Indications by Drug Class

Question 1

Phosphate Binders

Sevelamer cabonate (Renvela); Sevelamer hydrochloride (Renagel)

Answer 1

Hyperphosphatemia

block absorption of dietary PO4

Question 2

Vitamin D analogs

Answer 2

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

increases calcium absorption (raises serum Ca) and inhibits PTH secretion

Question 3

Calcimimetic

Cinacalcet (Sensipar)

Answer 3

Secondary Hyperparathyroidism

only used in dialysis patients

increases sensitivity of the calcium-sensing receptor on the parathyroid gland

Question 4

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (SPS, Kayexalate)

Answer 4

Hyperkalemia (> 5 mEq/L)

binds K in the GI tract

Question 5

Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs)

Glevaprevir/pibrentasvir (Mavyret); Sofosbuvir/velpatasvir (Epclusa)

Answer 5

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

first line for treatment-naive patients w/o cirrhosis

-previr = protease inhibitor; -asvir = NS5A replication complex inhibitor; -buvir = NS5B polymerase inhibitor

Question 6

Nucleoside/Tide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs)

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (Viread); Tenofovir alafenamide (Vemlidy); Entecavir (Baraclude); Lamivudine (Epivir HBV)

Answer 6

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)

first-line treatment

inhibit HBV replication

Question 7

Ribavirin

Answer 7

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

use in combination with DAAs in select patients

used to boost levels of HCV protease inhibitors

Question 8

Interferon Alfa (PEG-INF)

Answer 8

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV); Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)

first-line treatment for HBV

Question 9

Ocreotide (Sandostatin)

Answer 9

Bleeding Varices

complication of liver disease/cirrhosis

selective vasoconstrictor

Question 10

Non-Selective Beta-Blockers

Nadolol (Corgard); Propranolol (Inderal LA, Inderal XL)

Answer 10

Primary & Secondary Prevention of Portal Hypertension

complication of liver disease/cirrhosis

reduces portal pressure

Question 11

Lactulose

nonabsorbable disaccharide

Answer 11

Acute & Chronic Hepatic Encephalopathy

first-line treatment

converts ammonia produced by intestinal bacteria into ammonium

Question 12

Rifaxamin (Xifaxan)

antibiotic

Answer 12

Acute & Chronic Hepatic Encephalopathy

second-line therapy

inhibits activity of urease-producing bacteria

Question 13

High-Intensity Statin

Atorvastatin (Lipitor); Rosuvastatin (Crestor)

Answer 13

Primary & Secondary Prevention of ASCVD

inhibits HMG-CoA reductase (rate-limiting step of cholesterol synthesis)

Patient Criteria: LDL > 190; multiple ASCVD risk factors + diabetes + age 40-75; LDL 70-189 + age 40-75 + 10-year ASCVD risk > 20%

Question 14

Moderate-Intensity Statin

-statin

Answer 14

Primary Prevention of ASCVD

inhibits HMG-CoA reductase (rate-limiting step of cholesterol synthesis)

Patient Criteria: diabetes + age 40-75 + LDL 70-189; no diabetes but 10-year ASCVD risk 7.5-19.9%

Question 15

Ezetimibe (Zetia)

Answer 15

Adjunct Treatment for Dyslipidemia

inhibits absorption of cholesterol in the small intestine

very high risk + max dose statin + LDL > 70; primary hypercholesterolemia + max statin + LDL > 100

Question 16

Bile Acid Sequestriants

Colesevelam (Welchol)

Answer 16

Dyslipidemia but cannot tolerate a statin

binds bile acid to form a complex that is excreted in the feces

Question 17

Aminosalicylates

Answer 17

Maintenance of remission for Ulcerative Colitis (UC)