Antihypertensives Flashcards
What are examples of medications that are ACE inhibitors?
enalapril, fosinopril
What are examples of medications that are angiotensin receptor blockers?
losartan, candesartan
What are medications that are vascular calcium channel blockers? What about cardiac channel blockers?
Vascular: nifedipine, amlodipine
Cardiac: verapamil, diltiazem
What is an example of an alpha 1 receptor antagonist?
prazosin
What is an example of a alpha 2 receptor agonsit?
clonidine
What vasodilators are used to treat hypertension?
- hydralazine, minoxidil, nitroprusside
What is the formula that shows the regulation of blood pressure?
BP = cardiac output x total peripheral resistance
What does cardiac output depend on?
- venous return
- venous tone
- blood volume
- heart rate
- contractility
What does total peripheral resistance depend on?
- resistance vessel diameter
- arterial tone
Chronic increases in blood pressure is normally due to an increased ________
arterial resistance
90% of hypertension is considered to be _____ hypertension
essential (the cause is unknown)
10% of hypertension is considered to be from a ______
definable cause
What are some medications that can cause hypertension?
- estrogens (oral contraceptives)
- NSAIDS
- antidepressants, cyclosporin, amphetamines
- decreased compliance
What other medical conditions can cause hypertension?
- renal artery stenosis
- coarctation of the aorta
- phaeochromocytoma (catecholamine secreting tumor), primary hyperaldosteronism
What are the 3 mechanisms to correct a major decrease in blood pressure?
- decreasing RPP, therefore increasing sodium retention (this increases blood volume)
- Increasing RAAS, therefore increasing aldosterone (increase in TPR)
- Increase in SNA, therefore increasing NE (increases cardiac output)
What are the main non-pharmacological treatments of hypertension?
- sodium restriction
- weight loss (> 5 kg in those that are overweight)
- exercise (45-60 minutes of moderate activity 4-5/week)
- reduced alcohol intake (<2 drinks /day in those who drink excessively)
- smoking cessation
- relaxation
What is considered to be first line therapy for treating hypertension?
diuretics in uncomplicated hypertension
With diuretics, the dose response for blood pressure lowering is relatively ____
flat
(this means that increasing the dose will product little improvement in effect. Complications increase with dose- can cause hypokalemia, glucose intolerance, increased LDL)
What diuretic is useful in renal impairment and edematous states?
- loop diuretics
Are loop diuretics typically used as an antihypertensive?
No
Are loop diuretics a good choice for long term treatment?
No -they are fast onset and have a short action, and there is potential for extreme electrolyte imbalance
What is the clinical use of potassium sparing diuretics?
- useful with thiazides - decreases the potassium lost
- effective when increased BP due to mineralocorticoid excess
What diuretics typically will cause electrolyte problems?
- thiazides and loop diuretics
hypokalemia, hypercalcemia-thiazides, hypocalcemia-loop
What are some general side effects of thiazides?
- decreases insulin release- hyperglycaemia
- increased LDL levels (bad)
- increased incidence of erectile dysfunction
- vascular volume contraction (decreased blood volume)