Pharmacology Mnemonics - Flash Cards

Name: Chromium

Class:

Mechanism: Part of several metalloenzymes

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Excretion, t½:

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Special Features: Deficiencies only in severely protein-deprived pts and pts. w/prolonged parenteral feeding.

Name: Cobalt

Class:

Mechanism: Present in vitamin B­₁₂.

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Excretion, t½:

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Special Features: No known deficiency states.

Name: Manganese

Class:

Mechanism: Present in several enzymes, required for normal bone structure.

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Special Features: No reported deficiencies. Excess limited to manganese miners.

Name: Fluoride

Class:

Mechanism: Present in bones and teeth. Fluoridation of drinking water at 1 ppm ® ¯ dental caries by 30-40%. Hardens outer layers of tooth enamel. Makes enamel more resistant to demineralization.

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Special Features: Excess (> 10 ppm in water) ® fluorosis (mottling of teeth) due to excess accumulation in teeth and bones.

Name: Selenium

Class:

Mechanism: Present in glutathione peroxidase which destroys peroxides derived from unsaturated fatty acids. Probably has a close functional relationship w/vitamin E.

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Special Features: RDA probably directly proportional to intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Name: Copper

Class:

Mechanism: Present in muscle, bone, liver, blood. In blood, almost entirely bound to ceruloplasmin. Component of many metalloenzymes such as cytochrome oxidase and tyrosinase.

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Special Features: Excess plasma free copper may be due to Wilson’s Disease (defective ceruloplasmin) or excessive intake.

Name: Zinc

Class:

Mechanism: Part of many metalloproteins (e.g., “zinc fingers”). Element of carbonic anhydrase.

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Special Features: Kids w/low Zinc often grow poorly and have a poor appetite (prob. 2° to impaired taste).

Name: Iodine

Class:

Mechanism: 80% contained in thyroglobulin.

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Special Features: Deficiency ® endemic goiter. Excess (>20 x RDA) ® blocked organification of iodine ® myxedema.

Name: Vitamin B₁₂ (Cyanocobalamin)

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Mechanism: Necessary for folate Metabolismolism and DNA synth. Maintains myelinization of spinal cord tracts.

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Special Features: Vegan diet ® deficiency ® megaloblastic pernicious anemia and degeneration of posterolateral spinal cord tracts. If patient is deficient in B₁₂ and folate, replace B_12­ first to avoid irreversible neuro damage. Liver damage ® ­ need.

Name: Biotin

Class:

Mechanism: Incorporated in coenzyme A.

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Special Features: Some antibiotics kill gut microbes that synthesize biotin.

Name: Vitamin B₃ (Niacin)

Class:

Mechanism: Incorporated into NAD and NADP.

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Special Features: Deficiency ® pellagra (dementia, dermatitis, diarrhea). Penicillamine, hydralazine, and isoniazid complex w/B₆ ® ¯ B₆. B₆ is a cofactor of tryptophan ® nicotinic acid conversion. Results in ¯ B₃.

Name: Vitamin B₆ (Pyridoxine)

Class:

Mechanism: Derivatives serve as coenzymes in many intermed. rxns.

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Toxicity/S.E.s: Megadose—severe (often irreversible) sensory neuropathy

Utility:

Special Features: Deficiency ® cheilosis, glossitis, dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy. Liver damage ® ­ need. Penicillamine, hydralazine, and isoniazid complex w/B₆ ® ¯ B₆. B₆ is a cofactor of tryptophan ® nicotinic acid conversion. Results in ¯ B₃. Pregnancy ® ­ B₆ demand.

Name: Vitamin B₁ (Thiamine)

Class:

Mechanism: Coenzyme in decarboxylation rxns. Facilitates conduction of impulses in peripheral nerves.

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Special Features: Deficiency ® dry & wet beriberi, Wernicke-Korsakoff’s synd. RDA directly proportional to caloric intake. Deficiency common in alcoholics.

Name: Vitamin B₂ (Riboflavin)

Class:

Mechanism: Converted to coenzymes FMN and FAD.

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Special Features: Deficiency ® ariboflavinosis, cheilosis, stomatitis, glossitis, dermatitis, corneal vascularization.

Name: Vitamin K

Class:

Mechanism: Cofactor in hepatic carboxylation of procoagulants—factors II, VII, IX, and X.

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Utility: Antagonize coumarin anticoagulation (min. dose = 60-100 x RDA). Infants given injxn (infant GI tract lacks microbes that produce vitamin K).

Special Features: Deficiency ® bleeding diathesis. Some antibiotics kill gut microbes that synthesize vitamin K. Bishydroxycoumarin antagonizes effects of vitamin K. Prolonged use of large dose salicylates block vitamin K actions in prothrombin synth. ® hypoprothrombinemia.

Name: Vitamin Vitamin

Class:

Mechanism: Fat soluble antioxidant. Scavenges free radicals. Conc. in adipose tissue.

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Toxicity/S.E.s: Diarrhea, headache.

Utility: Large doses may reduce rate of buildup of atherosclerotic plaques in coronary arteries and protect against stroke and heart disease.

Special Features: RDA directly proportional to intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Deficiency ® spinocerebellar degeneration.

Name: Ofloxacin (Floxin)

Class: Fluorinated quinolone

Mechanism: Inhib bact. DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II). Bactericidal.

Absorption: Oral admin.

Distrib.: Good tissue penetration.

Metabolism.:

Excretion, t½:

Toxicity/S.E.s: Usu. not severe. GI, CNS. Not for pregnant or nursing women or prepubertal children.

Utility: UTIs due to Enterobacteriaceae, Enteroccus, Staph, Pseudomonas. Infectious diarrhea.

Special Features: Broader spectrum than nonfluorinated quinolones. For diarrhea, treat until symptoms resolve, or no longer than 3 days.

Name: Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)

Class: Fluorinated quinolone

Mechanism: Inhib bact. DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II). Bactericidal.

Absorption: Rapid absorption after oral admin.

Distrib.: Good tissue penetration. Poor CSF.

Metabolism.: Partial hepatic Metabolism.

Excretion, t½: Glomerular filtration, secretion. Also feces, bile, sputum. 4 hr.

Toxicity/S.E.s: Usu. not severe. GI, CNS, arthropathy. Not for pregnant or nursing women or prepubertal children.

Utility: Upper and lower UTIs, DOC for Pseudomonas UTIs. Active against aerobic gram- bacilli, H. influenzae, Neisseria. Good for several causes of infectious diarrhea, osteomyelitis, and patients w/CF.

Special Features: Broader spectrum than nonfluorinated quinolones. For diarrhea, treat until symptoms resolve, or no longer than 3 days.

Name: Norfloxacin (Noroxin)

Class: Fluorinated quinolone

Mechanism: Inhib bact. DNA gyrase (topoisomerase II). Bactericidal.

Absorption: Oral admin.

Distrib.: Good tissue penetration.

Metabolism.:

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Toxicity/S.E.s: Usu. not severe. GI, CNS. Not for pregnant or nursing women or prepubertal children.

Utility: UTIs due to Enterobacteriaceae, Enteroccus, Staph, Pseudomonas. Infectious diarrhea.

Special Features: Broader spectrum than nonfluorinated quinolones. For diarrhea, treat until symptoms resolve, or no longer than 3 days.

Name: Folic Acid

Class:

Mechanism: Essential for transfer and utilization of 1-carbon units in DNA synth.

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Utility: Recommended for all premenopausal women at dose of 2 x RDA ® reduced risk of neural tube defects. Lowers homocysteine, reduces risk of heart disease. May lower risk of cervical cancer. Treat folate-responsive schizophrenia (50-150 x RDA ® ¯ buildup of urinary homocysteine ® ¯ psychiatric symptoms).

Special Features: Deficiency ® megaloblastic anemia. Alcoholism ® ¯ folate absorption. Pregnancy ® ­ folate demand.