Medical Scenarios and Pharmacology Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering pathophysiology, pharmacology, and patient education across various clinical scenarios including respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, and neurological conditions.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

A chronic inflammatory lung disease caused primarily by long-term exposure to cigarette smoke, characterized by airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, ciliary dysfunction, and emphysema.

Emphysema

Alveolar destruction leading to air trapping and hyperinflation of the lungs.

Salbutamol

A short-acting $\beta_2$-agonist (SABA) that stimulates $\beta_2$ receptors, causing bronchial smooth muscle relaxation and rapid bronchodilation.

Ipratropium bromide

A short-acting muscarinic antagonist (SAMA) that blocks acetylcholine-mediated bronchoconstriction to reduce airway resistance.

Prednisone

A corticosteroid that suppresses inflammatory cytokines and airway inflammation to improve airflow and shorten exacerbation duration.

Azithromycin

A macrolide antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis at the $50S$ ribosomal subunit to treat infective triggers of exacerbation.

Acute Asthma Exacerbation

Involves airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, bronchoconstriction, mucosal oedema, and excess mucus production leading to airflow obstruction.

Hydrocortisone IV

A corticosteroid that suppresses inflammatory mediators to reduce airway inflammation and mucosal oedema in acute asthma.

Prednisolone

An oral corticosteroid used to continue anti-inflammatory effects, prevent relapse, and accelerate recovery in asthma.

Primary Hypertension

Increased blood pressure resulting from interactions between genetic predisposition, sympathetic nervous system activation, RAAS overactivity, and sodium retention.

Perindopril

An ACE inhibitor that decreases angiotensin II and aldosterone levels, resulting in vasodilation and renal/cardiovascular protection.

Telmisartan

An Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) that blocks angiotensin II receptors to achieve vasodilation and BP reduction.

Indapamide

A thiazide-like diuretic that increases sodium and water excretion to reduce plasma volume and blood pressure.

Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS)

Occurs when atherosclerotic plaque ruptures, causing platelet activation and thrombus formation that partially occludes coronary arteries.

Aspirin

A medication that irreversibly inhibits $COX-1$ thromboxane $A_2$ to reduce platelet aggregation.

Ticagrelor

A reversible $P2Y_{12}$ receptor antagonist that prevents platelet activation.

Metoprolol

A $\beta_1$-blocker that reduces heart rate and contractility to lower myocardial oxygen demand.

Atorvastatin

An HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor that lowers LDL levels and stabilises atherosclerotic plaques.

GTN spray

A nitric oxide donor that causes vasodilation to relieve angina symptoms.

Frusemide

A loop diuretic that blocks the $Na-K-2Cl$ transporter to reduce fluid overload and oedema in heart failure.

Spironolactone

An aldosterone antagonist used in heart failure to reduce fluid retention and mortality.

Ramipril

An ACE inhibitor that reduces preload and afterload, improves survival, and slows cardiac remodeling.

Parkinson's Disease

A condition involving progressive degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, leading to dopamine deficiency in the basal ganglia.

Levodopa/Carbidopa

A combination therapy where Levodopa converts to dopamine in the brain while Carbidopa inhibits peripheral metabolism to improve motor symptoms.

Pramipexole

A dopamine receptor agonist used to improve motor symptoms and reduce motor fluctuations in Parkinson's Disease.

Type 2 Diabetes

A metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive $\beta$-cell dysfunction leading to persistent hyperglycaemia.

Metformin

An oral hypoglycaemic that reduces hepatic glucose production and improves insulin sensitivity.

Dapagliflozin

An SGLT2 inhibitor that increases urinary glucose excretion, lowering glucose, weight, and blood pressure.

Insulin glargine

A long-acting insulin used to replace deficient insulin and improve long-term glycaemic control.

Bowel Perforation

A breach in the bowel wall that allows bacteria into the peritoneal cavity, potentially causing peritonitis, sepsis, and multi-organ dysfunction.

Cefazolin

A $\beta$-lactam antibiotic that inhibits bacterial cell wall synthesis, primarily covering Gram-positive organisms.

Gentamicin

An aminoglycoside antibiotic that inhibits the $30S$ ribosomal subunit to cover Gram-negative organisms.

Metronidazole

An antibiotic that produces free radicals which damage anaerobic bacterial DNA.

Molnupiravir

An antiviral medication that introduces errors during viral RNA replication to reduce disease progression.

Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir)

A combination antiviral where Nirmatrelvir inhibits viral protease and Ritonavir boosts drug levels.

Morphine

A $\mu$-opioid receptor agonist used for strong analgesia in severe trauma such as fractures.

Ibuprofen

A medication that inhibits $COX-1$ and $COX-2$ to reduce prostaglandins, providing analgesia and anti-inflammatory effects.

Multimodal Analgesia

The use of different pain management mechanisms to improve control while reducing opioid requirements and side effects.

Neurovascular Compromise (5 Ps)

Critical signs to monitor in fractures: Pain, Pallor, Paraesthesia, Paralysis, and Pulselessness.