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Guideline Materials and Tips
QT Prolongation
Low Mg, Ca or K can all cause QT prolongation
Pulmonary HTN
Stages: No symptoms Symptoms with strenuous daily activities Symptoms with normal daily activities Symptoms at rest. Treatment: High dose CCBs Inhaled nitric oxide IV epoprostenol and IV adenosine ambrisentan, bosentan, macitentan, riociguat, sildenafil, tadalafil
Medication Errors
Medication Error Definitions: Mild: enhanced monitoring, no harm Moderate: active treatment required, enhanced monitoring, but no lasting harm Severe: patient harm that requires enhanced treatment and increased patient stay FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS): FAERS is a database that contains adverse event reports, medication error reports and product quality complaints resulting in adverse events that […]
Laws and Regulations to Know
This section is tricky. I recommend knowing a few laws and what they do. Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (1938) – Give authority to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee the safety of food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. Covers orphan drugs. The introduction of this act was influenced by the death of more […]
Depression
Diagnosis: MDD – Major Depressive Disorder/Unipolar DisorderAt least five symptoms every day for at least 2 weeks.Depressed mood = SIG E CAPS Sleep disturbances Interest in activities lost Guilt or worthlessness feelings Energy decreased Concentration decreased Appetite and weight changes Psychomotor retardation Suicidal ideation Rating Scales: HAM-D: Hamilton rating scale for depression – 18 moderate, 7 […]
Dementia
Cognitive Screening Mini – Mental Status Exam – MMSE Montreal Cognitive Assessment – MOCA St Louis University Mental Scale – SLUMS Mood screening: Geriatric Depression.ScaleIADL: Instrumental Activities Of Daily Living Diagnosing Dementia: Rule out delirium and drug-related causes. Other causes: vitamin B12 deficiency, hypothyroidism, depression, NPH, opioids, sedative-hypnotics, antidepressants, anticholinergics, antiparkinson’s drugs Treatment: Initiate a cholinesterase inhibitor in […]
Chemo Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Prophylactic therapy should be given prior to moderately to highly emetogenic agents or radiation They should be scheduled for after chemo to prevent delated N/V Lorazepam is useful for anticipatory nausea/vomiting, but can also just change routine Chemo agents with high emetic risks: Day 1 = 3 agents neurokinin-1 antagonist (fosaprepitant) serotonin 3 antagonist (ondansetron) […]
Bipolar Disorder
Manic Episode: 1 week of abnormal and persistently elevated mood. inflated self-esteem, irritability, decreased need for sleep, flights of ideas, poor attention span, high-risk behaviors. Bipolar 1: one or more manic or mixed episodes and major depressive episodes Bipolar 2: one or more major depressive episodes accompanied by at least one hypomanic episode Cyclothymic disorder: Periods […]
Best Tips and Random Info
Random things they ask: Names of tests for disease states (ie: Montreal Cognitive Assessment, for example) All names are generic Know drugs with REMS programs, NTIs and Black box warnings well.