13: Common drugs used to treat cardiovascular disease Flashcards
Broadly, which classes of drugs are used to treat hypertension?
Diuretics
Beta blockers
Vasodilators
What are diuretics used to treat?
Hypertension
Heart failure
What are beta blockers used to treat?
Hypertension
Angina
Heart failure (mid-long term)
What do diuretic drugs do?
Block Na+ reabsorption into the kidneys
so more fluid is secreted and the plasma volume decreases
Name a thiazide diuretic - what are they used to treat?
Bendrofluazide
Hypertension
Name a loop diuretic - what are they used to treat?
Furosemide
Heart failure
What are stronger - thiazide diuretics or loop diuretics?
Loop diuretics (e.g furosemide)
Name two side-effects of diuretic drugs.
Hypokalaemia - tiredness
Arrythmia
Hyperglycaemia
Increased uric acid - gout
Impotence
What do beta blockers do?
Block ß1 and ß2 adrenoceptors
Name a beta blocker which only blocks ß1 adrenoceptors (cardioselective).
Atenolol
Atenolol is a cardioselective beta blocker. What does this mean?
Only blocks ß1 adrenoceptors.
What conditions can atenolol be used to treat?
Angina
Hypertension
Heart failure
What are non-selective beta blockers?
Block both ß1 and ß2 adrenoceptors
Name an example of a non-selective beta blocker.
Propanolol
What is propranolol used to treat?
Thyrotoxicosis
In which case should beta blockers NOT be used?
If the patient has asthma
What are the side effects of beta blockers?
Fatigue
Heart failure in the short term
Cold peripheries
Name the two-types of calcium antagonist.
Dihydropyridines
Non-dihydropyridines
Name an example of a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist.
Amlodipine
What is amlodipine? What is it used to treat?
Dihydropyridine calcium antagonist
Hypertension and angina
What is a common side effect of amlodipine?
Ankle oedema
Name an example of a non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist.
Verapamil
What conditions can non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists be used to treat?
Hypertension
Angina
Supraventricular arrhythmias
The use of verapamil with ___ ___ should be avoided.
beta blockers
What do alpha blockers do?
Block alpha adrenoceptors to cause vasodilation
Name an example of an alpha blocker.
Doxazosin
What are alpha blockers used to treat?
Hypertension
Prostatic hypertrophy
Give an example of an alpha blocker side effect.
Postural hypotension
What does an ACE inhibitor do?
Blocks conversion of Angiotensin I to Angiotensin II
Name an example of an ACE inhibitor.
Lisinopril
When would an ACE inhibitor be used?
Hypertension
Heart failure
When shouldn’t an ACE inhibitor be used to treat someone with hypertension / heart failure?
Pregnant woman
Name an angiotensin receptor blocker.
Losartan
Name a nitrate drug used to treat cardiovascular disease.
Isosorbide mononitrate
GTN spray
What would a nitrate be used to treat?
Angina
Acute heart failure
How many hours a day should a nitrate user be deprived of the drug to avoid tolerance?
8 hours per day
Name an antiplatelet agent.
Aspirin
Clopidogrel
Ticagrelor
Prasugrel
When would an antiplatelet agent be used?
Angina
Acute MI
Name two anticoagulant drugs.
Heparin (IV)
Warfarin (oral)
Rivaroxaban
Dabigatran
When would an anticoagulant drug be used?
Deep vein thrombosis
Pulmonary embolism
NSTEMI
Atrial fibrillation
Name an anticholesterol drug.
Simvastatin
Name two anti-arrhythmic drugs.
Adenosine
Amiodarone
Beta blockers
Flecainide
What does digoxin do?
Block AV node conduction - causes a degree of AV node delay, reduces heart rate
What would digoxin be used to treat?
Heart failure with atrial fibrillation
