Drugs

What are the major pharmacokinetic differences among the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs? All the NSAIDs possess similar absorption characteristics. In general, they are rapidly absorbed after oral and rectal administration. They are highly protein-bound and metabolized primarily in the liver. However, durations of action vary markedly. Some drugs, such as ibuprofen, require dosing every 4 to […]

mechanism of action of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs The antiinflammatory effect of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents is due mainly to inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), which is required for synthesis of prostaglandins and thromboxanes. There are two COX isoforms: COX1, which is expressed constitutively in most tissues and is thought to protect the gastric mucosa

Indications for treatment with NSAIDS What are the indications for treatment with aspirin, acetaminophen, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. Aspirin, acetaminophen, and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are generally considered to be the drugs of choice for mild to moderate pain. They represent the first step in the analgesic ladder proposed by the World Health Organization.

Which opioids should never test negative on an immunoassay opiate screen, and which opioids may result in a negative test, depending on dose? The two naturally occurring opiates, morphine and codeine, should always test positive on an immunoassay opiate screen. Synthetic and semisynthetic opioids including hydrocodone, oxycodone, and their metabolites plus oxymorphone and hydromorphone will

What is meant by a cut off in a urine drug screen? A “cut-off” or minimum level for detection is the minimum amount of drug (usually expressed in ng/mL) that must be present in urine to cause a positive presumptive test. Depending on the specific agent and test, lower doses of a prescribed agent may

What is the only immunoassay test that is not subject to false positives? False positives with the immunoassay cocaine test are virtually nonexistent. This is because the cocaine immunoassay test is testing for the metabolite benzoylecgonine, not cocaine agents such as lidocaine and benzocaine.

Are some urine drug tests more accurate than others? What is the risk of not confirming immunoassay drug testing? There are two types of urine drug tests used in clinical practice. Typically a clinician will start by using an immunoassay test, as these are faster and less expensive versus other types, mass-spectrometry gas, or liquid-chromatography.