The Side Effect Scrape
This specific potassium-sparing diuretic can cause a highly uncomfortable, non-selective endocrine side effect for male patients: gynecomastia.
What is spironolactone?
Abruptly discontinuing any medication in this blood pressure lowering class can cause a dangerous reflex spike in heart rate and blood pressure due to beta-receptor upregulation.
What are Beta-Blockers?
[Drug Class] "You must rinse your mouth out with water after every single use of these asthma inhalers to prevent developing oral thrush."
What are Inhaled Corticosteroids?
Don't confuse the brand names Zyprexa (olanzapine) and Zyrtec (cetirizine), unless you want to treat an allergy patient for this severe psychological condition instead.
What is Schizophrenia (or Bipolar Disorder)?
[Drug Class] This widely prescribed class of medications lowers blood pressure and treats fluid retention by blocking the Na-Cl cotransporter in the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron.
What are Thiazide Diuretics? (Accept hydrochlorothiazide).
A patient taking this medication for heart failure complains of seeing yellowish-green halos around lights, a classic sign of toxicity when combined with low potassium.
What is digoxin?
This entire class of cholesterol-lowering medications carries a universal safety warning regarding the risk of myopathy and unexplained muscle pain.
What are Statins (or HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors)?
[Specific Drug] "Take this osteoporosis medication first thing in the morning with plain water, and sit completely upright for 30 minutes to protect your esophagus."
What is alendronate?
Mixing up hydralazine and hydroxyzine is dangerous because hydralazine works strictly as a direct-acting agent to do what to the blood vessels?
What is dilate them (or lower blood pressure)?
[Specific Drug] This specific medication acts as a selective leukotriene receptor antagonist, blocking inflammatory pathways to manage asthma and seasonal allergies.
What is montelukast (Singulair)?
This specific oral Type 2 diabetes medication is notorious for causing initial GI distress, diarrhea, and a distinct metallic taste in the mouth.
What is metformin?
This broad class of over-the-counter and prescription pain medications carries a prominent, blanket black box warning regarding serious GI bleeding and cardiovascular thrombotic events.
What are NSAIDs?
[Specific Drug] "Do not consume any alcohol whatsoever while taking this specific antimicrobial, or you will experience a violent, throbbing headache and severe vomiting."
What is metronidazole?
[Generic names] One is a common loop diuretic; the other is an alpha-1 blocker used for BPH. Mix up Lasix and Flomax, and your patient is running to the restroom for entirely different clinical reasons.
What are furosemide and tamsulosin?
[Drug Class] Medications in this gastrointestinal class work by irreversibly binding to and inhibiting the H+/K+ ATPase pump in gastric parietal cells, shutting down acid production.
What are Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)?
This specific urinary analgesic must be counseled on heavily because it will turn the patient’s urine a bright orange-red color that permanently stains clothing.
What is phenazopyridine?
This medication class is great for blood pressure, but it commonly triggers a dry, hacking, nightly cough due to bradykinin buildup.
What are ACE inhibitors?
"This specific beta-blocker is unique because it comes in two different salt forms: a once-daily version and a twice-daily version." (Bonus, what are the salts)
What is metoprolol?
One is a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic used for severe bacterial infections; the other is a synthetic thyroid hormone used for hypothyroidism. Name both medications as they are commonly confused with one another
What is Levofloxacin and Levothyroxine?
[Specific Drug] This highly specific Top 200 medication manages gout by acting as a xanthine oxidase inhibitor, preventing the production of uric acid in the body.
What is allopurinol (Zyloprim)?
This calcium channel blocker is notorious for causing fluid buildup in the lower extremities, leading to swollen ankles
What is amlodipine (Norvasc)?
Every single individual drug within this major antidepressant class carries a mandatory black box warning highlighting an increased risk of suicidal ideation in children and young adults.
What are SSRIs?
[Drug Class] "Avoid drinking grapefruit juice with this specific class of blood pressure medications, as it inhibits CYP3A4 and can cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low."
What are Calcium Channel Blockers (or DHP Calcium Channel Blockers)?
Brand name trap: Do not confuse Celebrex (celecoxib) with Celexa (citalopram), because the latter belongs to which major psychological drug class?
What are SSRIs?
[Specific Drug] This unique chronic heart failure medication is a combination of a neprilysin inhibitor and an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), working to simultaneously increase beneficial natriuretic peptides and block the RAAS pathway.
What is Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan)?