Antiarrhythmics/Other Heart Meds

Question 1

Digoxin

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 1

Lanoxin
* Beers, high-alert, and NTI med
* Elixir dosage form contains alcohol
* Interacts with many meds (beta-blockers, clarithromycin, potassium supplements, most statins, etc)

Arrhythmia, heart failure

Oral solid, liquid, injectable

Question 2

Dobutamine

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 2

Dobutrex
* High-alert med
* May cause hypertension

Heart failure, hypotension

Injectable

Question 3

Dopamine

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 3

Intropin
* High-alert med
* May cause hypertension

Heart failure, hypotension

Injectable

Question 4

Epinephrine

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 4

Adrenalin
* High-alert med
* May cause hypertension

Heart failure, hypotension, allergic reactions

Injectable

Question 5

Norepinephrine

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 5

Levophed
* High-alert med
* May cause hypertension

Heart failure, hypotension

Injectable

Question 6

Vasopressin

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 6

Vasostrict
* Also called ADH
* High-alert med

Hypotension

Injectable

Question 7

Amiodarone

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 7

Cordarone
* Beers and high-alert med
* Can damage multiple organs (eye, thyroid, liver, lungs)
* Interacts with many meds (beta-blockers, fluconazole, etc) and grapefruit

Arrhythmia

Injectable, oral solid

Question 8

Dofetilide

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 8

Tikosyn
* Beers and high-alert med
* Interacts with many meds (fluconazole, etc) and grapefruit
* Patients must start therapy while in the hospital or specialized care setting

Arrhythmia

Oral solid

Question 9

Dronedarone

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 9

Multaq
* NIOSH and high-alert med
* Can damage multiple organs (eye, thyroid, liver, lungs)
* Interacts with many meds (beta-blockers, fluconazole, etc) and grapefruit

Arrhythmia

Oral solid

Question 10

Lidocaine

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 10

Xylocaine
* High-alert med
* Interacts with beta-blockers

Arrhythmia

Injectable

Question 11

Propafenone

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 11

Rythmol
* High-alert med
* Interacts with many meds (beta-blockers, fluconazole, etc) and grapefruit
* Use with caution in patients with asthma or COPD

Arrhythmia

Oral solid

Question 12

Sotalol

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 12

Betapace
* High-alert med
* Avoid in patients with asthma or COPD
* Interacts with cardiovascular meds (beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, etc)

Arrhythmia

Injectable, oral solid, liquid

Question 13

Isosorbide

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 13

Imdur/Isordil
* Interacts with PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil, etc)
* May cause headache
* Requires a nitrate-free interval

Angina

Oral solid

Question 14

Nitroglycerin

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 14

Nitrostat
* Interacts with PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil, etc)
* May cause headache
* Requires a nitrate-free interval
* Patients should sit before given sublingual dose and 911 should be called if angina doesn’t resolve 5 minutes after first dose

Angina, heart failure, hypertensive emergency

Injectable, oral solid, sublingual, topical (ointment, patch)

Question 15

Nitroprusside

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 15

Nipride RTU
* High-alert med
* Interacts with PDE5 inhibitors (tadalafil, etc)
* May cause cyanide toxicity

Heart failure, hypertensive emergency

Injectable

Question 16

Sacubitril/valsartan

Indications?

Dosage Forms?

Answer 16

Entresto
* May cause dizziness
* Patients should not take ACEIs or ARBs at the same time

Heart failure

Oral solid