Wait, How Does This Actually Work?
This master control center of the brain acts as the body's thermostat to regulate core body temperature
What is the hypothalamus?
This class of laxatives includes agents such as polyethylene glycol and Milk of Magnesia
What is osmotic laxatives?
Deficiency of this vitamin can cause Wernicke’s encephalopathy
What is vitamin B1/Thiamine?
*this deficiency is common in alcoholism and malabsorptive states such as Crohn's disease, bariatric surgery, and advanced HIV
*Korsakoff Syndrome- permanent neurologic damage that occurs as symptoms of Wernicke's fade
This is the process by which noxious stimuli activate nociceptors to generate an initial action potential
What is transduction?
This class of laxatives absorbs water within the GI tract to increase bulk and stimulate peristalsis. Name the generic and brand name for 2 different drugs in this class to receive points
psyllium/Metamucil
methylcellulose/Citrucel
calcium polycarbophil/Fibercon
wheat dextrin/Benefiber
An increased intake of this vitamin during pregnancy helps decrease the risk of neural tube defects
What is folic acid/Vitamin B9?
*women of childbearing age should have 400 mcg/day
*pregnant women should consume 600 mcg/day
This topical analgesic agent works by depleting substance P in peripheral sensory neurons
What is capsaicin?
Following the 2020 market withdrawal of ranitidine due to NDMA contamination, this rebranded OTC product kept the original brand name alive by replacing the active ingredient entirely with famotidine
What is Zantac 360?
Though deficiency is rare, patients shouldn't exceed 400 IU a day of this vitamin due to cardiovascular risks
What is Vitamin E?
During the transmission phase of nociception, the release of this excitatory neurotransmitter binds to receptors, resulting in depolarization
What is glutamate?
Unlike standard delayed-release proton pump inhibitors, this brand-name immediate-release capsule pairs a proton pump inhibitor with an antacid component to protect the acid-labile core from degradation
What are omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid)?
A patient is recommended to take 1500 mg of calcium a day. How should they take it for optimal absorption?
Take in 3 divided doses
*Optimal absorption occurs with individual doses of 500 mg or less
Endotoxin lipid A, which acts as an exogenous pyrogen during the pathogenesis of a fever, is derived from this major structural component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria
What is LPS (lipopolysaccharide)?
These are the *brand names* of two common proton pump inhibitors that are available by prescription only, unlike their over-the-counter counterparts like Prilosec or Nexium
What is Protonix, Aciphex, & Dexilant?
*pantoprazole, rabeprazole, & dexlansoprazole (but I asked for the brand names)
A patient is sent to the pharmacy to review her medications after some unusual lab results. She has an elevated free T4 and an abnormal troponin level, but her EKG is entirely normal and she has no physical symptoms of thyroid dysfunction. Her current medication list includes: loratadine, Sprintec, a Biotin Hair, Skin, and Nails Complex, spironolactone, folic acid, thiamine, and Vitamin D. Which item on her list is most likely causing these falsely abnormal values?
What is Biotin, Hair, Skin, and Nails Complex?
*Biotin/vitamin B7 can cause falsely abnormal lab values including thyroid function tests, troponin levels, hormone assays