Therapeutics and prescribing

Question 1

Pharmacology

Answer 1

Science of properties of drugs and their effect on the body

Question 2

Therapeutics

Answer 2

Branch of medicine that deals with different methods of treatment, particularly drugs in disease

Question 3

Prescribing

Answer 3

To give directions for the preparation and administration of a remedy to be used in the treatment of a disease

Question 4

Advantages and disadvantages of oral medications

Answer 4

Advantages:
Convenient, patient preference, solutions, modified release preparations

Disadvantages:
Nauseated pts, swallowing pts, NBM, first pass metabolism, may take time to reach steady state, compliance

Question 5

Advantages and disadvantages of rectal administration

Answer 5

Advantages:
Avoids first pass metabolism, good if nauseated, NBM, no need for IV access, topical treatment

Disadvantages:
Local irritation, patient acceptability

Question 6

Advantages and disadvantages of IV administration

Answer 6

Advantages:
Fast, reliable, bolus or infusion

Disadvantages:
Requires IV access, reactions more common, avoid in IVDU

Question 7

Advantages and disadvantages of IM administration

Answer 7

Advantages:
Rapid, reliable, doesn’t require IV access

Disadvantages:
Painful, not with clotting problems

Question 8

Advantages and disadvantages of SC

Answer 8

Advantages:
Painless, avoids first pass metabolism, no need for IV access, patients can be taught to self inject
Disadvantages:
Local irritation, patient acceptability, needle phobics

Question 9

Narrow therapeutic ranges + risks of increased concentrations

Answer 9

Gentamicin - ototoxicity, renal failure
Vancomycin 
Warfarin - bleeding
Lithium - tremor, coma
Digoxin - GI disturbances, xanthospia, arrhythmia
Theophylline - arrhythmias, seizures
Methotrexate - myelosuppression
Phenytoin - arrhythmia, cerebellar syndrome
Insulin - hypoglycaemia 
Ciclosporin - renal failure