Cardiac Medication

Question 1

Drug class(es) that IMPROVE contractility

Answer 1

Beta 1 Agonists

Question 2

List a few Beta 1 Agonists and describe their overall fx

Answer 2

• Dopamine, Dobutamine, Milrinone, and Digitalis/Digoxin

- Fx = improve contractility of the heart

Question 3

Drug class(es) that REDUCE contractility

Answer 3

Beta Blockers and Ca Channel Blockers

Question 4

How do we know if a drug is a Beta Blocker?

Answer 4

With the suffix “-olol”

Question 5

List a few Ca Channel Blockers and describe their overall fx

Answer 5

• Diltiazem

- Fx = reduce contractility

Question 6

Drug class(es) that REDUCE afterload

Answer 6

Alpha 1 Blockers, Direct Vasodilators, and Centrally Acting Agents

Question 7

List an example of a centrally acting agent and describe its overall fx

Answer 7

• Clonodine

- Fx = inhibits sympathetic outflow resulting in vascular SM relaxation which results in reduce TPR

Question 8

Drug class(es) that REDUCE preload

Answer 8

Diuretics, ACEi, ARBs, and Aldosterone Antagonists

Question 9

How do we know if a drug is an ARB?

Answer 9

Suffix “-sarten”

Question 10

List an example of an aldosterone antagonist and describe its overall fx

Answer 10

• Spironolactone

- Reduces kidney reabsorption of water and therefore increases urine output which results in reduce blood volume

Question 11

Drug class(es) that IMPROVE myocardial BF

Answer 11

Nitrates

Question 12

Describe Nitrate’s overall fx

Answer 12

Vasodilates systemic vasculature to improve BF passageway… also re-stabilizes the already formed plaque buildups

Question 13

Drug class(es) that manage HEMOSTASIS

Answer 13

Thrombolytics, Anti-Coagulants, and Anti-Platelets

Question 14

Describe the overall fx of thrombolytics

Answer 14

Cleaves fibrinogen into fibrin which causes clots to be destroyed

Question 15

Drug class(es) that manage ARRYHTHMIAS

Answer 15

Class 1 = Na Channel Blockers
Class 2 = Beta Blockers
Calss 3 = Ventricular Arrhythmia Drugs
Class 4 = Ca Channel Blockers

Question 16

Describe the general fx of anti-arryhthmia drugs

Answer 16

Electrically stabilizing the cardiac membrane to reduce the unwanted action potentials

Question 17

Drug class(es) that REDUCE atherosclerosis AND REDUCE the risk of MI

Answer 17

Statins

Question 18

Describe the general fx of Statins

Answer 18

Systemic vasodilation and plaque stabilization