Cardiac Medications Flashcards
Background of angina pectoris
- Chest pain due to ischemic heart disease: caused by O2 demand/supply mismatch & can be predicted/exacerbated by physical exertion
- Very high prevalence in US: many patients receiving PT may suffer from this disease state
- Can be sudden & described as intense compression & tightness of the chest that can sometimes radiate to the jaw or left arm
Describe EKG anomalies
- Gives info about electrical activity in the heart
- Well established template where anomalies can be detected & help to determine what is happening to the heart muscle
Describe the parts of the EKG heart beat wave
- QRS: ventricle depolarization/contraction
- T: ventricle repolarization/relaxation
- ST segment: interval b/w depolarization & repolarization (elevation or depression or T wave inversion is often due to ischemia
Pharmacologic treatments for angina pectoris
- Nitrates
- Bete blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
Describe organic nitrates
- Prodrugs that are converted to nitric oxide (NO) within vascular smooth muscle
- Nitric oxide increases cGMP which inhibits smooth muscle contraction
- Produces general vasodilation -> decreases preload & afterload
- Reduces workload on the heart (decreased oxygen demand)
List organic nitrate drugs
- Nitroglycerin
- Isosorbide dinitrate
- Isosorbide mononitrate
Describe nitroglycerin (Nitrobid, Nitrostat)
- Used for acute Tx of anginal attacks
- Sublingual administration is preferred in acute attacks due to rapid absorption (therapeutic effects begin within 2 min; bypasses 1st pass effect)
- Can also be administered ar an aerosol, ointment, patch, or oral tablet (patch must be removed for 10-12 hrs due to development of tolerance)
- Used as a powerful explosive: this feature is inactivated by diluting with lactose, alcohol, or propylene glycol
Describe isosorbide dinitrate
- Used for Tx of acute episodes of angina & for prevention of future attacks
- Longer effects
- Sublingual, buccal, chewable, or oral tablets
- Primarily used as preventive medication
Describe isosorbide mononitrate
- Primarily used as preventive medication
- Similar to Isosorbide dinitrate but longer acting
Adverse effects of organic nitrate drugs
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Orthostatic hypotension
Describe beta blockers
- Drugs: Metoprolol, Labetalol, Carvedilol
- MOA: antagonist to beta1 receptors on the myocardium; decrease HR & myocardial contraction force; decreases O2 demands
- Adverse effects: nonselective agents may cause bronchoconstriction in pts with asthma; otherwise well tolerated; watch for excessive cardiac depression
Describe calcium channel blockers
- Drugs: Diltiazem, Verapamil, Amlodiopine, Nifedipine
- MOA: affects vascular smooth muscle cells causing vasodilation (systemic vasodilation causes decreased myocardial O2 demand); mediates coronary vasodilation (increases O2 supply)
- Adverse effects: peripheral vasodilation (headache, flushing, dizziness); peripheral edema; reflex tachycardia (-ipine)
Describe stable angina
- Myocardial O2 demand > supply
- Typically brought on by physical exertion
- Acute Tx: sublingual nitroglycerin
- Prevention: beta blockers or long acting nitrate
- Chest pain/discomfort can occur with physical exertion
Describe variant angina
- Coronary vasospasm causes a decrease in myocardial O2 supply
- Tx: calcium channel blocker
Describe unstable angina
- Myocardial O2 supply decreases at the same time O2 demand increases
- Due to atherosclerotic plaque rupture within coronary arteries
- Chest pain/discomfort can occur during physical exertion or rest
- Tx: requires further evaluation & a combination of pharmacologic & interventional therapies
Non-pharmacologic management of angina pectoris
- Pharmacologic agents only treat the symptoms not the condition
- Lifestyle changes: exercise, weight loss, smoking cessation, stress management
- Angina related to plaque build up or thrombosis can be addressed with cardiac catheterizations & subsequent intervention or coronary artery bypass surgery of needed
What type of patients require special sternal precautions to be aware of during PT
- CABG patients have a scar down their chest & require special sternal precautions
Key points for PT related to angina pectoris
- Ensure patient has PRN nitroglycerin if needed
- Beta blockers & calcium channel blockers may blunt the myocardial response to exercise
- All of these drugs can cause hypotension: may be exaggerated upon sudden sitting to standing
Background of arrhythmias
- Arrhythmia: any significant deviation from normal cardiac rhythm
- Untreated arrhythmias can result in impaired cardiac function & may be associated with CVA, heart failure, & fatalities
Normal cardiac rhythm/electrical conduction pathway
- Sinoatrial node (SA)
- Atrioventricular node (AV)
- Bundle of His
- Left/Right bundle branches
- Purkinje Fibers
Classification of Antiarrhythmic drugs
- Class I: Sodium channel blockers
- Class II: Beta blockers
- Class III (drugs that prolong repolarization): K+ channel blockers
- Class IV: Calcium channel blockers
- Others: Digoxin
List class I sodium channel blockers
- Class IA: Quinidine, Procainamide
- Class IB: Lidocaine, Mexilatine
- Class IC: Flecainide, Propafenone
MOA and adverse reactions of class I sodium channel blockers
- MOA: control the rate of Na entry; control excitation/conduction to stabilize the cardiac cell membrane
- Adverse effects: increased arrhythmias, dizziness, visual disturbance, N/V, diarrhea
List class II beta blocker drugs
- Atenolol
- Esmolol
- Metoprolol
MOA and adverse effects of class II beta blockers
- MOA: decrease excitatory effects of the sympathetic NS; slows conduction through the myocardium (blocks AV node)
- Adverse effects: Non-selective = increased bronchoconstrictionn; bradycardia, orthostatic hypotension
List class III K+ channel blockers
- Amiodarone
- Dofetilide
- Dronedarone
MOA and adverse effects of class III K+ channel blockers
- MOA: prolong the effective refractory period; slows & stabilizes the HR
- Adverse effects: torsades de pointes (pro-arrhythmic); amiodarone = pulmonary, thyroid, liver toxicity
List class IV calcium channel blockers
- Verapamil
- Diltiazem
MOA and adverse effects of CLass IV calcium channel blockers
- MOA: block calcium influx which alters the excitability & conduction; decrease the rate of discharge of the SA node & inhibit velocity through the AV node
- Adverse effects: excessive bradycardia, peripheral vasodilation = dizziness & headache
Non-pharmacologic treatment of arrhythmias
- Drugs do not resolve cause of arrhythmia
- Implantable devices: pacemakers, defibrillators
- Interventions: ablations
Key points for PT for arrhythmias
- Be aware of the various side effects of these agents (commonly dizziness, hypotension)
- May play a role in early detection
- Potential for increased arrhythmias with many medications & with activity
- If no EKG is available, palpation of pulse for rate & regularity may be useful