective agonists
What are some examples of Alpha(2) selective agonists?
Apraclonidine (Iopidine) 1.0/0.5% and Brimonidine (Alphagan/Alphagan P) 0.2/0.15/0.1%
These drops are most effective with a single evening dose at reducing IOP
Prostaglandins
What are some examples of prostaglandins?
Bimatoprost (Lumigan), Latanoprost (Xalatan), Travoprost (Travatan)
These agents decrease IOP by drawing fluid out of the aqueous and vitreous humors via osmosis
Hyperosmotics
What are some examples of hyperosmotics?
Osmoglyn (oral formulation of glycerin) and Osmitrol (an injectable form of mannitol)
These agents are most commonly used in cases of acute high IOP and during intraocular surgery
Hyperosmotics
Study results show that ___ of people with glaucoma require more than one type of medication to control IOP
Half
These agents are “combination” drops that include two anti-aglaucoma medicines in a single drop
Combination agents
What are some examples of combination agents?
Dorzolamide/Timolol (Cosopt), Brimonidine/Timolol (Combigan), and Travoprost/Timolol (DuoTrav)
_______ comprise a large variety of agents, including antibiotics for bacterial infections, antivirals for viral infections, and antifungals for fungal infections.
Antimicrobials
What are the most common antibiotics an ophthalmic medical assistant would encounter on a daily basis?
Bacitracin ointment, Tobramycin (drops and ointment), Erythromycin ointment, Azithromycin, Gentamicin (drops and ointment), Sulfonamide (drops and ointment)
What are some antibiotics in the fluoroquinolone group?
Ciprofloxacin (drops and ointment), Ofloxacin, Levofloxacin, Gatifloxacin, Moxifloxacin, Besifloxacin
What are some common antibiotic/corticosteroid compounds?
Neomycin-Polymyxin B-bacitracin (ointment), Neomycin-polymyxin B-gramicidin (ointment), Trimethoprim-Polymyxin B, Tobramycin-dexamethasone
_______ inhibit the ability of a virus to reproduce. Used to treat more serious virus-caused ophthalmic conditions such as herpes simplex/herpes zoster
Antivirals
What are some examples of antiviral agents?
Ganciclovir (IVT), Acyclovir (oral and IV), Valacyclovir hydrochloride (oral)
________ kill fungi and are used to treat a variety of external ocular fungal infection such as fungal blepharitis, keratitis, and conjunctivitis
Antifungals
What are some examples of antifungals?
Natamycin (topical), Amphotericin B (topical, subcutaneous, IV, IVT), Fluconazole (oral and IV)
________ are the chief drugs used to treat allergic reactions and inflammations
Corticosteroids
Steroids can be injected _____, ______, and ______ to treat severe inflammation
behind, around, or into the eye
What are some of the side effects of long-term use of steroids?
glaucoma, overgrowth of fungi, cataract, increases in BGL/BP (when taken orally)
Commonly used topical steroids in ophthalmology are:
Dexamethasone phosphate (Maxidex), Prednisolone acetate (Pred Forte, Omnipred), Fluorometholone (FML), Difluprednate (Durezol)
Commonly used systemic corticosteroids in ophthalmology are:
Hydrocortisone, Prednisone, Prednisolone, Methylprednisolone, Triamcinolone, Dexamethasone
Because of significant side effects of corticosteroids, ____ have been introduced
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
What are some commonly used NSAIDs in ophthalmology?
Flurbiprofen, Diclofenac, Ketorolac tromethamine, Bromfenac, Nepafanac
____ _______ work by constricting the superficial blood vessels in the conjunctiva. (Visine, Clear eyes)
Ocular decongestants
__________________ are effective in reducing the itching, tearing, conj. injection, mucous secretion, etc. of seasonal or vernal allergic conjunctivitis
Agents for relief of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis
Available medications for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis include antihistamines (AH), mast cell inhibitors (MCI), or combinations. What are some examples?
Azelastine, Olopatadine (Pataday), Ketotifen (Zaditor, Alaway), Bepotastine Besilate (Bepreve)
_____ help the patient to maintain an appropriate tear film balance or to keep the external eye moist
Lubricants
In this class of medications, Cyclosporine (Restasis) is a topical emulsion available for treatment of tear deficiency associated with autoimmune or inflammatory conditions in the eyelids
Immunomodulators
