ANSWERS

1. What is an adsorbent drug? Give a common example used in the treatment of diarrhoea.
   An adsorbent is a substance that attracts other materials such as bacterial toxins to its surface; kaolin is a common example.
2. What is meant by the term anabolism?
   Anabolism describes the building up or synthesis of cell structure from digested food materials. Anabolic steroids such as Nandrolone are often used in practice.
3. Local and general anaesthetics act very differently. Local anaesthetics block only the nerves surrounding the surgical site, whilst general anaesthetics produce a complete loss of consciousness. There are however, two very important properties that are shared, what are they?
   • Both local and general anaesthesia are reversible.
   • Both possess analgesic properties; i.e. they produce insensibility to pain.
4. Most of the drugs acting upon the central nervous system in animals are depressants, however stimulants are used in the treatment of convulsions and respiratory arrest. What term describes drugs that stimulate the cerebral and medullary centres of the brain?
   Drugs that stimulate the cerebral and medullary centres of the brain are called analeptics.
5. What are the drugs that possess masculinising properties called?
   Androgens; these are either natural (e.g. testosterone), or synthetic.
6. What are the drugs that have a neutralising effect upon the hydrochloric acid in the stomach?
   These are known as antacids. Antipepsin and Zantac are examples often used in practice; these are available in both tablet and liquid preparations for ease of administration.
7. What is the difference between an antidote and an antagonist?
   An antidote is an agent which counteracts the effect of a poison, whist an antagonist inhibits the action or effect of another drug. Vitamin K is the antidote to Warfarin poisoning. Atipamezole (Antisedan) is the antagonist to Medetomidine (Domitor).
8. When might the veterinary surgeon administer an antiemetic drug such as Metoclopramide?
   Antiemetics are used in cases of vomiting.
9. Dogs and cats require regular dosing (usually every 3 months) with anthelmintics. What purpose do these drugs serve?
   Anthelmintics kill parasitic worms and remove them from the intestine of the host. Regular dosing is necessary to prevent reinfestation.
10. What is the difference between a bactericidal and bacteriostatic drug? (The same applies for disinfectants!).
    A bactericide kills bacteria, while a bacteriostatic drug will only inhibit bacterial growth. Penicillin is bactericidal, sulphonamides are bacteriostatic.
11. Antibiotics are produced by certain bacteria that prevent the growth of or destroy other micro-organisms. Antibiotics usually act upon bacteria, but on what other micro-organism might they have an effect?
    Antibiotics occasionally act on fungi.
12. What is the difference between a broad spectrum and narrow spectrum antibiotic?
    Broad spectrum antibiotics act on both gram positive and gram negative staining bacteria, whilst narrow spectrum antibiotics act on one or the other.
13. Give 2 examples of the use of heparin; an anticoagulant drug.
    • To prevent a blood sample (for biochemistry) from clotting.
    • As an intravenous injection to treat thrombosis.
14. What is the name of a substance that reduces the volume of urine excreted?
    An antidiuretic.
15. As the name implies, antifungal drugs kill or stop the growth of fungi. By what other name might they be known?
    Antifungal drugs are also known as antimycotics.
16. What condition is commonly treated with antihistamines?
    The symptoms of allergies are treated with antihistamines.
17. What condition is commonly treated with antipyretics?
    Abnormally high body temperature as in a fever, but not for conditions such as heat stroke.
18. Give an example of an antisialagogue commonly used as a premedicant drug and explain its use.
    Atropine; antisialagogues decrease the amount of salivation, thus making them particularly useful in cases such as dentals.
19. What are antitissusives used to treat?
    Coughing e.g. Codeine.
20. Astringent drugs precipitate protein upon application to the skin or mucous membranes to produce a protective coating. Give 2 examples.
    • Silver nitrate (skin/claws).
    • Tannic acid (intestine).
21. What drugs cause expulsion of gas from the stomach?
    Carminatives.
22. For what use are cytotoxic drugs employed?
    Cytotoxic drugs are used in the treatment of cancers. They are also known as antimitotic drugs.
23. For what purpose are demulcents employed?
    Demulcents are agents that soothe and allay irritation, especially of sensitive mucous membranes.
24. Give an example of a common diuretic drug and explain when its use might be indicated.
    Frusemide (Lasix) is probably the most common diuretic used in practice. It is used to increase the volume of urine produced.
25. Oxytocic drugs stimulate uterine contractions; by what other name are these drugs known?
    Ecbolic drugs.
26. What do emetic drugs cause? Give 2 common examples.
    Vomiting.
    • Washing soda (by mouth).
    • Morphine (by injection).
27. What is the difference between a laxative and a purgative?
    A laxative has a mild effect on the bowels encouraging defecation, whilst a purgative has a very strong effect. Purgatives are also known as cathartics.
28. What is the difference between a miotic and a mydriatic drug?
    Miotic drugs cause constriction of the pupil (used in the treatment of glaucoma), whereas mydriatics cause dilation of the pupil.
29. What is the difference between a sedative and a tranquilliser?
    A sedative has calming effects which may be soporific (causing drowsiness), whilst tranquillisers reduce anxiety without causing the patient to become sleepy.
30. What is a vaccine?
    A vaccine is a suspension of killed or attenuated organisms administered for the prevention or treatment of diseases.