Alendronate
Class:// Bisphosphonate Indications:// Paget’s disease of the bone. Prevention and treatment of OP Hypercalcaemia of malignancy Prevention of skeletal-related events in patients with malignancies of the bone. Dose:// OP 10mg daily, or 70mg weekly. Pagets: 40mg daily Monitoring:// Renal fxn Calcium and vitamin d Dental assessment - osteonecrosis of jaw. Swallowing ability Counselling:// Take with a full glass of water, at least 30 minutes before breakfast. Remain upright during this time. L4- do not take antacids, calcium, iron or mineral supplements within 30 minutes of alendronate. Take on the same day each week- set a reminder Stop and see dr if- pain on swallowing, or new or worsening heartburn. May cause nvd
Allopurinol
Class: xanthine oxidase inhibitor. Indications: Symptomatic hyperuricaemia, gout, prevention of tumor lysis syndrome. Dose: 100-600mg d, (MAX:900mg) Monitoring: Renal fxn, Hepatic fxn (can raise enzymes) Gout flares. Fbe - blood dyscrasias Counselling: Take with food (decrease GI effects) Dizzy/drowsy do not drive if effected. Stop and dr if: rash, swollen lips or mouth, persistent fever or sore throat. Will probably get gout flares in first few months of starting the medication. Ensure you know how to manage these. They will improve as it lowers the urate level. Dr will take blood tests to monitor your urate level
Amitriptyline
Class:// Tricyclics Antidepressants Indications:// Major depression, neuropathic pain, migraine prophylaxis, nocturnal enuresis. Dose:// 10-150 daily. Max 300mg. (Higher doses in depression than pain management) tds for nocturnal enuresis. Monitoring:// BP mood -may increase suicidal thoughts on initiation Sedation Seizures QT prolongation. Hepatic Counselling:// May cause blurred vision, drowsiness, and dry mouth. These should lesson after about 7 days of Tx. Take at night to reduce day time drowsiness. May feel dizzy on standing Avoid driving until you know how you react to this medication. May increase the effect of alcohol Do not stop abruptly.
Amoxycillin
Class://
Penicillin / Antibiotic
Indication://
CAP
UTI
Otitis media
Sinusitis
Acute Prostatitis
Dose://
250-1000mg TDS or 1g BD
Monitoring://
Hepatic
Renal - Long term
FBE - Long term
Allergy
Cultures and Sensitivity and Response
Counselling://
Monitor for allergy - SOB, Swelling - See dr
Space doses equally throughout the day.
Complete the course.
May cause NVD, widespread rash.
Aspirin
Class:// NSAID, Antiplatelet. Indication:// Acute coronary syndrome Hx of symptomatic atherosclerosis Pain, inflammation, fever Dose:// 75-150mg d 300-900mg q4-6h prn max 4g d. Monitoring:// Risk/signs of bleeding Renal Allergy Counselling:// Take the tablets out of the packaging just before use - degrades in the packaging Mix dispensable aspirin with water immediately before taking. Take with food. Be aware this can increase your risk of bleeding. Can cause Gi upset.
Azathioprine
Class://
Immunosuppressant
Indication://
Prevention of organ transplant rejection
Immune and inflammatory disease – RA, Inflammatory bowel disease, SLE (Lupus), Autoimmune hepatitis, atopic dermatitis, vasculitis.
Dose://
1-3mg/kg daily in 1-2 doses, adjust per response, however adjusted under specialist supervision.
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Baclofen
Class://
Muscle Relaxant
Indication://
Chronic Spasticity with MS and Spinal Cord Lesions
Chronic Spasticity of cerebral origin
Dose://
5-25mg TDS
Doses of 120-150mg daily may begiven in hospitalised patients.
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Betamethasone (Topical)
Class://
Corticosteroid
Indication://
Dose://
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Buprenorphine
Class://
Partial Opioid Agonist
Indication://
Moderate-to-severe pain
Opioid dependence
Dose://
Sublingual: 200-400mcg q6-8h
Patch: 5mcg/hr starting – MAX 40mcg/hr – do not increase dose at intervals of less than 4 days, or apply more than 2 patches at the same time
Change each patch every 7 days.
Opioid Dependence: 2-8mg starting – Maintenance – 12-24mg d. Upto 32mg d.
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Cabergoline
Class://
Ergot Derivative – Dopamine Agonist
Indication://
Parkinson’s Disease
Hyperprolactinemia – including Prolactinomas
Prevention of onset of lactation – for medical reasons.
Dose://
Parkinson’s: 0.5-1mg ONCE daily (starting) MAX 3mg ONCE daily.
Hyperprolactinaemia: 0.5mg each week in 1 or 2 doses. (Starting) MAX 2mg each week.
Supressing Lactation: 1mg as a single dose on day 1 postpartum.
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Carbamazapine
Class://
Anti-epileptics
Indication://
Epilepsy
Trigeminal and glossopharyngeal neuralgia
Bipolar Disorder
Dose://
100mg BD initially.
400mg-1.6g in 2 or more doses MAX 2g.
**Different ranges for different indications**
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Celecoxib
Class:// NSAIDs Indications:// Pain due to inflammation arthropathies. Pain, especially due to inflammation and tissue injury Dosage:// 100mg twice daily. May increase to 400mg daily, but only use short term. Monitoring:// Renal fxn, Hypersensitivity to NSAIDs or allergy to sulphonamides. Hepatic FBE, BP, weight, GI adverse effects. Cardiac (Ci in heart failure) Counselling:// Do not take if you are dehydrated, eg vomiting or diarrhoea, because it might increase the likely hood of side effects. If you develop swollen ankles, difficulty breathing, chest pain, black stools, dark coffee coloured vomit - stop taking this medication and see your doctor. Do not take aspirin for pain relief.
Cephalexin
Class:// cephalosporins Indications:// UTI Staph and strep infections if patients have mild penicillin allergies. Epididymo-chrosis Dose:// 250-500mg qid or bd. Max 4g d. Monitoring :// Cultures and sensitivities Renal fxn Allergy FBE Counselling:// Take until all finished May cause NVD Any signs of allergy - stop and see dr
Ciprofloxacin
Class:// Quinolone Indications:// Complicated UTI Bone or joint infections. Prostatitis. Dosage:// 250-750mg bd. Max 1.5mg Monitoring:// Seizures Renal fxn Cultures, sensitivities. Counselling:// Take on an empty stomach (1hr before, or 2 hrs after) Do not take dairy products, antacids, iron, zinc or calcium within 2 hrs of a dose. May increase the effects of caffeine Avoid sun exposure, protective clothing and use sunscreen. May cause dizzy/ drowsy - do not drive or operate machinery if effected. Alcohol may make this worse. Stop this medication if you Develop any tendon soreness or inflammation, or numbness or tingling in hands or feet.
Citalopram
Class:// Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Indications:// Depression, Anxiety Disorders Bulimia Premenstrual dysphoric disorder Dose:// 20-40mg daily Monitoring:// QT prolongation Sodium Serotonin toxicity Hepatic Counselling:// Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how you are effected Do not stop abruptly Tell all Drs, pharmacists and dentists that you are taking as there may be significant interactions. May cause sexual dysfunction, if this a problem ensure you discuss this with your dr. May cause nausea, diarrhoea, or sleep disturbances.
Cyproterone with ethinylestradiol (Brenda, Estelle)
Class://
Combined oral contraceptive – Estrogen / Progesterone
Indication://
Androgenisation (mild-to-moderate hirsutism) and contraception in these women
Acne, Contraception, Menstrual disorders, endometriosis, PMS
Dose://
1 tablet daily.
2mg cyproterone/ 35mcg ethinylestradiol
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Dapaglifozin
Class:// Sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors Indications:// T2DM Dose:// 10mg once daily. Monitoring:// Renal fxn (60 CI) Hepatic (avoid in severe impairment) HbA1c, BSL Dehydration Counselling:// Avoid dehydration - drink enough water. To control thirst. More likely to get genital infections - UTI or thrush. Good hygiene is important, and see dr or pharmacist if you think you have an infection. Your urine will test positive during treatment with this medication.
Desmopressin
C: Antidiuretic Hormone Analogue
I:
Diagnostic aid for differential diagnosis of polyuria
Nocturia due to idiopathic nocturnal polyuria (see Desmopressin (genitourinary))
Control of bleeding in patients with mild or moderate haemophilia and type I von Willebrand’s disease (seek specialist advice)
Control of bleeding in surgery in people with certain platelet disorders (seek specialist advice)
Dose –
Intranasal - 10-40mcg daily
Oral Tab - 200mcg - 1.2mg daily in divided doses Sublingual Wafer - 120-720mcg daily in divided doses
*Depends on the indication*
M:
C:
Tell your doctor immediately if you have headache, nausea, vomiting or weight gain.
Wafer: place the wafer under your tongue and allow it to dissolve; do not swallow.
headache, nausea, abdominal cramps
Intranasal, local irritation, rhinitis, nosebleed
Diazepam
Class://
Benzodiazepine
Indication://
Short-term Anxiety
Acute Alcohol withdrawal
Muscle Spasm
Status Epilepticus
Benzo withdrawal
Acute behavioural disturbances
Parasomnias.
Dose://
1-10mg up to THREE times a day.
May be higher under specialist supervision.
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Digoxin
Class:// Antiarrythmic, cardiac glycoside Indications:// -Af and Atrial Flutter -heart failure Dose:// 62.5-250mcg once daily (Max 500mcg) Higher for loading dose (125-500mch q4-6h) Monitoring:// -Thyroid -Electrolytes -renal fxn -ECG - arrhythmias -therapeutic drug monitoring, -toxicity - fatigue, malaise, nvd, dizzy, delirium, anorexia Counselling:// L5- interactions Let your dr know if you experience any nvd, dizziness, visual disturbances, or a rash.
Domperidone
Class://
Dopamine Antagonist
Indication://
Nausea and vomiting
Gastroparesis
Lactation Stimulation
Dose://
10mg TDS MAX 30mg daily.
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Donepezil
Class://
Anticholinesterase
Indication://
Alzheimer’s Disease
Dose://
5-10mg daily (according to clinical response)
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Exenatide
Class://
Glucagon-like peptide 1 analogue (GLP-1)
Indication://
Dose://
Monitoring://
Counselling://
Famciclovir
Class://
Guanine Analogue – Anti-viral
Indication://
Shingles,
Herpes Simplex Virus
Dose://
125mg – 500mg 1-3 times daily.
Renally adjusted
Higher doses are used in immunecompromised patients.
Single Dose for cold sore = 1500mg
Monitoring://
Counselling://