| Active Ingredient | PETHIDINE |
| Therapeutic Class | OPIATE AGONISTS |
| Indications | Obstetric analgesia. |
| Caution | See morphine (but less constipating). |
| Dose Range | 50 to 100 mg may be given by intramuscular or subcutaneous injection as soon as contractions occur at regular intervals. This dose may be repeated after 1 to 3 hours if necessary up to a maximum of 400 mg in 24 hours. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | SUFENTANYL |
| Therapeutic Class | OPIATE AGONISTS |
| Indications | Analgesic adjunct in anaesthesia and as a primary anaesthetic in procedures requiring assisted ventilation. Obstetric analgesia. |
| Caution | As for fentany l. |
| Dose Range |
Adjunct: Total IV dose should not exceed 1mcg/kg/hoir for procedures lasting up to 8 hours.Primary anaesthesia: 8-30mcg/kg with 100% oxygen.Obstetric analgesia: 10-15mck with 10ml bupivacaine 0.125% (or its equivalent), repeated twice at not less than 1 |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | TRAMADOL |
| Therapeutic Class | OPIATE AGONISTS |
| Indications | Moderate to severe pain. |
| Caution | Drowsiness, dizziness, headache, fatigue, restlessness, nausea, vomiting, constipation, dry mouth, diaphoresis. |
| Dose Range |
Adult and children 12 years and over: 50-100 mg every 4-6 hours or modified-release preparation once or twice daily, to a max.of 400mg daily. Reduce dose in patients with renal or hepatic dysfunction. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | CANNABIDIOL |
| Therapeutic Class | ANALGESICS AND PYRETICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Dronabinol\ Cannabidiol is the whole plant extract from the Cannabis sativa that is purified to achieve the ratio 1:1 of THC to CBD. c Dronabinol\Cannabinol is used in the treatment of moderate to se More ... |
| Caution | The spray should be directed at different sites in the mouth. It should not be inhaled, directed towards the pharynx and should not be used intranasally |
| Dose Range | The dose is titrated over 14 days to find the optimum dose, which is normally between 4 and 8 sprays daily, up to a usual maximum of 12 sprays daily. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | METAMIZOL |
| Therapeutic Class | ANALGESICS AND PYRETICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Dengue fever where no alternative is available or suitable. |
| Caution | Administration is associated withincreased risk of agranulocytosis, anaphylactic shock. Severe cutaneous reactions, bronchospasm. |
| Dose Range |
Tabs: 500mg-4g daily in divided doses. Drops: 0.1-0.5 ml daily . See BDS supply protocols pg. 4. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | PARACETAMOL |
| Therapeutic Class | ANALGESICS AND PYRETICS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Mild to moderate pain, fever. |
| Caution | May develop liver damage in overdose or with prolonged very high dosage. Take on empty stomach |
| Dose Range | Adult and children 12 years and over: 0.5-1g every 4-6 hours to a maximum of 4g daily. Paediatric: to be given to a maximum of 4 doses in 24 hours; 3 to 6 months: 60 mg, 6 months to 2 years: 120 mg, 2 to 4 years: 180 mg, 4 to 6 years: 240 mg, 6 to 8 year |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | NALOXONE |
| Therapeutic Class | OPIATE ANTAGONISTS |
| Indications | Opioid Overdosage. |
| Caution | Beware physical dependence on narcotics. Has now replaced nalorphine as antagonist of choice. |
| Dose Range | 0.4-2mg i.v. repeated if necessary every 2-3 minutes to a maximum of 10mg. Pediatric: 10mcg/kg; if no response 100mcg/kg max.2mg. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | ANTICONVULSANTS |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS |
| Indications | |
| Caution | |
| Dose Range | |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | PHENOBARBITAL |
| Therapeutic Class | BARBITURATES (ANTICONVULSANTS) |
| Indications | |
| Caution | |
| Dose Range | |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | PHENOBARBITONE |
| Therapeutic Class | BARBITURATES (ANTICONVULSANTS) |
| Indications | Grand mal and focal seizures. Less potent but easier to manage than phenytoin. |
| Caution | Avoid sudden withdrawal. Drowsiness, paradoxical excitement and restlessness in children and the elderly. Skin rashes . C.f. prescribing in liver and renal disease p. 16; 34. |
| Dose Range | 60 - 180mg at night in a single dose. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | PRIMIDONE |
| Therapeutic Class | BARBITURATES (ANTICONVULSANTS) |
| Indications | As for phenytoin, but no longer recommended except for patients already well controlled with it. |
| Caution | Avoid sudden withdrawal. Drowsiness, ataxia, nausea, rashes and folate deficiency. May decrease effectiveness of pill, may cause drowsiness and loss of appetite. Avoid alcohol. C.f. prescribing in li More ... |
| Dose Range | Adult and children 10 years and over: 125mg at bedtime increased if necessary by 125mg every 3 days to a total of 500mg daily in divided doses. The daily dose may be increased further every 3 days by 250 mg up to a maximum of 1.5 g daily given in divided |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | CLONAZEPAM |
| Therapeutic Class | BENZODIAZEPINES (ANTICONVULSANTS) |
| Indications | All forms of epilepsy including status epilepticus. |
| Caution | Withdraw drug slowly. Avoid alcohol. Drowsiness limits chronic use. |
| Dose Range | 1 mg (500 mcg in the elderly) at night for 4 nights gradually increased over 2 to 4 weeks to a usual maintenance dose of 4 to 8mg daily ;maximum of 20mg/day in divided doses. |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | PHENYTOIN |
| Therapeutic Class | HYDANTOINS |
| Indications | Partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures. Prophylaxis after cerebral trauma or neuro-surgery . |
| Caution |
Avoid sudden withdrawal. Do not use substitute products. Monitor drug levels when in doubt. Nystagmus, dizziness, ataxia, slurred speech, drowsiness, blurred vision and confusion. Hirsutism, gingival More ... |
| Dose Range |
Adult:150-300mg daily, rarely more than 400mg, in one (night time) or two doses daily to a maximum of 600mg daily as a single dose or as 2 divided doses. In status epilepticus loading doses of 10-20 mg/kg given by slow infusion according to body weight, f |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | ETHOSUXIMIDE |
| Therapeutic Class | SUCCINIMIDES |
| Indications |
Absence seizures, (petit mal). Note: Petit mal does not begin in adulthood. |
| Caution |
Avoid sudden withdrawal. Dizziness, ataxia, G.I. upset anorexia, hiccups, headache. Take with food or milk to reduce gastric irritation. |
| Dose Range | Adult and children over 6 years: 500mg-2g daily in divided doses. Paediatric: 250 mg initially, increased gradually to 20 mg/kg per day; (maximum 1g daily). |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | CARBAMAZEPINE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications |
Grand mal (tonic clonic), partial (focal) and complex partial Psychomotor or temporal lobe seizures. Drug of choice. Trigeminal neuralgia. |
| Caution |
Withdraw drug slowly. Drug increases hepatic microsomal enzymes - increases warfarin metabolism, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, Unsteadiness, rash in 3% patients. Occasional jaundice and (rare) leucop More ... |
| Dose Range |
Adult: Epilepsy: 100-200mg 2 times daily, increasing as necessary to 800-1200 mg/day daily in divided doses with food. CNS side effects are dose limiting. Trigeminal Neuralgia: 100mg 2 times daily. Child 1 month-12yrs: Initially 5mg/kg at night or 2.5mg/k |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | CARBAMAZEPINE CR |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Grand mal (tonic clonic), partial (focal) and complex partial psychomotor or temporal lobe seizures. Drug of choice. Trigeminalneuralgia. |
| Caution | Withdraw drug slowly. Drug increases hepatic microsomal enzymes - increases warfarin metabolism, nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, Unsteadiness, rash in 3% patients. Occasional jaundice and (rare) leucop More ... |
| Dose Range |
Adult: Epilepsy: 100-200mg 2 times daily, increasing as necessary to 800-1200 mg/day daily in divided doses with food. CNS side effects are dose limiting. Trigeminal Neuralgia: 100mg 2 times daily. Child 1 month-12yrs: Initially 5mg/kg at night or 2.5mg/k |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | GABAPENTIN |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Partial seizure, adjunct postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and neuropathic pain |
| Caution | Peripheral edema, myalgia, ataxia, dizziness, hyperactive behavior, nystagmus, somnolence, tremor, disorder of form of thought, hostile behavior, mood swings, fatigue, stevens-johnson syndrome (rare), More ... |
| Dose Range |
Adult and children over 12 years: Epilepsy: Initial dose of 300 mg on the first day of treatment, 300 mg twice daily on the second day, and 300 mg three times daily on the third day ; alternatively , gabapentin may be given as 300 mg thr |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | LAMOTRIGINE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications |
Monotherapy or adjunctive treatment of partial seizures; primary and secondary generalised tonic-clonic seizures and seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. To be used in women of child-bear More ... |
| Caution | Blurred vision; aggression; agitation; arthralgia; ataxia; back pain; diarrhoea; diplopia; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; headache; insomnia; nausea; nystagmus; rash; tremor; vomiting. |
| Dose Range |
Adult and children 12 years and older: monotherapy: 25 mg once daily for 2 weeks followed by 50 mg once daily for 2 weeks; increased by a maximum of 50 to 100 mg every 1 to 2 weeks to usual maintenance doses of 100 to 200 mg daily, given as a sin |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | LEVETIRACETAM |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Epilepsy . |
| Caution | Somnolence, weakness, and dizziness, depression, nervousness. |
| Dose Range | Adult: Monotherapy: 500mg daily increased by 500mg increments every 2 weeks. Maximum dose 3g daily in divided doses. Adjunct therapy: 1g on first day of treatment, increased by 1g increments every 2-4 weeks. Maximum dose 3g daily in divided doses. Chil |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |
| Active Ingredient | MAGNESIUM SULPHATE |
| Therapeutic Class | ANTICONVULSANTS MISCELLANEOUS |
| Indications | Eclampsia and pre-eclampsia. |
| Caution | c.f. prescribing in liver and renal disease p. 15; 31. |
| Dose Range | Loading dose 4g over 5 to 15 minutes, followed 1g per hour (for at least 24 hours after the last seizure). |
| Drug Interactions | |
| Pregnancy | |
| Breast Feeding |