cardiac medications Flashcards
what is nitroglycerin (nitro)
used to treat angina. it dilates arteries in the heart
what form is quick acting nitro in
tablet/oral spray
what form is long acting nitro in
pills, tablets, skin ointment or skin patches
what medications can you NOT mix with nitro
erection enhancing medication
what are anti-platelets
prescribed for patients who experienced any type of cardiac event/angina. they reduce the viscosity of blood (reduces blood clots)
most widely prescribed anti-platelet
aspirin
what are beta blockers
they reduce the stress on the heart by reducing heart rate and blood pressure
what are calcium channel blockers
vasodilators
often taken with beta blockers
what to avoid when taking ccb’s and why
grapefruit
grapefruit can interferes with the way certain drugs are metabolized. it allows a higher amount of the drug into the bloodstream
statins
used for those with high cholesterol
prevent plaque build up in the arteries
what to avoid when taking statins
grapefruit
ace inhibitors
vasodilators
what to avoid when taking ace inhibitors and why
avoid salt substitutes/potassium supplements as ace inhibitors can increase the amount of salt/potassium in the body
ace inhibitor side effect, see a doctor
swelling or peeing less than normal
angiotensin II receptor blockers (arbs)
used to treat high bp and heart failure
