Facts to know! Flashcards

(74 cards)

1
Q

prescribing prednisolone for COPD exacerbation

A

going to seem like a strangely large number of drugs

e.g. if you prescribe 30mg of prednisolone, because the tablets come in specific mg such as 5mg, the patient will take 6 tablets to make up 30mg

Guidance: 30mg PO daily for 5 days

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2
Q

24 hours ago a 56 year old man had a stroke. After he is deemed to have an unsafe swallow and therefore he is commenced on IV fluids to prevent dehyration.

See the fluids that he has received in the last 24h

Write a prescription for one IV fluid that is most appropriate as the enxt bag to maintain his hydration while he remains nil by mouth

A

glucose 5%/potassium chloride 0.3% solution

potassium chloride and glucose IV infusion is the best choice.

  • he has already received 2l of sodium chloride 0.9% in the last 24h -> this will provide water, but risk sodium and chloride overload
  • in 0.9% NaCL there is 154 mmol Na and Cl in each bag and for an 80kh man the daily requirement is 80mmol each so yesterday he had x4 the amount required
  • he also requires some potassium as he only had 40 mmol yesterday and requires 80mmol per day
  • his blood glucos eis in normal range, so it is reasonable to maintain hydration using 5% glucose

Infusion rate

  • the ideal infusion rate is 1L over 8-12 h using a bag contain 0.3% potassium (40 mmol/l)
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3
Q

0.15% potassium in mmol

A

20mmol

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4
Q

0.3% potassium in mmol

A

40 mmol

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5
Q

a 55 year old present to the GP for review of her HRT_ she requests a new preparation that will not give her monthly withdrawal bleeds like her current medication- she would like to keep a transdermal patch system going

DH
* Estrodiol 50micrograms/24h transdermal patch
* Estradiol 50 micrograms/ norethisterone acetate 170 micrograms 24h transdermal patch comb one patch transdermally twice weekly for 2 year

Write a prescription for one drug that will prevent withdrawal bleeding

A

if she is having withdrawal bleeds we can deduce she has a uterus
- women with a uterus should have a product containing both oestrogen and progesterone
- this protects against endometrial cancer from unopposed oestrogen

Preventing withdrawal bleed
- to prevent withdrawal bleed the product needs to release the same dose continuously, rather than a sequential product
- she would like a transdermal patch

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6
Q

simply to prevent withdrawal bleed when using HRT

A

need a product that releases the same dose continuously, rather than a sequental product

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7
Q

which drug not good for peripheral vascular disease

A

beta blockers such as atenolol -> cause peripheral vasoconstriciton and can worsen ischaemia in PVD

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8
Q

common drugs which cause hyperkalaemia

A

ACEi
ARBs
Potassium sparing diuretics and aldosterone antagonists e.g. spironolactone
Heparins
Tacrolimus
Ciclosporin
Eplerenone

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9
Q

Adjusting insulin

48 year old attends clinic. She does not report any hypoglycaemic symptoms or episodes, bit has noticed some polyuria in the evenings.

PMH: T1DM
DH:

  • Lisinopril 10mg PO daily
  • Atorvastatin 20mg PO daily
  • Biphasic insulin aspart (NovoMix30) 44 units SC at breakfast and 32 units SC with evening meals

Her blood glucose at preprandial and bedtime:

What is the most approrpiate management to improve glycaemic control

A

dont change the type of insulin -> just increase morning dose of insulin up a few units (10%)

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10
Q

which antibiotics can interfere with warfarin and contraceptives

A

P450 inhibitors- increase warfarin conc in blood, increasing INR

  • macrolides such as Clarithromycin
  • Metroidazole
  • Ciprofloxain
  • Isoniazid

P450 inducers

  • Rifampicin
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11
Q

Drugs which cause hypokalaemia

A

Thiazide diuretics e.g. indapamide

Loop diuretics e.g. Furosemid

Theophylline

Insulin

Mannitol

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12
Q

Which fluids to give a hypoglycaemic patient <4mmol/l who is unconscious

A

glucose 20% 100mL IV STAT (over 15 mins)

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13
Q

62 year old presents to GP with aching muscles. Recently started on Atorvastatin 80mg.

Creatine kinase of 1500 U/L (24-195).

What si the most appropriate decision to make regarding the atorvastatin prescription

A

-when statin is suspected to be the cause of myopathy and the CK concentration is markedly elevated (>5 x upper limit of normal), or if musuclar symptoms are severe, treatment should be discontinued

  • if symptoms resolve, and CK levels return to normal, the statin should be reintroduced at a lower dose
  • if this does not work then can switch to a new statin e.g. Rosuvastatin
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14
Q

Oral morphine conversion to fentanyl patch

A

add up all of the current oral morphine being taken

ad then use conversion on BNF to calculate the equivalent for fentanyl patch

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15
Q
A

contunue levothyroxine sodium 100 micrograms PO daily

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16
Q

classic dose for pulmonary oedema whichr equires immediate treatment e.g. low sats and breathlessness

A

furosemide 10mg/ml injection - 50mg IV daily

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17
Q

thromboprophylaxis for elective hip replacement

A

should either be given:

  • LMWH for 10 days, followed by low-dose aspirin for a furter 28 days
  • or LMWH for 28 days in combo with anti-embolic stockings until discharge
  • or rivaroxaban

e.g. Dalteparin sodium 25 000 units/ mL -> give 500 units subcut daily for 28 days

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18
Q

when should antiplatelet therapy be stopped before surgery

A

e.g. aspirin and clopidogrel
7 days

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19
Q

which drugs are nephrotoxic

A
  • ACEi
  • ARB
  • NSAIDs
  • Thiazides
  • Allopurinol
  • Aminoglycosides e.g. gentamycin, clarithromycin
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20
Q

drugs which can cause hyponatraemia

A
  • Thiazide diuretic e.g. bendroflumethiazide
  • Loop
  • Spironolacton
  • Heparin
  • Antipsychotics
  • Antiepileptics e.g. carbamazepine, sodium valproate
  • Citalopram
  • ACEi
  • ARB
  • Heprin
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21
Q
A
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22
Q
A

Answer: Trimethoprim 200 mg PO 12 hrly for 7 days
- although blocks folate metabolsim, and may exacerbate pre-existing folate deificency, this doe snot preclude its use for a short course of treatment
- 7 days indicated in males

Why not Nitro
Nitrofurantoin should be avoided if eGFR is less than 45mL/min/1.73m2

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23
Q

vitamin K also known as

A

Phytomenadione

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24
Q
A

BNF says INR >1.5 on the day before surgery
- give phyromenadione (Vit K) 1-5 mg PO

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25
she should be aware that the efficacy of oral POPs is reduced when using topiramate (enzyme inducer) -> therefore alternative method of contraception until 4 weeks after ceasing taking topiramate
26
if patient starts and ACEi and has slightly riased creatinine what should you do
continue the ACEi daily and repeat UEs after 1 week *a small rise in creatinine (<20%) is to be expected when starting ACEi and does not require investigation or change in prescription*
27
best way to monitor beneficial effect of furosemide
weight -> aim of 0.5kg decrease per day
28
monitoring for adverse effects when taking carbimazole
FBC -> looking for neutropenia
29
increase insulin e.g. biphasic isophane insulin (Humulin M3) to 22 units SC - increase the usual dose of 10% would be appropriate way to manage a transient rise in BM caused by corticosteroids
30
**Gentamicin monitoring** Patient prescribed gentamicin 7mg.kg IV. Her first dose is given at 1700h today. Shes weights 60kg Investigations - Serum gentamicin at 2100 is 8.micrograms/ml What should you do?
31
Important: what would the concentration of: 1 litre bag of normal saline contains 1g of aminophylline.
1mg/ml
32
33
how long can it take for antidepressants to become effective
important that patients realise that they must take their medication regularly for up to 6 weeks before feeling a positive effect some people feel worse and even more suicidal to start with
34
good trick question
35
36
fluids for hypernatraemia | IV
5% glucose corrected at a rate of no greater than 0.5 mmol/hour Causes: all begin with D - dehyration - drips (too much NaCl) - diabetes insipidus - drugs
37
paracetamol prescribing
1g every 4-6 hours up tp 4g a day in patients <50kg the maximum dose is 500mg 6-hourly
38
IV potassium should not be given at a rate faster than
10mmol/hour
39
classic IV fluid prescription for a patient needing maintenance because they are nill by mouth
Adults tend to require 3 L IV fluid per 24 hours and elderly require 2 l example regime: 1 salty 2 sweet - 1L of 0.9% saline - 2L of 5% dextrose - Will require addition of KCL -> chrck UEs. If normal potassium levels give around 40 mmol KCL per day-> so put 20mmol KCL in 2 bags)
40
maintenance: how to give fluids
if giving 3l per day = 8 hourly bags (24/3) if giving 2l per day= 12 hourly (24/2)
41
blood clot prophylaxis
- most patients admitted will be given dalteparin 5000 units daily subcut - Compression stockings *watch out for PAD*
42
Antiemetic choices
**- Cyclizine 50 mg 8 hourly for most cases** *a good choice for almost all cases except cardiac cases- can worsen fluid retention* - Ondansetron 4mg or 8mg 8-hourly - Metoclopramide 20mg 8 hourly if Heart failure
43
key side effect of cyclizine
fluid retention
44
who should never be given metoclopramide
dopamine antagonist so will exagerate symptoms in **Parkinsons patients** - should also not give haloperidol
45
first line maagement of neuropathic pain
amitripytilien or pregabalin - duloxetine for painful diabetic neuropathy
46
management of high INR
47
asthma management
48
Smoking status and COCP
Her smoking status is important as being older than 35 years and smoking more than 15 cigs/day is an absolute contraindication to the COCP.
49
Drugs contraindicated in breast feeding:
LAMBAST + 3Cs Lithium Amiodarone Methotrexate Benzodiazepines Aspirin Sulfonylureas Tetracyclines Chloramphenicol, Carbimazole, Ciprofloxacin
50
which heart failure medications should not be used together
beta-blockers and verapamil
51
prescribing levothyroxine
look at the TSH TSH <0.5 - decrease dose TSH 0.5-5 - nil action same dose TSH>5 -increase dose
52
the higher the PT, the higher the
INR - warfarin inhibits synthesis of vitamin K dependent clotting factors (II,VII,IX,X) -> this prolongs PT from which INR is derived
52
if a patient on warfarin has a major bleed
- STOP warfarin - give 5-10mg IV vitamin k - give prothrobin complex
52
gentamicin is monitored due to risk of
Nephrotoxicity Ototoxicity
52
using the gentamicin nomogram
plot the blood concentration on the Y-axis - if the resultant point falls within the 24h area (q24h), then continue at the same dose - if it falls above the 24h area, then change the dosing interval as follows: - if it falls in the 36h, change to 36h dosing - of it falls in the 48h area, then change to 48h dosing - if it falls above the 48h area then repeat the gentimicin levela nd only re-dose when conc is <1mg/l
52
how to manage over anticoagulation
No bleeding - 5-8: omit warfarin for 2 days then reduce dose - >8: omit warfarin and give 1-5mg PO vitamin k Minor bleeding - 5-8: omit warfarin and give 1-5mg IV vitamin K - >8: omit warfarin and give 1-5mg IV vitamin K
53
when should antihypertensives be given
prescribed as nightly
54
rate control management of AF if asthmatic and therefore cant take b blocker
Verapamil (superior to diltiazem- not actually licened for AF- can cause profound bradycardia in presence of beta blcokers) Diltiazem
55
which drug will actually lower potassium (as opposed to protecting the heart)
rapid acting e.g. actrarapid Insulin
56
Inhibitors
The mnemonic SICKFACES.COM can be used to easily remember common CYP450 inhibitors. * Sodium valproate * Isoniazid * Cimetidine * Ketoconazole * Fluconazole * Alcohol & Grapefruit juice (alcohol) * Chloramphenicol * Erythromycin * Sulfonamides * Ciprofloxacin * Omeprazole * Metronidazole
57
inducers
The mnemonic CRAP GPs can be used to easily remember common CYP450 inducers. * Carbemazepines * Rifampicin * Alcohol (alcohol) * Phenytoin * Griseofulvin * Phenobarbitone * Sulphonylureas
58
management of confirmed PE or DVT
Apixiban or Rivaroxaban
59
common painkiller which can cause urinary retention
morphine
60
risk of wernickes encephalopathy
61
diabetic medications and surgery
62
Antidepressants such as sertraline can cause
electrolye imbalance such as Hyponatraemia - present as confusion, drowsiness, convulsions
63
depression management
64
anxiety management
65
missed lithium dose
66
lithium monitoring
67
BMI >26 so either give Ulipristal acetate or double dose of levongestrel
68
# ** emergency contraception
if in doubt use ulipristal acetate
69
carbamezapine is an inducer! reduces effect of POP and COCP
70