Treatment FAQ

what are the drugs of choice dosages and length of treatment

by Prof. Mortimer McGlynn Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What is duration of drug therapy?

For many common infections, the licensed duration of treatment has often been 1–2 weeks. In recent years and increasingly based on clinical trial data, 5–7 days is widely accepted for a variety of uncomplicated diseases, including lower respiratory tract infections.

What are the different types of doses?

Types of dosage formTablet. Tablets are solid dosage form to be taken orally into the body. ... Capsule. An edible preparation inside a small casing, usually made of gelatin, that can be filled with medicines to produce a unit dose for oral use.Powder. ... Lozenges. ... Mixtures. ... Implant. ... Irrigation solution. ... Lotion.More items...•

What are the 3 classifications of medication?

These are:General Sales List.Pharmacy Medicines.Prescription Only Medicines.Controlled Drugs.

What are the 3 categories of prescription drugs and what are they used for when prescribed by a doctor?

What are prescription drugs?Opioids—used to relieve pain.Depressants—used to relieve anxiety or help a person sleep.Stimulants— used for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

What are the 8 types of drugs?

The drug categories are:Stimulants.Inhalants.Cannabinoids.Depressants.Opioids.Steroids.Hallucinogens.Prescription drugs.

What are 2 types of drugs?

The main categories are: stimulants (e.g. cocaine) depressants (e.g. alcohol)

What are the 5 classes of drugs?

The five classes of drugs are narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids. This article discusses each of the five schedules of controlled substances and the different substances found under each classification.

What are the 7 types of drugs?

7 Drug Categories(1) Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants. CNS depressants slow down the operations of the brain and the body. ... (2) CNS Stimulants. ... (3) Hallucinogens. ... (4) Dissociative Anesthetics. ... (5) Narcotic Analgesics. ... (6) Inhalants. ... (7) Cannabis.

What are the 6 classes of drugs?

The 6 Classifications of Drugs. When considering only their chemical makeup, there are six main classifications of drugs: alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, cannabinoids, barbiturates, and hallucinogens.

What are types of prescription drugs?

The most commonly used prescription drugs fall into three classes:Opioids.Central Nervous System (CNS) Depressants.Stimulants.

What are the types of prescription?

Types of prescription 1- Simple prescription: Those written for a single component or prefabricated product and not requiring compounding or admixture by the pharmacist. 2- Compound or complex prescription: Those written for more than a single component and requiring compounding.

Which three classes of prescription drugs are most commonly abused?

Three types of drugs are abused most often: • Opioids—prescribed for pain relief • CNS depressants—barbiturates and benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety or sleep problems (often referred to as sedatives or tranquilizers) • Stimulants—prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), the sleep disorder ...

Usual Adult Dose For Bacterial Infection

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is l...

Usual Adult Dose For Endocarditis

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is l...

Usual Adult Dose For Pseudomembranous Colitis

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: 125 mg orally 4 times a day-Duration of therapy: 10 daysEnterocolitis: 500 mg to 2 g orally in 3 to 4 di...

Usual Adult Dose For Pneumonia

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is l...

Usual Adult Dose For Osteomyelitis

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is l...

Usual Adult Dose For Sepsis

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is l...

Usual Adult Dose For Skin Or Soft Tissue Infection

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is l...

Usual Adult Dose For Bacteremia

IDSA Recommendations:15 to 20 mg/kg IV every 8 to 12 hours-Duration of treatment: Up to 6 weeks, depending on the severity of infectionUse: Treatme...

Usual Adult Dose For Meningitis

IDSA, American Academy of Neurology (AAN), American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), and Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) Recommendatio...

Usual Adult Dose For Febrile Neutropenia

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Recommendations:15 mg/kg IV every 12 hoursComments:-This drug should not be used as routine therapy fo...

What should drug choices be based on?

Drug choices should be based on in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility in combination with other patient and drug factors (e.g., penetration, concentration, activity at site of infection, drug interactions).

What is the rule of thumb for drug resistance?

The development of drug resistance ultimately leads to treatment failure and a ‘rule of thumb’ is that the first remission is the best remission, and subsequent remissions are in the order of 50% of the first. This means that the first choice drugs should be used in the initial protocol, not kept for salvage later on.

What is the best medication for neuropathic pain?

Patients with pain have an increased disposition towards depression [44]. Tricyclic antidepressants , doxepin, amitriptyline, and nortriptyline are most efficacious in the treatment of neuropathic pain. These antidepressants inhibit the reuptake of serotonin and noradrenaline thus increasing the activity of nociception inhibitory pathways. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, venlafaxine, bupropion, and duloxetine all have been shown to have mild to moderate efficacy in treating neuropathic pain [44]. Meta-analyses demonstrate that antidepressants are superior to placebo in treating chronic low back pain but are more effective in treating neuropathic pain [43].

What level of evidence is used for albendazole?

Evidence (Level 1, 2, or 3 and Evidence Quality A or B) seems to be relatively good for certain uses of the following drugs: albendazole, cloprostenol, eprinomectin, fenbendazole, filgrastim, fluprostenol, insulin, ivermectin, moxidectin, penicillin, and triclabendazole. Particular drugs for conditions such as gastrointestinal parasitism, induction of parturition and abortion, some types of mange, hypertriglyceridemia, tooth root abscesses, and fascioliasis, also appear to have reliable evidence.

What is Saccharomyces boulardii used for?

Saccharomyces boulardii (25 g PO q12h) may be useful in the management of horses with acute enterocolitis.

Do glaucoma patients need multiple drugs?

Most glaucoma patients require multiple drugs to control IOP. Even so, one third of patients on maximum therapy have IOP levels above treatment targets. With limited drug choices and frequent side effects, multiple surgical interventions are often recommended—often with potentially serious postoperative complications. Thus, there is a compelling need for new glaucoma drugs—with novel targets and minimal side effects. Uveolymphatic outflow represents an unexplored pathway for fluid and particulate material drainage from the eye. Studying lymphatics in normal and glaucomatous environments and under conditions of pharmacological manipulation may stimulate development of novel drugs to lower IOP and help prevent blindness from glaucoma.

Is vancomycin used for metronidazole resistance?

Vancomycin has been used in cases with metronidazole resistance; consider use carefully because of the importance of vancomycin in the treatment of resistant bacteria in human medicine

How often should I take 500 mg of penicillin?

500 mg IV every 6 hours OR 1 g IV every 12 hours#N#Comments:#N#-This drug should be administered at a rate up to 10 mg/min or over 1 hour, whichever is longer.#N#-Doses should be determined by patient-specific factors (e.g., obesity, age).#N#-Successful treatment of diphtheroid endocarditis has been reported.#N#Uses:#N#-Empirical treatment of staphylococcal endocarditis caused by susceptible strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in patients who are allergic to penicillin, failed to respond/cannot receive other drugs (e.g., penicillins, cephalosporins), and/or to treat organisms that are resistant to other drugs#N#-Empirical treatment (with an aminoglycoside) of endocarditis caused by enterococci, Streptococcus bovis, or Streptococcus viridans#N#-Empirical treatment (with an aminoglycoside and/or rifampin) of early-onset prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis or diphtheroids#N#American Heart Association (AHA) and IDSA Recommendations:#N#15 to 20 mg/kg per day IV every 8 to 12 hours#N#-Maximum dose: 2 g/dose#N#Duration of treatment:#N#-Native Valve Endocarditis: At least 4 weeks#N#-Prosthetic Valve Endocarditis: At least 6 weeks#N#Comments:#N#-Patients may not require the addition of gentamicin or rifampin.#N#-Patients with native valve endocarditis caused by oxacillin-resistant staphylococci may require at least 6 weeks of treatment.#N#Uses:#N#-Treatment of endocarditis caused by highly penicillin-susceptible and relatively resistant to penicillin viridians group streptococci (VGS) and Streptococcus gallolyticus (bovis) in patients who cannot tolerate penicillin or ceftriaxone#N#-Treatment of endocarditis involving a prosthetic value/other prosthetic material caused by VGS and S gallolyticus (bovis)#N#-Alternative treatment of endocarditis caused by oxacillin-resistant staphylococci in patients with immediate-type hypersensitivity to beta-lactam antibiotics#N#-Treatment of penicillin-resistant endocarditis caused by enterococci in patients unable to tolerate beta-lactam antibiotics

How often should I take cephalosporin?

IDSA, American Academy of Neurology (AAN), American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS), and Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) Recommendations:#N#30 to 60 mg/kg IV per day, given in divided doses every 8 to 12 hours#N#-Some experts recommend: 15 mg/kg IV once, followed by 60 mg/kg per day continuous infusion#N#-Maximum dose: 2 g/dose#N#-Duration of treatment: At least 2 weeks#N#Comment: Surgical evaluation is recommended for patients with septic thromboses, empyema, and/or abscesses.#N#Uses:#N#-Treatment of patients with healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis caused by methicillin-resistant staphylococci#N#-In combination with a third-generation cephalosporin, treatment of patients with healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae#N#-Alternative treatment of patients with healthcare-associated ventriculitis and meningitis caused by methicillin-sensitive staphylococci or P acnes#N#-Treatment of patients with brain abscess, subdural empyema, and/or spinal epidural abscess#N#-Treatment of patients with septic thrombosis of cavernous/dural venous sinus

How long does Clostridium difficile take to treat diarrhea?

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: 125 mg orally 4 times a day#N#-Duration of therapy: 10 days#N#Enterocolitis: 500 mg to 2 g orally per day, given in divided doses 3 to 4 times a day#N#-Maximum dose: 2 g/day#N#-Duration of therapy: 7 to 10 days#N#Comment: Formulations administered parenterally will not treat colitis.#N#Uses:#N#-Treatment of C difficile-associated diarrhea#N#-Treatment of enterocolitis caused by S aureus (including MRSA)#N#Society of Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and IDSA Recommendations:#N#Initial treatment of severe C difficile infection (CDI): 125 mg orally 4 times a day#N#-Duration of therapy: 10 to 14 days#N#Severe, complicated CDI: 500 mg orally 4 times a day AND 500 mg (in 100 mL normal saline) rectally every 6 hours with/without IV metronidazole#N#Comments:#N#-Rectal formulations should be administered as a retention enema.#N#-The first recurrence of CDI may be treated with the initial treatment regimen; a second recurrence of CDI may be treated with a tapered/pulsed regimen of this drug.#N#Uses:#N#-Initial treatment of patients with severe CDI#N#-Initial treatment of patients with complicated, severe CDI

How old do you have to be to take oral capsules?

Safety and efficacy of oral capsule formulations have not been established in patients younger than 18 years.

How long should a lyophilized powder be stored?

Administration advice:#N#-This drug should be infused over at least 1 hour.#N#-Lyophilized powder for injection may be mixed and given orally or via nasogastric tube.#N#Storage requirements:#N#-Injection solutions: The manufacturer produce information should be consulted.#N#-Lyophilized powder for injection: Vials may be stored in a refrigerator for up to 48 hours once reconstituted.#N#-Oral solution: Store in refrigerated conditions (2 to 8C); protect from light and do not freeze. Reconstituted solutions should be discarded after 14 days, if the solution appears hazy, or contains particles.#N#Reconstitution/preparation techniques:#N#-Lyophilized powder for injection: Flavoring syrups may be added to the formulation to improve taste.#N#IV compatibility: The manufacturer product information should be consulted.#N#General:#N#-Oral capsule formulations are not systemically absorbed, and should be reserved for the treatment of staphylococcal enterocolitis and C difficile-associated diarrhea.#N#-Parenteral formulations should not be used intravenously to treat staphylococcal enterocolitis and C difficile-associated diarrhea.#N#-Limitations of use: Safety and efficacy of intrathecal (intralumbar/intraventricular) and peritoneal administration have not been established.#N#Monitoring:#N#-GENERAL: Trough blood levels#N#-GENITOURINARY: Periodic urinalysis#N#-HEMATOLOGIC: Periodic leukocyte counts, especially in patients receiving concomitant neutropenia-inducing drugs and/or those undergoing prolonged treatment#N#-HEPATIC: Periodic liver function tests#N#-LOCAL: Localized infusion reactions#N#-RENAL: Renal function, especially in patients with renal dysfunction, those given high doses and/or in patients with high troughs#N#-OTHER: Hearing tests, especially in patients given high doses and/or those over 60 to 65 years of age#N#Patient advice:#N#-Patients should be advised to avoid missing doses and to complete the entire course of therapy.#N#-Patients should be instructed to report signs/symptoms of C difficile (e.g., watery/bloody stools, stomach cramps, fever), for up to 2 months after stopping treatment.

Can you use gentamycin for enterococci?

Comment: Gentamycin should be added to patients with enterococci infections. Uses: -Treatment of native valve and prosthetic valve infective endocarditis. -Empirical alternative treatment (with gentamicin) of community-acquired native valve or late prosthetic valve (over 1 year after surgery) endocarditis.

How many people died from prescription drugs in 2013?

The United States is in the midst of an unprecedented epidemic of prescription drug overdose deaths.1 Nearly 44,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2013, and just over half of these deaths (22,767) were caused by overdoses involving prescription drugs.2 The vast majority of prescription drug overdose deaths in 2013 (16,235) involved a prescription opioid pain reliever (OPR), which is a drug derived from the opium poppy or synthetic versions of it such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, or methadone.3 The prescription drug overdose epidemic has not affected all states equally, thus overdose death rates vary widely among states.

How many states have a time limit for prescription refills?

Twenty states’40 laws set time limits for prescription drug refills. For example, California law provides that prescriptions for Schedule III or IV drugs may not exceed a total of a 120-day supply across a

What is the purpose of a dosage form?

Formulation of a dosage form typically involves combining an active ingredient and one or more excipients; the resultant dosage form determines the route of administration and the clinical efficacy and safety of the drug. Optimization of drug doses is also critical to achieving clinical efficacy and safety.

What is a solution for injection?

A solution for injection is a mixture of two or more components that form a single phase that is homogeneous down to the molecular level. “Water for injection” is the most widely used solvent for parenteral formulations. However, a nonaqueous solvent or a mixed aqueous/nonaqueous solvent system may be necessary to stabilize drugs that are readily hydrolyzed by water or to improve solubility. A range of excipients may be included in parenteral solutions, including antioxidants, antimicrobial agents, buffers, chelating agents, inert gases, and substances to adjust tonicity. Antioxidants maintain product stability by being preferentially oxidized over the shelf life of the product. Antimicrobial preservatives inhibit the growth of any microbes accidentally introduced when doses are being withdrawn from multiple-dose bottles, and they act as adjuncts in aseptic processing of products. Buffers are necessary to maintain both solubility of the active ingredient and stability of the product. Chelating agents are added to complex and thereby inactivate metals, including copper, iron, and zinc, which generally catalyze oxidative degradation of drugs. Inert gases are used to displace the air in solutions and enhance product integrity of oxygen-sensitive drugs. Isotonicity of the formulation is achieved by including a tonicity-adjusting agent. Failing to adjust the tonicity of the solution can result in the hemolysis or crenation of erythrocytes when hypotonic or hypertonic solutions, respectively, are given IV in quantities >100 mL. Injectable formulations must be sterile and free of pyrogens. Pyrogenic substances are primarily lipid polysaccharides derived from microorganisms, with those produced by gram-negative bacilli generally being most potent. Injectable solutions are very commonly used, and aqueous solutions given IM result in immediate drug absorption, provided precipitation at the injection site does not occur.

How are boluses administered?

They are administered using a balling gun. Most of the commercially available intraruminal boluses are continuous-release devices that rely on erosion, diffusion from a reservoir, dissolution of a dispersed matrix, or an osmotic “driver” to release the active ingredient. The pay-out period for intraruminal boluses is commonly >100 days. Regurgitation during rumination is prevented by the bolus having a density of ~3 g/cm 3 or a variable geometry.

What is a tablet in medicine?

A tablet consists of one or more active ingredients and numerous excipients and may be a conventional tablet that is swallowed whole, a chewable tablet, or a modified-release tablet (these are commonly referred to as modified-release boluses when the unit size is large). Conventional and chewable tablets are used to administer drugs to dogs and cats, whereas modified-release boluses are administered to cattle, sheep, and goats. The physical and chemical stability of tablets is generally better than that of liquid dosage forms. The main disadvantages of tablets are a relatively slow onset of action because of the need to pass into the intestine and then undergo disintegration and dissolution before absorption across the gut wall, the low bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs or poorly absorbed drugs, and the local irritation of the GI mucosa that some drugs may cause.

What is the oral route of administration?

The oral route of administration is frequently used in both companion and food animals. In dogs and cats, tablets, capsules, solutions, and suspensions are administered orally; pastes are also applied to the forelimbs of cats from which they are licked and ingested. In horses, solutions and suspensions are administered by nasogastric tubes, pastes are applied to the tongue, and granules are added to rations for ingestion. The oral route of administration is the most widely used in cattle, pigs, and poultry. Formulations range from premixes and drinking water additives to licks, pastes, drenches, tablets, capsules, and boluses. Oral dosage forms are usually intended for systemic effects resulting from drug absorption from the GI tract; however, some oral suspensions, eg, kaolin, are intended to produce local effects, and these are not absorbed. Disadvantages of the oral route of administration include the relatively slow onset of action, the possibilities of irregular absorption, the destruction of acid-labile drugs in the stomach, and the unsuitability of this route for many high-molecular-weight drugs. Oral dosage forms require careful pharmaceutical formulation.

What is injectable suspension?

A suspension for injection consists of insoluble solid particles dispersed in a liquid medium, with the solid particles accounting for 0.5%–30% of the suspension. The vehicle may be aqueous, oil, or both. Caking of injectable suspensions is minimized through the production of flocculated systems, comprising clusters of particles (flocs) held together in a loose, open structure. Excipients in injectable suspensions include antimicrobial preservatives, surfactants, dispersing or suspending agents, and buffers. Surfactants wet the suspended powders and provide acceptable syringeability while suspending agents modify the viscosity of the formulation. The ease of injection and the availability of the drug in depot therapy are affected by the viscosity of the suspension and the particle size of the suspended drug. These systems afford enhanced stability to active ingredients that are prone to hydrolysis in aqueous solutions. Injectable suspensions are commonly used. Compared with that of injectable solutions, the rate of drug absorption of injectable suspensions is prolonged, because additional time is required for disintegration and dissolution of the suspended drug particles. The slower release of drug from an oily suspension compared with that of an aqueous suspension is attributed to the additional time taken by drug particles suspended in an oil depot to reach the oil/water boundary and become wetted before dissolving in tissue fluids.

What is the most commonly used route of administration for cattle?

The oral route of administration is the most widely used in cattle, pigs, and poultry.

How to convert opioids to MMEs?

Convert each opioid to MMEs by multiplying the daily dosage for each opioid by its conversion factor.

What is the conversion factor of oxycodone?

Oxycodone has a conversion factor of 1.5.

Can you convert one opioid to another?

Caution: Do not use to convert one opioid to another

Antihypertensive Drugs

NORMAN M. KAPLAN, LIONEL H. OPIE, in Drugs for the Heart (Seventh Edition), 2009

Approach to the Patient with Hypertensive Nephrosclerosis

Aldo J. Peixoto, George L. Bakris, in Chronic Renal Disease (Second Edition), 2020

Behavioral Economic Factors in Addictive Processes

James G. Murphy, ... Ashley A. Dennhardt, in Principles of Addiction, 2013

A Profile of Synthetic Cannabinoid Users

A.N. Sanders, J.M. Stogner, in Handbook of Cannabis and Related Pathologies, 2017

New Trends in Basic and Clinical Research of Glaucoma: A Neurodegenerative Disease of the Visual System, Part A

Most glaucoma patients require multiple drugs to control IOP. Even so, one third of patients on maximum therapy have IOP levels above treatment targets. With limited drug choices and frequent side effects, multiple surgical interventions are often recommended—often with potentially serious postoperative complications.

Systemic Retinoids

Timothy Patton, Laura K. Ferris, in Comprehensive Dermatologic Drug Therapy (Fourth Edition), 2021

Hypertension in Pregnancy

Although all studied antihypertensive agents are excreted into human breast milk, differences in lipid solubility and extent of ionization of the drug at physiologic pH affect the milk:plasma ratio. 26 Breast-feeding can usually be done safely with attention to antihypertensive drug choices.

What is a dose in medical terms?

A dose refers to a specified amount of medication taken at one time.

What is the difference between a dose and a dosage?

In other words, a dose is simply an amount (think weight) of a medication that is administered at one specific time. Whereas, the dosage is the dose, or amount of drug, attached to a time-frequency. A dosage guides a drug regimen.

What does the suffix "age" mean in dose?

By adding the suffix -age to the base dose, we are implying a regulated amount, a differentiation similar to the words mile and mileage.

What are the different types of dosing?

However, regarding the drugs, there are certain different kinds of dosing that depend on the specific drug and/or the patient. 1. One dosage. Drugs with one fix dosage are the easiest in use; you just take it and forget about it (e.g. vaccines). You don't need to use any dosage calculation formulas! 2.

How to determine the dosage of a drug?

Let's say the appropriate dosage of the active substance is 2 mg/kg of body weight. Weigh yourself. Let's assume you weigh 80 kg.

What does the dosage calculator do?

The dosage calculator finds what dose of a medication is appropriate for your weight. It can also recalculate the dosage expressed in mg/kg into doses of liquid medication.

Why do we need to calculate pediatric doses?

This sentence still holds today. We know that every substance, especially drugs , may be toxic if given in an inappropriate dose. This is why we should perform our dosage calculations carefully and accurately. This is especially critical when administering drugs to children, as a slight mistake in the dose may cause a significant change in the effect of its action. The usage of a pediatric dose calculator seems to be a responsible choice that reduces the risk of a mistake!

How do doses differ?

The doses are different depending on the concentration of the drug's active compound in the serum. (e.g. Vitamin K antagonists, lithium) 5. The dosage of the drug depends on the patient's body weight. The dose of the drug depend on the weight of the patient.

What does "dosage" mean in medicine?

dose — Total amount of medication you need to take.

When treating a patient, or just taking a medication by yourself, we always need to wonder what is the exact?

When treating a patient, or just taking a medication by yourself, we always need to wonder what is the exact dose of the drug we choose . And the truth is that we dose (or should dose) nearly everything in our life, from cooking dinner to taking medications! However, regarding drugs, there are certain different kinds of dosing that depend on the specific drug and/or the patient.

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