Medicines knowledge & Counselling, 3 Flashcards
1
Q
Carbamazepine
- drug class
A
- antiepileptic/ anticonvulsant
2
Q
Carbamazepine
- indication
- moa
A
- Epilepsy
- including simple and complex focal (partial) seizures
- bi polar disorder
- work by regulating the way messages in the brain are passed on by nerves so that seizures don’t happen
3
Q
Carbamazepine
- dose & directions
A
- for epilepsy
- Adult, oral, initially 100 mg BD increase daily dose gradually by 100–200 mg every 2–4 weeks according to response
- Usual range, 400 mg – 1.2 g daily in 2 or more doses; up to 2 g daily may be required
- for BPAD
- Adult, oral, initially 400 mg daily in divided doses; increase gradually according to response, up to 1.6 g daily
- take with food- have one with breakfast & one with dinner
- may cause drowsiness or dizziness and may increase the effects of alcohol; do not drive or operate machinery, if you are unsure about this you can take your first dose in the evening & judge from there
- do not stop taking this medication suddenly unless your Dr tells you to
4
Q
Carbamazepine
- key counselling points
- adverse effects
A
- take with food
- commo adv: drowsiness, ataxia (impaired balance or coordination), dizziness, blurred vision and headache
- referral: if you develop a rash or a skin reaction, sore throat, fever, mouth ulcers, bruising or bleeding occur
- this medicine interacts with grapefruit juice and many other drugs; avoid grapefruit juice
- may also increase the effects of alcohol
- take with food to help prevent stomach upset
- swallow controlled release tablets whole; do not chew or crush them
5
Q
Carbamazepine
- Adverse effects & referral
A
- all medications can cause adverse effects, but not everyone will experience them, the most common of carbemazepine are drowsiness, headache, blurred vision & dry eyes
- they should wear out in 2-3 weeks as your body gets use to the medication
- its also common for this medication to cause an increase in your appetite, leading to weight gain and constipation
- less commonly it may cause diarrhoea, abdominal pain & nausea
- If you develop any skin rash, redness, blisters or peeling skin, accompanied by fever, chills, headache, stop the medication & tell your doctor immediately
6
Q
Carbamazepine
- monitoring
A
- sx improvement
- seizures
- acute mania
- BMD monitoring, and vitamin D and calcium supplements to prevent osteomalacia and osteoporosis, in patients on long-term treatment, particularly those at higher risk, eg elderly patients
- monitor skin rxns
- stop if bone marrow depression occurs
7
Q
Carbamazepine
- Lifestyle & self care
A
- its important to keep in mind of other ways to manage epilepsy
- learn about the type of epilepsy you have
- keep a record of your seizures and triggers & try to avoid things that trigger your seizures
- may be stress, inadequate sleep, alcohol, caffeine
- teach others how to help if you have a seizure
8
Q
Levetiracetam
- drug class
A
- antiepileptic
9
Q
Levetiracetam
- indication
- moa
A
- Monotherapy of focal (partial seizures)
- Adjunctive therapy of myoclonic seizures
- belongs to a group of medicines called antiepileptics
- used to control epilepsy- a condition where you have repeated seizures (fits)
- it works by controlling some chemicals in your brain which send signals to nerves so that seizures do not happen
10
Q
Levetiracetam
- dose & directions
A
- Monotherapy: initially 250 mg twice daily for 2 weeks, then increase to 500 mg twice daily; then increase dose according to response by 250 mg twice daily every 2 weeks, up to 1.5 g twice daily
- Adjunctive therapy: Oral/IV, initially 500 mg twice daily; then increase dose according to response, by 500 mg twice daily every 2–4 weeks, up to 1.5 g twice daily
- starting at a low dose, one tablet twice daily & gradually increase after 2 weeks until it is most effective & causing the lease adverse effects
- swallow whole with water
- taken twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening at the same time each day
- taking it at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will also help you remember when to take it
- it does not matter if you take it with or without food
- it can cause drowsiness & may increase the effects of alcohol, dont drive or operate machinery
- do not stop taking this medicine suddenly unless your Dr tells you to
11
Q
Levetiracetam
- key counselling points
- adverse effects
A
- swallow whole with water
- taken twice daily, one in the morning and one in the evening at the same time each day
- all medications can cause side effects, but not everyone will experience them
- some common adverse effects are drowsiness, dizziness and headache
- less commonly it may cause skin rashes or reactions, if you develop any rash, itching or hives on the skin, stop and tell Dr immediately
- can also cause mood changes, such as depression, nervousness, aggression, anger, anxiety, confusion, hallucination and irritability–> tell Dr
12
Q
Levetiracetam
- adverse effects
A
- all medications can cause side effects, but not everyone will experience them
- some common adverse effects are drowsiness, dizziness and headache
- they should wear out in 2-3 weeks as your body gets use to the medication
- less commonly it may cause skin rashes or reactions, if you develop any rash, itching or hives on the skin, stop and tell Dr immediately
- can also cause mood changes, such as depression, nervousness, aggression, anger, anxiety, confusion, hallucination and irritability–> tell Dr
13
Q
Levetiracetam
- monitoring
A
- monitor for adverse effects such as severe skin reactions
- caution in patients with history of psychiatric problems
- seizures
- mood changes
- kidney & liver function
14
Q
Levetiracetam
- lifestyles & selfcare
A
- its important to keep in mind of other ways to manage epilepsy
- learn about the type of epilepsy you have
- keep a record of your seizures and triggers & try to avoid things that trigger your seizures
- may be stress, inadequate sleep, alcohol, caffeine
- teach others how to help if you have a seizure
15
Q
Tiotropium
- drug class
A
- long acting muscarinic agent, LAMA
