Top 100 Drugs

Question 1

Drugs that prolong the QT Interval

Answer 1

Amiodarone 
Chlorpromazine 
Citalopram 
Clarithromycin 
Droperidol 
Erythromycin 
Flecanide 
Haloperidol 
Lithium
Methadone 
Ondansetron 
Quinine 
Ranolazine 
Risperidone 
Slidenafil 
Venlafaxine

Question 2

5 alpha reductase inhibitors

Answer 2

Finasteride

1) BPH

SE- impotence, reduced libido, gynaecomastia, hair growth, breast cancer

Contraindications- pregnant women

Question 3

Alpha blockers

Answer 3

Doxazosin, tamsulosin, alfuzosin

1) BPH
2) resistant HTN

SE- postural hypotension

Contraindication- pre-existing postural hypotension

NB- good for a man with BPH & HTN

Question 4

Anticholinergics

Answer 4

Atropine
Glycopyrrolate 
Hyoscyamine 
Ipratropium 
Oxybutinin 
Tiotropium

Question 5

Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Answer 5

Donepezil, rivastigmine

1) Alzheimer’s
2) Dementia in PD (rivastigmine)

SE- exacerbations of COPD & asthma, bradycardia (heart block), hallucinations, extrapyramidal Sx and neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Contraindications- asthma, COPD, peptic ulcer, heart block (sick sinus syndrome), rivastigmine worsens tremor in PD

Interactions- NSAIDS, antipsychotics, beta blockers

Question 6

N-Acetylcysteine

Answer 6

1) Antidote for paracetamol poisoning
2) Prevent constraint nephropathy (not now)
3) In hospital mucolytic

SE- bronchospasm (mucolytic)- give a bronchodilator beforehand

Contraindications- none. Even with history of anaphylaxis it may still be used.

Question 7

Activated charcoal

Answer 7

1) Reduce absorption of poisons (drug overdose)

SE- black stools, vomiting, aspiration- pneumonitis and bronchospasm

Contraindications- reduced consciousness (unless airways protected), persistent vomiting, reduced gut motility

NB- single dose must be given within 1 hour of ingestion of a clinically significant quantity of a substance absorbed by charcoal. If patient has vomited prescribe antiemetic as well

Question 8

Adenosine

Answer 8

1) SVT (narrow complex tachycardia)

SE- bradycardia, asystole, breathlessness, sense of impending doom

Contraindications- hypotension, coronary ischaemia, decompensated heart failure, asthma and COPD (bronchospasm). Heart transplants

Interactions- dipyridamole (halve dose). Theophylline and aminophylline (Higher dose).

NB- must be given by a large bore cannula rapidly and followed by a flush eg. 20ml NaCl