Wednesday, February 8, 2017

Alcohol and Drug Interactions: 2nd part


Hey guys,

This is a continuation of the previous post on Disulfiram-like Reaction.

Let us start with a basic info. Pharmacokinetic drug interactions with alcohol are only seen in heavy drinkers whereas Pharmacodynamic drug interactions can be seen in moderate drinkers and even after a single episode of drinking. 

With Antibiotics


As already mentioned, the Disulfiram-like reaction can occur with Isoniazid, Cefotetan, Cefamandole, Cefoperazone, Chloramphenicol, Sulfamethoxazole, Sulfisoxazole.

Besides patients on Isoniazid should abstain from drinking alcohol since isoniazid is hepatotoxic and the liver damage can be exacerbated by concurrent alcohol consumption

With Antidepressants


1. With TCAs: Alcohol increases the sedative action of TCAs, especially Amitriptyline, Doxepin etc.
Alcohol also impairs the first-pass metabolism of Amitriptyline in the liver causing increased bioavailability of the drug. Excessive increase in levels of TCAs in the blood can precipitate convulsions and cardiac arrhythmias.

2. Among SSRIs, all are relatively safer with alcohol; the safest being Fluoxetine.

3. With MAOIs(eg., Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine): There can be severe high BP(cheese reaction) if taken together with red wine which contains Tyramine.

That's all! :)
Do go through the subsequent posts in this series, 3rd Part and 4th Part.

-VM

Alcohol and Drug Interactions: Disulfiram-like Reaction


Hey, guys...

So day before yesterday, there was my Forensic Medicine viva and the examiner asked me the causes of impotency. And I immediately started blabbing about Stress, Phimosis, Hypospadias, Peyronie's disease, I even mentioned Parkinson's disease. The examiner interjected me and asked the most common cause. I guessed heart disease and the related medications and he denied. Then he said it is excess consumption of alcohol and asked me not to underestimate alcohol and it's various interactions and correlations ever.
So here I am, trying to summarize the interactions of alcohol with the major classes of drugs.

Disulfiram-like Reaction


I am not going to go into the details of the mechanism. Just, in brief, Disulfiram-like reactions entails flushing(due to dilatation of blood vessels), nausea, vomiting, sweating, hypotension, so reflex tachycardia which can be deleterious to a patient of coronary artery disease(CAD).

Now let us try to use CAD as a mnemonic here while learning certain other things as well.

1. It starts with C, a lot of drugs starting with C have this reaction, like Cefamandole, Cefoperazone, Cefotetan, Chloramphenicol.

2. Patients with CAD have Pain, so let us now manage that some analgesics starting with P(for Pain), Phenylbutazone, Phenacetin.

3. Patients with CAD can have attacks of Angina, for which we give Nitrates, so let us take that. Drugs with Nitro group: Nitroglycerin, Isosorbide dinitrate, Nitrofurantoin, Metronidazole. Why leave Sulpha group behind?
Drugs with Sulpha group: Sulphamethoxazole, Sulfisoxazole.

4. CAD often co-exists with Diabetes Mellitus(DM). So let us manage that with some Sulfonylureas; Tolbutamide, Tolazamide, Chlorpropamide and even the 2nd gen drug Glyburide.

5. Patients with DM are immunosuppressed. Hence, they are predisposed to Mycoses and TB. Manage them with Griseofulvin and Isoniazid respectively.

That's all! :)
Do go through the other posts in this series, 2nd Part3rd Part, and 4th Part

-VM

Thursday, February 2, 2017

CHF treatment mnemonic

Hello
Here's a simple updated mnemonic on pharmacotherapy of congestive heart failure: UNLOAD FAST

U- Upright position/ Ultrafiltration
N- Nitrates
L- Lisinopril (ACE inhibitors)
O- Oxygen therapy
A- Aquapheresis/ ARBs/ Aldosterone inhibitors
D- Digoxin/ Diuretics

F- Furosemide/ Fluid restriction
A- Arterial dilators (to decrease Afterload)
S- Sodium restriction
T- Theophylline/ Thiamine/ Taurine

Latest updates suggest new classes of drugs for the treatment of CHF, approved by the USFDA -
- Angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitors (a combination tablet of valsartan and sacubitril)
- Sino-atrial node modulator (ivabradine)


Thats all
- Jaskunwar Singh

Lesch-Nyhan syndrome mnemonic

Here's a mnemonic on Lesch-Nyhan disease!

Edward syndrome mnemonic

Trisomy 18 is the second most common autosomal trisomy after trisomy 21. Here's a mnemonic for it!

Why do infants of diabetic mothers develop polycythemia?

Why do infants of diabetic mothers develop polycythemia?

It's due to hyperinsulinemia!

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Second Heart sounds: Quick review

Hello everyone,
Heart sounds are quite interesting and musical topic, something that makes more sense by practicing rather than just reading theoretically. This post is completely dedicated to second heart sound.

Second heart sound (S2)
It is produced during closure of pulmonary and aortic valve.
It is a high pitched sound.