Pharmacology Made Easy (Part 3) - Psych Drugs | Picmonic Nursing

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The webinar covers essential information on antifungals, antivirals, SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and other medications, including their uses and potential risks. Understanding key drug classes, side effects, and antidotes is crucial for healthcare professionals to ensure safe and effective patient care.

Insights

  • Antifungals and antivirals play crucial roles in pharmacology, with distinct naming conventions that aid in their identification: antifungals commonly end in "Azle," while antivirals often end in "Vir."
  • Understanding the specific characteristics and potential risks associated with different medication classes, such as SSRIs, benzodiazepines, and statins, is essential for safe and effective pharmacological management, emphasizing the importance of proper monitoring and antidote awareness.

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Recent questions

  • What is the focus of the pharmacology webinar?

    Antifungals and antivirals.

  • What is Acyclovir used for?

    Genital herpes and shingles.

  • What are the risks associated with benzodiazepines?

    Respiratory depression and addiction.

  • What is the antidote for benzodiazepines?

    Flumazenil.

  • How do proton pump inhibitors work?

    Reduce stomach acid production.

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Summary

00:00

Pharmacology Webinar: Antifungals, Antivirals, and More

  • The webinar is part three of a pharmacology series, following parts one and two, accessible with a Premium Membership.
  • The focus is on antifungals and antivirals, with antifungals typically ending in "Azle" and antivirals in "Vir."
  • Antifungals are crucial to recognize, as not all "Azle" medications are antifungals, but most are.
  • Antifungals can lead to drug interactions, while antivirals often end in "Vir" and include protease inhibitors.
  • Acyclovir, an antiviral, is used for genital herpes and shingles, with a risk of crystalline neuropathy in high doses.
  • Protease inhibitors, like ritonavir, end in "Navi ER" and are vital to identify.
  • SSRIs, such as paroxetine and fluoxetine, take 3 to 6 weeks to show effects and can lead to serotonin syndrome and decreased libido.
  • Benzodiazepines, like diazepam and alprazolam, are calming medications with risks of respiratory depression and addiction.
  • Flumazenil is the antidote for benzodiazepines, crucial due to their potential for addiction and abuse.
  • Sulfur-containing drugs, common in loop and thiazide diuretics, are vital to avoid for those allergic to sulfur.

13:28

"Medications for Cholesterol, Pain, and Acid"

  • HMG-CoA inhibitors, like simvastatin and atorvastatin, are statins that inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis.
  • When administering statins, it is crucial to monitor liver function tests (LFTs) due to the risk of elevated LFTs and avoid combining them with fibrates to prevent muscle pain.
  • Analgesics, such as lidocaine, work by blocking sodium channels to numb pain, commonly used in dental procedures or post-cardiac events to calm the heart.
  • Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), like omeprazole, reduce stomach acid production by inhibiting proton pumps, more effective than H2 receptor blockers like cimetidine and ranitidine.
  • H2 receptor blockers, such as cimetidine and ranitidine, block hydrogen receptors to reduce acid production, with cimetidine having more side effects than ranitidine.
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