anti-inflammatory, anti allergy, anti-infective drugs, dry eye preparations Flashcards
(130 cards)
What is primary eye care?
the provision of first contact care for all ophthalmic conditions and the follow-up, preventive and rehabilitative care of selected ophthalmic conditions
Who is part of the primary eye care workforce?
optometrists, ophthalmologists, GP’s, A&E doctors, community pharmacists
what eye preparations can pharmacists supply?
several OTC eye preparations like chloramphenicol, propamidine, anti-allergy agents, lubricants
Give a summary of GOC rules relating to injury or disease of the eye?
2005 Rule 6
optometrist can decide not to refer at their description but must record:
-sufficient description of injury/disease
-reason for not referring
-details of advice/treatment given to px
-inform px’s GP
what optometrist enhanced services are available?
glaucoma repeat measures
glaucoma referral refinement
PEARS (primary eye care assessment and referral service)
MECS (minor eye conditions service)
CUES (covid-19 urget eyecare service)
what are the requirements for joining MECS?
optometrist training: distant learning modules, practical assessment, HES casualty day placement, accreditation
clinical equipment should be available: slit lamp, Volk, contact tonometer (Goldman’s and Perkins), visual field capable of producing a plot, eyelash removal instruments, diagnostic medication
is MECS successful?
yes
reduces ophthalmologist referrals
cost effectiveness
high clinical safety
high px satisfaction
what is CUES?
A result of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
routine sight testing stopped temporarily and there was reduced capacity in emergency ophthalmology services
CUES was commissioned and delivered through particular optometry practices acting as urgent care hubs
what is rational prescribing?
treatment needs to be adapted depending on px and we need to be cautious of contraindications. poor prescribing less to higher costs and harm to px.
what are the steps of rational prescribing?
- Specify therapeutic objective (what do you want to achieve)
- Make an inventory of possible treatments (are no-drug treatment an alternative)
- Choose a treatment (consider efficacy, safety, suitability, and cost)
- Provide px with clear info and instructions (side effects)
- Monitor effectiveness of treatment (reviewing the px, have you got correct diagnosis, response to treatment)
what should we consider when prescribing in children?
differ in response to drug
drugs aren’t extensively tested on children so side effects not as well known
higher risk of toxicity due to reduced drug clearance and different target organ sensitivity
children have immature excretory function so greater exposure to drug.
check suitability for use in children by referring to SPC.
why is there caution when prescribing in women who are breast feeding?
drugs can cross placenta and enter treat milk
what are the rules of prescribing in pregnant women?
- Avoid unnecessary drug use and consider non-drug therapy
- Assess the benefit/risk ratio for both mother and developing baby
- Avoid all drugs in the 1st trimester whenever possible (the period of greatest risk for teratogenesis is the 3-11 weeks of pregnancy)
- Drugs given during the 2nd and 3rd trimesters may affect the growth of the foetus or functional development, or have a toxic effect on foetal tissue
what are the rules of prescribing in breastfeeding mothers?
Avoid unnecessary drug use and consider non-drug treatments first
Assess the benefit/risk ratio for both mother and infant
Avoid use of drugs known to cause serious toxicity in adults or children
Use older drugs first-line as these will have a more detailed safety history; use the lowest effective dose.
Drugs licensed for use in infants do not generally pose a hazard
why should be cautious when prescribing in the elderly?
Reduction in renal drug clearance with age. Kidneys don’t work as well.
Problem for drugs that are excreted unchanged by kidney and have a narrow therapeutic index
Diabetes and heart failure can worsen renal function
Older people have increased sensitivity to drugs, especially those acting on central nervous system
Frail elderly people can have difficulty swallowing tablets or using eye drops
Can consider compliance aids for eyedrops (for those who have arthritis)
Applies pressure to bottle to express drop, direct eye drop into eye.
what are the main types of anti-inflammatory drugs?
- corticosteroids
- non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
3.ciclosporin
what are corticosteroids?
naturally occurring hormones in the body produced by the adrenal gland
what are the 2 main groups of corticosteroids and what do they do?
glucocorticoids: maintain normal levels of blood glucose and promote recovery from injury
mineralocorticoids: affects sodium ion balance causing sodium re uptake and water retention so influences blood pressure
give 2 examples of corticosteroids from each group?
glucocorticoids:cortisol
mineralocorticoids:aldosterone
what hormone regulates levels of corticosteroids and where is it produced?
adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
what are the 2 main pharmacological actions of glucocorticoids?
- anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects through reduction in activity of inflammatory mediators
2.metabolic effects on carbohydrates, proteins and fat
what role do inflammatory mediators play in the inflammatory response?
vascular events: vasodilation, increased vascular permeability
cellular events: leukocytes migrate out of vascular system into tissues towards site of inflammation)
What is the action of corticosteroids?
steroid receptor is located in cytoplasm.
steroid binds to its receptor, then the steroid receptor complex moves to the cell nucleus.
In the cell nucleus the steroid receptor complex bind to glucocorticoid response elements
these elements control the transcription of genes and control the synthesis of inflammatory mediators.
how to corticosteroids reduce inflammatory mediator activity?
phospholipase A2 is an enzyme that coverts phospholipids into arachidonic acid
corticosteroids inhibit phospholipase A2
by inhibiting this enzyme, steroids reduce the synthesis of all mediators downstream from that enzyme