Drug classes

Question 1

Alpha blockers

Answer 1

Treats: BPH (moderate to severe LUTS)
How it works: relax muscle of prostate and bladder neck to increase urinary flow
Side effects: postural HTN, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, sweating
Additional notes: doesn’t alter prostate size, take 1st dose at night while lying down to reduce SE
Names: tamsulosin, doxazosin, alfuzosin, terazosin

Question 2

5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors (5ARIs)

Answer 2

Treats: BPH
How it works:
Side effects:
Notes

Question 3

anticholinergics

Answer 3

Treats: OAB
MoA: inhibits acetylcholine and binds to muscarinic receptors (induce smooth muscle relaxation)

Names: Oxybutynin (OAB),

Question 4

PDE5 inhibitors

Answer 4

Treats: erectile dysfunction
MoA: inhibits PDE5 from converting cGMP to GTP = causes vasodilation and smooth muscle relaxation
Notes: metabolised by CYP3A4 (avoid drugs that inhibit CYP3A4 and grapefruit juice), only causes erection upon sexual stimulation
Side effects: headache, dyspepsia, CV problems, flushing
Names: sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil

Question 5

Prostaglandin injections

Answer 5

Treats: erectile dysfunction
MoA: activates adenylate cyclase = causes vasodilation and smooth muscle relaxation
Notes: injected directly into penis right before sex = low patient likeability
Name: alprostadil (PGE1)

Question 6

Thionamides

Answer 6

Treat: hyperthyroidism
MoA: inhibits thyroid peroxidase which reduces the synthesis of thyroid hormone
Notes: takes 6-8 weeks to show effect, monitor TSH, T4 and T3 every 6 weeks
Names: Carbimazole, propylthiouracil

Question 7

1st gen antipsychotics

Answer 7

Treats: schizophrenia
MoA: D2 receptor antagonist
Notes: good at controlling +ve symptoms BUT causes EPS
Names: haloperidol and chlorpromazine

Question 8

2nd gen antipsychotics

Answer 8

Treats: schizophrenia
MoA: mixed pharmacology but generally work by blocking D2 dopamine receptors as well as serotonin receptor antagonist action
Notes: less likely to cause EPS
Names: clozapine, olanzapine and risperidone

Question 9

Opioids

Answer 9

Treats: acute pain and chronic cancer pain
MoA: mainly bind to G-protein-coupled (m, delta and kappa) opioid receptors
Side effects: addiction, sedation and depression of respiration
Contraindications: respiratory depression and increased intracranial pressure
Extra notes: highly addictive if used long-term
Names: codeine, morphine