Year 1 drugs

(Dihydro)codeine

Indication: Moderate to sever pain.

Contraindications: Acute respiratory depression, Head injuries, Comatose patients.

Cautions: Addiction, Hepatic and Renal impairment, Elderly.

Dosage: 30-50mg every 4-6 hours. (indication dependant).

Side-effects (common): Arrhythmia, Constipation, Dizziness.

Forms: Tablets, MR tablets, Oral solutions.

(Es)omeprazole

Indication: Ulcers or Heartburn e.g., gastric ulcers.

Contraindications: None.

Cautions: Risk of osteoporosis, Gastric Cancer, Elderly patients.

Dosage: Child = 10-20mg daily, Adult = 20-80mg daily. (indication dependant).

Side-effects (common): Abdominal pain, Constipation, Dizziness.

Forms: Tablet, Capsule, Granules, Solution.

Amlodipine

Indication: Hypertension.

Contraindications: Cardiogenic shock.

Cautions: Elderly patients.

Dosage: 5-10mg daily.

Side-effects (common): Abdominal pain, Drowsiness, headache.

Forms: Tablet, Oral suspension, Oral solution.

Aspirin

Indication: Cardiovascular diseases and many more.

Contraindications: Not suitable for children under 16 due to risk of Reye's syndrome, active peptic ulceration and bleeding disorders.

Cautions: Allergy, Anaemia, Asthma.

Dosage: vary from 75mg(indication dependant).

Side-effects (common): Dyspepsia/indigestion, Haemorrhage.

Forms: Tablet, Dispersible tablet, Gastro-resistant tablet, Suppository.

Bisoprolol

Indication: Hypertension

Contraindications: Asthma, Hypotension, Bronchospasms.

Cautions: Diabetes, Elderly.

Dosage: 5-20mg daily

Side-effects (common): Abdominal discomfort, Bradychardia, depression.

Forms: Oral suspension, Oral solution.

Chloramphenicol

Indication: Infections e.g., eye.

Contraindications: Acute porphyrias

Cautions: Avoid prolonged use and repeated courses.

Dosage: 1 drop every 2 hours then reduce frequency as infection is controlled.

Side-effects (common): NONE

Forms: Eye drops, Ear drops, Eye ointment, Capsule.

Chlorphenamine

Indication: Hayfever, Allergies

Contraindications: NONE

Cautions: Epilepsy, Prostatic hypertrophy

Dosage: 10mg every 4 hours

Side-effects (common): Dizziness, Drowsiness, Headaches.

Forms: Tablet, Oral solution, Solution for injection.

Clotrimazole

Indication: Fungal infections

Contraindications:

Cautions: Contact with eyes and mucous membranes should be avoided, Avoid intravaginal preparations in young girls.

Dosage: Apply 2-3 times a day Adults & Children.

Side-effects (common): None

Forms: Liquid, Cream, Spray, Pessary.

Doxazosin

Indication: Hypertension

Contraindications: A history of hypotension.

Cautions: Care with initial dose, Cataract surgery.

Dosage: 1-16mg daily.

Side-effects (common): Arrhythmias, Chest pain, Cough

Forms: Tablet, MR tablet.

Fluconazole

Indication: candidiasis (vaginal, mucosal)

Contraindications: Acute porphyrias

Cautions: Susceptibility to QT interval prolongation.

Dosage: 150mg per 1 dose.

Side-effects (common): Diarrhoea, gastrointestinal discomfort, headache.

Forms: Capsule, Oral suspension, solution for infusion.

Furosemide

Indication: Oedema

Contraindications: Renal failure, Anuria

Cautions: Elderly, Diabetes, hypotension.

Dosage: 40-120mg daily.

Side-effects (common): Dizziness, electrolyte imbalance, fatigue

Forms: Tablet, Oral solution, Solution for injection.

Hydrocortisone

Indication: Skin disorders e.g., eczema. Lots of others.

Contraindications: Acne, Dermatitis, untreated bacterial fungal or viral infections.

Cautions: Elderly, avoid prolonged use, keep away from eyes.

Dosage: Apply thinly 1-2 times a day.

Side-effects (common): Skin reactions, lots of others depending on how its used.

Forms: Cream, ointment and lots of others.

Hyoscine Hydrobromide

Indication: Motion sickness

Contraindications: Glaucoma, GI obstructions.

Cautions: Elderly, arrhythmias, Epilepsy.

Dosage: 75-300mcg 30 minutes before journey.

Side-effects (common): Constipation, Drowsiness, Indigestion.

Forms: Tablet, Chewable tablet, Patch, solution for injection.

Hyoscine Butylbromide

Indication: Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Contraindications: Glaucoma, GI obstructions.

Cautions: Infarction, arrhythmias, Elderly

Dosage: 10-20mg 3-4 times daily.

Side-effects (common): Constipation, dizziness, drowsiness.

Forms: Tablet, Solution for injections

Ibuprofen

Indication: Pain and inflammation

Contraindications: Active GI bleeding, GI ulcers, Severe heart failure.

Cautions: Allergies, Cardiac impairment, Elderly

Dosage: 300-400mg 3-4 times a day.

Side-effects (common): GI discomfort, Skin reactions.

Forms: Tablet, MR tablets, Capsules.

Indapamide

Indication: Hypertension

Contraindications: Addison's disease, Hypercalcaemia

Cautions: Diabetes, Gout, Risk of hypokalaemia

Dosage: 2.5mg

Side-effects (common): Consitipation, dizziness, fatigue

Forms: Tablet, MR tablet.

Loperamide

Indication: Diarrhoea

Contraindications: Active ulcerative colitis, Antibiotic associated colitis, conditions where abdominal distension develops.

Cautions: Not recommended for children under 12

Dosage: 4mg after each loose stool

Side-effects (common): Gastrointestinal disorders, headache, nausea

Forms: Tablet, Capsule.

Losartan

Indication: Hypertension

Contraindications: Not to be used with Aliskiren if patient has an eGFR of less than 60 mL/minute/1.73 m2

Cautions: Elderly, Heart faliure.

Dosage: 50-100mg daily

Side-effects (common): Abdominal pain, back pain, diarrhoea.

Forms: Oral suspension, Oral solution.

Macrogol

Indication: Constipation

Contraindications: Intestinal obstruction, Severe inflammatory bowel disease

Cautions:

Dosage: 2 sachets once daily for 2 weeks.

Side-effects (common): Flatulence, GI discomfort, Vomiting

Forms: Powder

Nicotine

Indication: Nicotine addiction (smoking)

Contraindications: None

Cautions: Diabetes, Bronchospastic disease, Chronic throat disease

Dosage: 2mg as required

Side-effects (common): Dizziness, Headaches, Hyperhidrosis.

Forms: Tablets, Lozenges, Medicated chewing gum and many more.

Paracetamol

Indication: Pain, Pyrexia

Contraindications: None

Cautions: Paracetamol in other drugs, chronic dehydration

Dosage: Up to 1g every 4-6 hours.

Side-effects (common): None

Forms: Tablet, Effervescent tablets, Capsules, Oral solutions and suspensions.

Propranolol

Indication: Anxiety, hypertension

Contraindications: Asthma, Hypotension, Bronchospasms

Cautions: Elderly, Diabetes.

Dosage: 80-320mg twice daily

Side-effects (common): Abdominal discomfort, Bradychardia, Depression

Forms:

Ramipril

Indication: Hypertension

Contraindications: Angioedema

Cautions: Diuretics, Diabetes, Elderly.

Dosage: 1.25-10mg Daily.

Side-effects (common): Alopecia, Arrythmias, Chest pain.

Forms: Tablet, Capsule, Oral solutions.

Senna

Indication: Constipation

Contraindications: Intestinal obstructions, Undiagnosed abdominal pain.

Cautions: None

Dosage: 7.5-30mg Daily

Side-effects (common): Diarrhoea, Electrolyte imbalance, Albuminuria

Forms: Tablet, Oral solution.

Sildenafil

Indication: Erectile dysfunction

Contraindications: Blood pressure below 90 mmHg, Patients whom vasodilation are inadvisable.

Cautions: Active peptic ulcerations, Elderly, Bleeding disorders.

Dosage: 50mg taken before sexual activity

Side-effects (common): Alopecia, Anaemia, Anxiety

Forms: Tablet, Oral suspension, Solution.

Spironolactone

Indication: Hypertension

Contraindications: Addison's disease, Hyperkalaemia

Cautions: Elderly, Acute porphyrias.

Dosage: 25mg Daily

Side-effects (common): Breast pain, Confusion, Dizziness.

Forms: Tablet, Oral suspension.

Sumatriptan

Indication: Migraine, Cluster headaches

Contraindications: Coronary vasospasm, Hypertension, Heart disease.

Cautions: Elderly, History of seizures.

Dosage: Max 300mg daily.

Side-effects (common): Dizziness, Drowsiness, Nausea

Forms: Tablet, Solution for injection, Spray.

Tamsulosin

Indication: Benign prostatic Hyperplasia

Contraindications: History of hypotension.

Cautions: Care with initial dose to avoid hypotension, Cataract surgery, Elderly.

Dosage: 400mcg daily

Side-effects (common): Dizziness, Sexual dysfunction.

Forms: MR tablet, MR capsule.