Anti Fungal Drugs Question And Answers

Anti Fungal Drugs Important Notes

1. Antifungal drugs

• Topically applied
  • Nystatin
  • Trichomycin
• Systemically employed
  • Griseofulvin
  • Amphotericin B
  • Ketoconazole
  • Fluconazole
  • Miconazole

2. Nystatin- 5 lakh units are used in the treatment of

• Local candidiasis of the mouth, skin, vagina, and gut

Read And Learn More: Pharmacology Question and Answers

3. Griseofulvin

• It is used to treat ringworm infections of the scalp, groin, and feet and fungal infections of the nails
• It causes antabuse like action in the presence of alcohol

4. Ketoconazole

• It produces serious hepatotoxicity.
• Contraindicated in pregnancy
• Maximum endocrinal side effects are seen

Anti Fungal Drugs Short Essays

Question 1. Antifungal drugs
Answer:

Antifungal drugs are drugs used for superficial and deep fungal infections.

Antifungal drugs Classification:

1. Antibiotics:

• Polyenes – amphotericin B, nystatin, natamycin.
• Heterocyclic benzofuran – griseofulvin.

2. Antimetaboljte – flucytosine.

3. Azoles.

• Imidazoles – clotrimazole, econazole.
• Triazoles – fluconazole, itraconazole.

4. Alkylamine – terbinafine.

5. Topical agents.

• Tolnaftate, undecylenic acid, Benzoic acid, butenafine, sod. Thiosulfate.

Antifungal drugs Site of action:

• Antifungal drugs may act on
  • Fungal cell wall
  • Cell membrane
  • On the nucleus

Question 2. Amphotericin B.
Answer:

• Amphotericin B is a polyene antifungal agent
• It is obtained from streptomyces nodosus.

Antifungal spectrum:

• Amphotericin B is active against a wide range of yeast and fungi.
• It is fungicidal at high and fungi-static at low concentrations.

Antifungal spectrum Mechanism of action:

Antifungal spectrum Adverse effects:

1. Acute reactions:

• Fever, chills, aches, pain.
• Nausea, vomiting, dyspnoea.
• Thrombophlebitis of the injected vein.

2. Long-term toxicity.

• Nephrotoxicity – reduced GFR, acidosis, hypo-kalaemia, inability to concentrate urine.
• Neurotoxicity.
• Anaemia due to decreased production of erythropoietin and bone marrow depression.

Antifungal Spectrum Uses:

• Amphotericin B-used topically for oral, vaginal, and cutaneous candidiasis and otomycosis.
• To prevent relapse of cryptococcosis and histoplasmosis in patients with AIDS.
• Leishmaniasis.
• Orally in fungal infections of the gut.

Question 3. Griseofulvin.
Answer:

• Griseofulvin is antifungal antibiotic.
• It is fungistatic.
• It is derived from penicillium griseofulvum.

Griseofulvin Mechanism of action:

Griseofulvin Uses:

• It is used orally in superficial dermatophytosis
• Dose – 1 g daily.
• Duration of treatment – varies from 3 weeks to 1 year.

Griseofulvin Adverse effects:

• Headache.
• Git disturbances.
• Neurotoxicity – peripheral neuritis.
• Allergic reactions.
• Hepatitis.

Question 4. Ketoconazole.
Answer:

• It is the first orally effective broad-spectrum antifungal drug
• It is more soluble at lower pH in the blood
• Food and low gastric pH enhance its absorption
• In blood, it is largely bound to albumin and RBC
• Metabolites are excreted in urine and feces
• Plasma half-life -1 %-6 hours
• Penetration into CSF is poor

Ketoconazole Uses:

• Dermatophytosis
• Superficial candidiasis
• Deep mycosis
• High doses have been used in Cushing’s syndrome

Ketoconazole Adverse Effects:

• Nausea, vomiting, gastric irritation, loss of apatite
• Headache, paraesthesia
• Rashes
• Hair loss
• Allergic reaction
• Decreases androgen production – Gynaecomastia, loss of libido, azoospermia, menstrual irregularities

Ketoconazole Drug Interactions:

• H2 blockers. Proton pump inhibitors and antacids – decrease the oral absorption of ketoconazole
• Rifampicin, phenobarbitone, carbazepine and phenytoin – induces ketoconazole metabolism and reduces its efficacy

Anti Fungal Drugs Short Question And Answers

Question 1. Name two broad-spectrum antifungal drugs.
Answer:

Broad-spectrum antifungal drugs are used against a large variety of fungi and yeasts like C. Albican, H. Capsulation, and Cryptococcus. Neoformans, Blastomyces dermatitis, coccidiosis immits, coreopsis, rhodotorula, aspergillus, deep mycosis, trichophyton.

• They are:

1. Polyenes – amphotericin – B, nystatin, natamycin.
2. Heterocyclic benzofuran – griseofulvin.

Question 2. Amphotericin B.
Answer:

• Nystatin is a polyene antifungal agent
• It is obtained from the streptomyces course
• It is not absorbed when given orally, so used topically.

Amphotericin B Uses:

1. Local candidiasis

• 5 ml oral suspension should be swished in the mouth and then swallowed 4 times a day.

2. Vaginal candidiasis.

• 1 lac unit tab inserted twice daily.

3. Used as an ointment for corneal, conjunctival, and cutaneous candidiasis.

Amphotericin B Adverse effects:

• Bitter foul taste
• Nausea.

Question 4. Griseofulvin.
Answer.

Griseofulvin Uses:

• Dermatophytosis
• Superficial candidiasis
• Deep mycosis
• High doses have been used in Cushing’s syndrome

Griseofulvin Adverse Effects:

• Nausea, vomiting, gastric irritation, loss of apatite
• Headache, paraesthesia
• Rashes
• Hair loss
• Allergic reaction
• Decreases androgen production – Gynaecomastia, loss of libido, azoospermia, menstrual irregularities

Question 5. Ketoconazole.
Answer:

• Ketoconazole is the first orally effective broad-spectrum antifungal drug.
• It is more soluble at lower pH in the blood.
• Metabolites are excreted in urine and feces.
• Plasma t ½ varies from 1½ to 6 hours.

Ketoconazole Uses:

• Dermatophytosis.
• Superficial candidiasis.
• Deep mycosis.

Ketoconazole Adverse effects:

• Nausea, vomiting, gastric irritation, loss of appetite.
• Headache, paresthesia.
• Rashes, hair loss.
• Allergic reactions.
• Decreases androgen production – gynecomastia, loss of libido, azoospermia, menstrual irregularities.