Cardiac Drug Classes- Purposes and Actions Flashcards
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
Antihypertensive;
Purpose: treatment of hypertension
Actions: prevent ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) from converting angiotensin I to angiotensin II, leading to a decrease in BP, a decrease in aldosterone production and a small increase in serum potassium levels, along with sodium and fluid loss
Angiotensin II-receptor blockers (ARBs)
Antihypertensive
Purpose: treatment of hypertension
Actions: ARBs bind with the angiotensin II receptors in vascular smooth muscle and in the adrenal cortex to block vasoconstriction and the release of aldosterone; block the blood pressure-raising effect of the renin-angiotensin system and lower BP
Calcium channel blockers (CCB)
Antihypertensive and antianginal
Purpose: treating hypertension and angina
Actions: inhibit the movement of calcium ions across the membranes of myocardial and arterial muscle cells, altering the action potential and blocking muscle cell contraction
Vasodilators
Antihypertensive
Purpose: severe hypertension or hypertensive emergencies
Actions: act directly on vascular smooth muscle to cause muscle relaxation, leading to vasodilation, and drop in BP
Cardiac Glycosides
Cardiotonic
Purpose: treat acute heart failure, atrial arrhythmias
Action: increase intracellular Ca+ and allows more calcium to enter myocardial cells during depolarization… Results in 1) increased force of myocardial contraction, 2) increased cardiac output and renal perfusion, 3) slowed HR, 4) decreased conduction velocity through the AV node
Class I Antiarrhythmics
Arrhythmic agents
Purpose: treatment of life-threatening ventricular or atrial arrythmias
Actions: stabilize the cell membrane by blocking Na+ channels in the cell membrane during an action potential
Class II Antiarrhythics
Arrhythmics
Purpose: management of premature ventricular contractions; supraventricular tachycardia
Actions: competitively block beta receptor sites in the heart and kidneys causing decrease in HR, cardiac excitability, and cardiac output
Class III Antiarrhythmics
Purpose: treatment of ventricular arrhythmias
Actions: blocks K+ channels and slow the outward movement of K= during phase 3, prolonging it; acts directly on the heart muscle cells; prolong repolarization
Class IV Antiarrhythmics
Antiarrhythmic agents
Purpose: treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, and atrial flutter
Actions: blocks the movement of Ca+ ions across the cell membrane, depressing the generation of acction potentials, delaying phases 1 and 2 of repolarization, and slowing conduction through the AV node
Nitrates
Antianginal Agents
Purpose: treatment of angina
Actions: act directly on smooth muscle to cause relaxation and to depress muscle tone; relax and dilate veins, arteries, and capillaries allowing increased blood flow
Beta blockers
antiangina
Purpose: treat angina; block the stimulatory effects of the SNS
Actions: competitively block beta-adrenergic receptors in the heart and juxtaglomerular apparatus, decreasing the influence of the SNS on these tissues… causes decrease in excitability, cardiac output, cardiac oxygen consumption, and BP
HMC-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
Lipid-lowering agent
Purpose: reduction of cholesterol
Actions: block HMC-CoA reductase from completing the synthesis of cholesterol
Niacin (Vitamin B3)
Lipid lowering agent
Purpose: lower cholesterol
Actions: inhibits the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissues, increases the rate of triglyceride removal from plasma, and generally reduces LDL and triglyceride levels
Anticoagulants
Drugs affecting clot formation
Purpose: decrease clot formation
Actions: interfere with the clotting cascade and thrombin formation
Erythropoiesis- Stimulating Agents
Antianemics
Purpose: treatment of anemia
Actions: acts like the natural glycoprotein erythropoietin to stimulate the production of RBCs in the bone marrow
