GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE

Identify adverse affects of various commonly used medications.

Explanation:

We have tried to identify the most important medications whose  side effect you could likely be tested on.

ACE-inhibitors - cough (also unsafe in pregnancy) and angio-edema

Dihydropyridine CCB (Calcium channel blocker)’s (such as Nifedipine) - peripheral edema

Verapamil - constipation

Quinidine - diarrhea, thrombocytopenia

Hydralazine - drug induced Lupus (rash, serositis, positive ANA, anti-histone antibody)

Thiazide diuretics - hypercalcemia , may precipitate gout, hypokalemia

Trazodone - priapism (This appears on a lot of tests)

Niacin - flushing (abnormal LFT’s at high doses of slow-release preparations)

HMG CoA Reductase inhibitors (statins) - Myositis, elevated transaminases

Mitomycin - Hemolytic Uremic syndrome

Cisplatin - Deficiencies of Magnesium, Potassium, and Calcium

Cyclophosphamide - Hemorrhagic cystitis and urothelial cancer

Vincristine: Sensory neuropathy

Imipenem - seizures

Cephalosporins and IV Clindamycin - Clostridium dificile colitis

Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) - Corneal opacities, macular edema

Erythropoietin - Hypertension

Metformin - Lactic acidosis (also anorexia and weight loss

Acarbose - flatulence

Sulfonylureas - prolonged hypoglycemia

Methimazole (Tapazole) - agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia

Iron and Bismuth compounds - blackening of stools which is heme (guaiac) negative.

Rifampicin - red-orange discoloration of secretions (tears and urine), flu like illness, thrombocytopenia and menstrual irregularity

Salicylates - ototoxicity and respiratory alkalosis/metabolic acidosis NSAIDS - gastric mucosa injury, nephrotoxicity, elevated BP

Heparin - thrombocytopenia =(HIT) heparin induced thrombocytopenia (the only low molecular weight heparin-LMWH that can be used in such patients is Danaparoid -all other LMWHs carry the risk of HIT), (Alopecia and osteoporosis in prolonged usage)