Study Plan - Therapeutics

THERAPEUTICS STUDY PLAN

Use the Topic List to guide the Therapeutics study plan

Key to practical therapeutics and safe prescribing

Remember at least one drug from each therapeutic or pharmacologic class e.g. one beta-blocker, one NSAID. Try to remembers its dose.
Have at least one standard regime when commencing therapy. Choose one way first
Remember key contraindications, interactions or side-effects
Contraindications usually are related to previous side effects, allergies, pregnancy and lactation or significant co-morbidities.
There will always be alternative drugs or therapeutic regimes. Increasing experience will widen your prescribing repertoire. Don’t confuse yourself too early with too many variations.
Every institution and clinician has a slightly different approach. This is not important. The main thing is that you have a safe and sensible way of commencing therapy and anticipating and addressing any complications.

NB many drugs have multiple indications.

Study Topic	Therapeutic topic
	Rx writing
Seizure	Anti-convulsants
Altered mental state	Dementia meds
Vertigo / Nystagmus	Vestibular sedatives
Movement dis	Anti-parkinson's
Red eye Painful eye	Eye medications / application
Ear pain	Ear meds
Nasal rhinorrhea	Nasal Decongestants
SOB	Heart failure Rx
Wheeze	Bronchodilators
	Asthma Mx
Shock	Fluid resuscitation
Chest pain	ACS Management
	Anti-platelets
	Thrombolytics
	Anti-reflux/antacids
	Ant-anginals
Palpitations	Anti-arrhythmics
Leg swelling	Anti-coagulants
Murmur	Antibiotic prophylaxis
Hypertension	Anti-hypertensives
Leg ulcers	Dressings
Pallor	Blood transfusion
	Blood component therapy
Obesity	Insulin regimes
	Diabetic regimes
LOA	Diet / Nutrition
Fever / Hyperthermia	Antibiotics
	Antivirals
Lymphadenopathy	Chemotherapy
	Radiotherapy
Neck mass	Anti-thyroid medication
	Thyroxine
Fasting/NBM patient	IVT/Nutritional Mx / TPN
Indigestion	Antacids
PR bleed	Inflammatory bowel disease treatment
Constipation	Laxatives
Pruritis ani	Ano-rectal analgesics and medications
Urinary incontinence	Anti-cholinergics
Prostatism	BPH treatment
Dysuria / Frequency	Urinary alkalinisers / acidifers
Amenorrhea	Sex hormones
Pelvic pain	NSAIDS
Early pregnancy bleeding	Anti-D
Pregnant women	Therapeutics in pregnancy
	Safe drugs in pregnancy
Delivering women	Drug Rx in lactation
Joint pain	Rheumatoid medications
	Disease modifying agents
Back pain	Acute pain management / Analgesics
	Chronic pain management
Pruritis	Anti-histamines
Rash	Topical steroids
	Moisturisers
	Topical antiseptics / antibacterials
Paed exanthem	Immunisation
Purpuric rash	Sepsis management
Soft tissue wounds	Disinfectants/Antiseptics
	Local anaesthetics
Anxiety	Anxiolytics
Baby feeding difficulties	Baby formulas
Low sodium	Fluid/Electroyte therapy
Behavioural abnormality	Anti-psychotics
	Anti-depressants
	Hypnotics/Anxiolytics
Substance abuse	Recreational drugs
	Toxicology principles
Peri-op	GA vs Spinal
	General anaesthetics Conscious sedation
Pt post-op/recovery	Sedatives/Analgesia
	Wound infection prophylaxis
CVS risk management	Lipid lowering agents
Vaccination	Vaccines
Infection Control	MRSA eradication
Contraception	OCP
	IUCD
	Mirena
	IUCD

Reading List:

Therapeutic guidelines