Therapeutics Flashcards
Why should amoxicillin and methotrexate never be prescribed together?
Because Amoxicillin reacts with methotrexate by increasing the plasma concentration of it, thereby increasing toxicity, blood disorders and bleeding.
What class of drugs does penicillin belong to?
Beta-lactams
What is the specific function of Pencillin at a cellular level?
Interferes with cell wall synthesis and is bactericidal
What are the three main mechanisms of action of Penicillin?
- Inhibits cross-linking transpeptidase proteins
- Inactivates autolysin inhibitors causing bacterial suicide
- Rapidly divides bacteria
What type of bacteria is penicillin most effective against?
Gram +ve cocci
Why does penicillin act preferentially on rapidly diving bacteria?
Because it is within these bacteria that majority of cell wall synthesis takes place.
What are the three different types of penicillin preparations?
- Pen G
- Pen V
- Procaine/ Benzathine Pencillin
What type of pencillin preparation is described:
An injectable from of penicillin which is partly destroyed by gastric processes and has a low absorption.
Pen G
What type of pencillin preparation is described:
Well absorbed, gastric acid stable, suitable for oral administration. Regarded as highly effective against dento-alveolar infections.
Pen V
What type of pencillin preparation is described:
Used for long term prophylaxis and for the treatment of early and late latent syphilis.
Procaine/ Benzathine Penicillin
According to the BNF, what are the dental indications for Pen V?
- oral infections
- acute sinusitis
- prevention of recurrent cellulitis (specialist use only)
How common is penicillin hypersensitivity?
Occurs in 8% of the population
What is the key clinical feature of penicillin hypersensitivity?
Maculopapular or urticarial rash
What is the proportion of fatalities from penicillin reaction?
1:60,000
What happened at a cellular level upon immediate reaction (type I) to penicillin?
Mast cell degradation and histamine release
What can be consequences of (the less severe) delayed reaction (type II) to penicillin?
- blood dyscrasias (imbalance)
- haemolytic anaemia
- Leukoplenia
- thrombocytopenia
- aplastic anaemia
Pencillin hypersensitivity can lead to other obscure autoimmune conditions. Name the 4 conditions.
- Eosinophilia
- Steven’s-Johnson syndrome
- Exfoliative dermatitis
- DRESS syndrome
What is Stevens’ Johnsons syndrome?
“A rare condition arising from “over-reaction” of the immune system to a trigger such as a mild infection or a medicine”
This condition leads to blistering and peeling of the skin,eyes, mouth and throat.
What is DRESS syndrome?
Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms.
Caused by medications which can result in a severe reaction. Involves extensive rash, fever, organ involvement etc.
What is the cause of mortality in 10% of individuals with DRESS syndrome?
Visceral organ compromise
What is one of the most severe form of Steven’s Johnson’s syndrome?
Toxic epidermal necrolisos
Define, eosinophilia.
Elevation of total number of bloodstream eosinophils
What are the 5 main risk factors for penicillin hypersensitivity?
- Multiple drug allergies
- Atopic disease
- Asthma
- Allergic rhinitis
- Nasal polyps
In what two groups of individuals will risk of recurrent Pencillin reactions be higher?
- Those with repeated exposure to the allergen over short term
- Those who have a long retention of IgE
How long should we wait before re-prescribing Pencillin ideally to the same individual and why?
3 years, as serum IgE antibodies often are retained for 10-1000 days.
What should be completed when an adverse drug reaction (ADR) occurs?
Yellow card ADR reporting mechanism
What regulatory agency administers the yellow card ADR reporting scheme?
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) records
What is the purpose of the yellow card ADR reporting scheme?
To provide an early warning that the safety of a product may require further investigation.
What is the dose, duration, frequency and route of pen V? Also, when should the dose be taken in relation to food?
Dose= 500mg
Interval = 6 hourly
Duration = 3-5 days
Route = oral
Should be take 30 minutes before or two hours after food
What are the three main mechanisms by which bacteria evades Pencillin?
- Reduced drug binding to Penecillin protein PBP
- Hydrolysis of the drug by beta lactamase enzymes (principle mechanism)
- Development of tolerance by disabling their autolysin mechanism
Define, antagonism of drugs.
Where the administration of two drugs together results in neither of them working efficiently
What effects do NSAIDs/probenecid have on Penicillin?
Increases its half-life
How do methotrexate and pencillin interact?
Penicillin can reduce the excretion of methotrexate, increasing retention of methotrexate and Therefore increases toxicity of the drug.
What are the three main common unwanted side effects of penicillin?
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea
- Skin rash
What are three uncommon unwanted effects of penicillin?
- Vomiting
- Urticaria (hives) and pruritis (itchy skin)
- Arthralgia
Name 4 alternatives to penicillin if unwanted side effects were to occur?
- Metronidazole
- Clarithromycin
- Erythromycin
- Clindamycin
Name three drugs that interact with penicillin.
- Warfarin
- Methotrexate
- Allopurinol
What is a rare unwanted side effect of penicillin to be extra cautionary about?
Potential for toxicity in severe renal failure
What is the half life of penicillin?
30 mins
What is the mechanism of action of Metronidazole?
Inhibits DNA replication
What type of bacteria is metronidazole selective towards?
Anaerobic bacteria
What is meant by metronidazole being “concentration dependant” in its killing mechanism?
It kills bacteria based on the peak concentration, so dosage of metronidazole has to be high enough for bacterial killing to be assured.
What is the half life of metronidazole?
8 hours
What side effect of metronidazole is due to elimination in the kidney?
Causes reddish/brown urine discolouration
Where is metronidazole metabolised and eliminated?
Metabolised in the liver and eliminated in the kidney
What group of patients need to avoid metronidazole?
- Those with severe hepatic dysfunction
- Pregnancy (especially first trimester)
- Nursing mothers
What are the indications for using metronidazole?
- When anaerobes are suspected
- Acute necrotising gingivitis
- Pericoronitis (with systemic involvement)
- Dental abscess
- Beta-lactamase producing anaerobes
- Alternative to pencillin where there is hypersensitivity
What enzyme metabolises metronidazole in the liver?
CYP450
Give 2 examples of medications that act as enzyme inducers to reduce the half-life of metronidazole?
Phenytoin and phenobarbital
What medication decreases enzyme activity in the liver, resulting in a prolonged half-life of metronidazole?
Cimetidine
What affect is metronidazole reported to have on warfarin?
It potentiates the anticoagulant effect of warfarin leading to prolonged prothrombin time
What are the common adverse effects of metronidazole which would indicate the patient should cease taking the drug?
GI issues: includes nausea, vomiting, anorexia, diarrhoea, constipation, epigastric distress & abdominal cramping.
What are the two rarer adverse effects of metronidazole which would indicate the patient should immediately cease taking the drug?
- Convulsive seizure
- Peripheral neuropathy
What are adverse oral side effects of metronidazole. Name 5.
- Taste disturbance (unpleasant, sharp/metallic)
- Furred tongue
- Glossitis
- Stomatitis
- Candida