Good morning and welcome to your Tuesday dose of Your Daily Meds.

Bonus Review: What is CSF?

Answer: Cerebrospinal Fluid is the stuff that bathes the brain and spinal cord. It is contained in the ventricles and subarachnoid space and is part of the body’s trans cellular fluids.

Babies and Stuff:

Which of the following correctly describes the third stage of labour?

* From delivery of the baby until delivery of the placenta

* From full dilatation of the cervix until delivery of the baby

* From first ‘show’ of blood and mucous until delivery of the baby

* From rupture of membranes until delivery of the placenta

* From visualisation of the baby’s head until delivery of the baby

Have a think.

Scroll for the chat.

A Relevant-To-Ward-Call Question:

Which of the following medications, used in cases of hypertensive urgency, is most likely to cause a delayed precipitous fall in blood pressure?

* Nifedipine immediate-release 10 mg orally

* Captopril 12.5 mg orally

* Clonidine 100 micrograms orally

* Prazosin 2 mg orally

* Amlodipine 5 mg orally

Have a think.

Have a guess.

More scroll for more chat.

The Labour Diaries:

Traditionally, labour is described in three stages:

* First – from onset of regular contractions until full dilatation of the cervix

* Second – from full dilatation of the cervix until delivery of the baby

* Third – from delivery of the baby until delivery of the placenta

Treating the Numbers:

Hypertensive urgency describes severely elevated blood pressure, with pressures at 180/110 mmHg or higher, with symptoms of moderate non-acute damage or dysfunction to end organs.

The initial management goals of hypertensive urgency include relief of symptoms and reduction of BP to below 180 mmHg systolic over several hours. 

Amlodipine has a delayed onset of action compared to the other medications listed, and so is most likely to cause a delayed precipitous fall in blood pressure due to repeated doses over a short time (as a consequence of perceived lack of effect).

PS. -

Amlodipine and Nifedipine = Calcium Channel Blockers

Captopril = ACE-Inhibitor

Prazosin = Alpha-1 Antagonist

Clonidine = Central Alpha-2 Agonist

Bonus: What are the functions of the CSF?

Answer in tomorrow’s dose.

Closing:

Thank you for taking your Meds and we will see you tomorrow for your MANE dose. As always, please contact us with any questions, concerns, tips or suggestions. Have a great day!

Luke.

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