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Pharmacology compendium
Explore the pharmacological properties of topical and oral medicines
18
Results:
Acetazolamide
Diamox
Drug group
Diuretic
Drug class
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor
Mechanism
Decreases aqueous production by inhibiting carbonic anhydrase which catalyses bicarbonate production, reducing intraocular pressure
Precautions
Adrenal or respiratory failure
Metabolic acidosis
Hyponatraemia
Hypokalaemia
Pregnancy category
B3
Contraindications
Allergy to sulfonamides
Renal impairment
Hepatic impairment
Cirrhosis
Breastfeeding
Contact pregnancy drug information centre
Adverse effects
Paraesthesia of extremities
Fatigue
Drowsiness
Depression
Decreased libido
Bitter or metallic taste
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhoea
Polyuria
Renal stones
Metabolic acidosis
Hypokalaemia
Hyponatraemia
Rash
Aciclovir
Aciclovir
Drug group
Antiviral
Drug class
Guanine analogue
Mechanism
Irreversible, selective competitive inhibitor of HSV DNA polymerase which prevents DNA synthesis by terminating DNA chains
Precautions
Neurological abnormalities
Renal impairment
Elderly
Pregnancy category
B3
Contraindications
Allergy to valaciclovir or aciclovir
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Hallucinations
Headache
Amoxicillin + clavulanic acid
Augmentin
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Penicillin
Mechanism
Bactericidal. Interfere with bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins, leading to cell lysis and death
Precautions
Sodium restriction
Heart failure
Infectious mononucleosis
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
HIV infection
Phenylketonuria
Pregnancy
Pregnancy category
Amoxicillin: A
Clavulanic acid: B1
Contraindications
Amoxicillin use
History of cholestatic jaundice
Hepatic dysfunction associated with amoxicillin with clavulanic acid or ticarcillin
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Allergy
Transient increase in liver enzymes and bilirubin
Amoxicillin/ampicillin rash
Aspirin
Cartia
Drug group
Analgesic / Anti-pyretic / Anti-inflammatory / Anti-coagulant
Drug class
Non-selective NSAID
Mechanism
Irreversibly binds and inhibits COX 1 and COX 2 receptors, therfore prevents prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in the arachidonic acid pathway
Precautions
Heart failure
Uncontrolled hypertension
Asthma
Gout
G6PD deficiency
History of peptic ulcer
Renal impairment
Pregnancy
Elderly
Pregnancy category
C
Contraindications
Allergy to aspirin or NSAIDs
Bleeding disorders
Erosive gastritis
Peptic ulcer disease
Severe hepatic impairment
Breastfeeding
Avoid. Ibuprofen preferred NSAID
Adverse effects
Nausea
Dyspepsia
Vomiting
Gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding
Asymptomatic blood loss
Increased bleeding time
Headache
Dizziness
Tinnitus
Azithromycin
Zithromax
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Macrolide
Mechanism
Bacteriostatic. Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunit
Precautions
Risk factors for prolonged QT interval
Diabetes
Severe hepatic impairment
Myasthenia gravis
Pregnancy category
B1
Contraindications
Serious allergy to macrolides
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Abdominal pain and cramps
Candidal infections
Cefalexin
Keflex
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Beta-lactam
Mechanism
Bactericidal. Interfere with bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins, leading to cell lysis and death
Precautions
Renal impairment
Pregnancy category
A
Contraindications
Allergy to cephalosporins or penicillin
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Vomiting
Rash
Headache
Dizziness
Allergy
Cetirizine hydrochloride
Zyrtec
Drug group
Antihistamine
Drug class
Selective histamine-1 antagonist
Mechanism
Inverse agonism of H1 histamine receptors preventing mast cell degranulation
Precautions
Pregnancy
Elderly
Pregnancy category
B2
Contraindications
Allergy to cetirizine, levocetirizine or hydroxyzine
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Drowsiness
Fatigue
Headache
Nausea
Dry mouth
Clindamycin
Dalacin
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Macrolide
Mechanism
Bacteriostatic. Inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunit
Precautions
-
Pregnancy category
A
Contraindications
Serious allergic reaction to clindamycin or lincomycin
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain or cramps
Rash
Itch
Diclofenac
Voltaren
Drug group
Analgesic / Anti-pyretic / Anti-inflammatory
Drug class
Non-selective NSAID
Mechanism
Non-selective COX 1 & 2) enzyme inhibitor. Inhibits COX pathways therefore prevents prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in the arachidonic acid pathway
Precautions
Dehydration
Asthma
Coagulation disorderes
Cardiovascular disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Hypersensitivity to NSAIDs
Renal impairment
Pregnancy
Elderly
Pregnancy category
C
Contraindications
Heart failure
Angina
Peripheral arterial disease
Cerebrovascular disease
Severe hepatic impairment
Breastfeeding
Safe to use. Ibuprofen preferred NSAID
Adverse effects
Nausea
Dyspepsia
Gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding
Raised liver enzymes
Diarrhoea
Headache
Dizziness
Salt and fluid retention
Hypertension
Arteriothrombotic events
Doxycycline
Doxsig / Doxylin
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Tetracycline
Mechanism
Bacteriostatic. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by reversibly binding to 30S ribosomal subunit
Precautions
Systemic lupus erythematosus
Oral retinoid use
Hepatotoxic drug use
Pregnancy category
D
Contraindications
Pregnancy (from 19 weeks gestation)
Serious allergy to tetracyclines
Breastfeeding
Safe to use for 7 - 10 days
Adverse effects
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Epigastric burning
Tooth discolouration
Enamel dysplasia
Photosensitivity
Fexofenadine hydrochloride
Telfast
Drug group
Antihistamine
Drug class
Selective histamine-1 antagonist
Mechanism
Inverse agonism of H1 histamine receptors preventing mast cell degranulation
Precautions
Pregnancy
Elderly
Pregnancy category
B2
Contraindications
Allergy to cetirizine, levocetirizine or hydroxyzine
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Drowsiness
Fatigue
Headache
Nausea
Dry mouth
Flucloxacillin
Staphylex
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Penicillin
Mechanism
Bactericidal. Interfere with bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis by binding to penicillin-binding proteins, leading to cell lysis and death
Precautions
Sodium restriction
Heart failure
Pregnancy category
B1
Contraindications
Allergy to penicillin
History of chlolestatic hepatitis associated with dicloxillin or flucloxicillin
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Diarrhoea
Nausea
Allergy
Transient increases in liver enzymes abd bilirubin
Ibuprofen
Nurofen
Drug group
Analgesic / Anti-pyretic / Anti-inflammatory
Drug class
Non-selective NSAID
Mechanism
Non-selective reversible COX-1 & COX-2 inhibitor. Reversibly binds and non-selectively inhibits COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes, preventing prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis in the arachidonic acid pathway
Precautions
Dehydration
Asthma
Coagulation disorderes
Cardiovascular disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Hypersensitivity to NSAIDs
Renal impairment
Pregnancy
Elderly
Pregnancy category
C
Contraindications
Peptic ulcer disease
Gastrointestinal bleeding
Severe hepatic impairment
Severe heart failure
Pregnancy (from 28 weeks gestation)
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Nausea
Dyspepsia
Gastrointestinal ulceration or bleeding
Raised liver enzymes
Diarrhoea
Headache
Dizziness
Salt and fluid retention
Hypertension
Loratadine
Claratyne
Drug group
Antihistamine
Drug class
Selective histamine-1 antagonist
Mechanism
Inverse agonism of H1 histamine receptors preventing mast cell degranulation
Precautions
Pregnancy
Elderly
Severe hepatic impairment
Pregnancy category
B1
Contraindications
Allergy to loratadine or desloratidine
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Drowsiness
Fatigue
Headache
Nausea
Dry mouth
Minocycline
Minomycin
Drug group
Antibiotic
Drug class
Tetracycline
Mechanism
Bacteriostatic. Inhibits bacterial protein synthesis by reversibly binding to 30S ribosomal subunit
Precautions
Systemic lu+J16+A13:G14
Pregnancy category
D
Contraindications
Pregnancy
Serious allergy to minocycline
Breastfeeding
Safe to use for 7 - 10 days
Adverse effects
Abdominal cramps
Vestibular toxicity (weakness, dizziness, vertigo, ataxia)
Headache
Pigmentation of skin and oral mucosa
Omeprazole
Losec
Drug group
Antisecretory compound
Drug class
Proton pump inhibitor
Mechanism
Binds to the hydrogen/potassium ATPase enzyme system, selectively inhibiting stimulated and basal acid secretion
Precautions
Allergy to omeprazole or esomeprazole
Pregnancy category
B3
Contraindications
Allergy to omeprazole or esomeprazole
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Rare (<0.1%)
Alopecia
Confusion
Haemolytic anaemia
Pancreatitis
Microscopic collitis
Paracetamol
Panadol
Drug group
Analgesic / Anti-pyretic
Drug class
Non-opiod analgesic
Non-selective COX inhibitor
Mechanism
Unknown mechanism
Precautions
Sodium restriction
Phenylketonuria
Chronic liver disease
Pregnancy category
A
Contraindications
Nil
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Increased aminotransferases
Valaciclovir
Valtrex
Drug group
Antiviral
Drug class
Guanine analogue
Mechanism
Irreversible, selective competitive inhibitor of HSV DNA polymerase which prevents DNA synthesis by terminating DNA chains
Precautions
Increased risk of neurological adverse effects in renal impairment
Pregnancy (use from 36 weeks)
Pregnancy category
B3
Contraindications
Allergy to valaciclovir or aciclovir
Breastfeeding
Safe to use
Adverse effects
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Hallucinations
Headache
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