Musculoskeletal
Agents for pain, inflammation, muscle spasm, and bone health. The recurring themes: NSAIDs trade prostaglandin blockade for GI, cardiovascular, and renal risk; muscle relaxants relax by sedating (mind the falls); and bisphosphonates only work — and only stay safe — when taken by an exacting protocol.
NSAIDs
High-yieldBlock cyclooxygenase to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever — at the price of GI bleeding, cardiovascular, and renal risk. They carry a two-part boxed warning.
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
High-yieldEase muscle spasm and spasticity — mostly by sedating the CNS. The defining risks are drowsiness/falls and additive depression with opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol.
Bisphosphonates
-dronate High-yieldSlow osteoclast bone breakdown to build bone density in osteoporosis. The exacting oral-administration protocol is the whole nursing game — it protects the esophagus and rescues a <1% absorption.
Antigout Agents
High-yieldTwo different jobs: stop an acute attack vs lower uric acid long-term. Don’t start allopurinol mid-attack.