Cardiovascular Drugs Flashcards
What is the function of anti-platelet drugs?
Medication that prevents platelets from sticking together and forming clots
What is the function of lipid-lowering drugs (statins)?
Used to lower the level of lipids and lipoproteins, such as cholesterol, in the blood
What is the function of anti-arrhythmics drugs?
Prevents and treats abnormal heartbeats
What is the function of anticoagulant drugs?
Medicines that help prevent blood clots
What is the function of duiretic drugs?
Medicines that help reduce fluid buildup in the body, they are anti-hypertensive as reducing plasma volume reduces cardiac workload.
What is the function of ACE-inhibitors?
Medicines that help relax veins and arteries to lower blood pressure
What is the function of nitrate drugs?
Medication that causes vasodilation by donating nitric oxide
What is the function of calcium channel blockers?
Medication that disrupts movement of calcium through calcium channels in order to decrease blood pressure
what are the three main anti-platelet drugs you will come across in dental practice? (In order of use)
- Aspirin
- Clopidogrel
- Dipyridamole
If you wish to carry out a dental procedure that has risk of bleeding, how long before the procedure would aspirin medication need to be halted and why?
A week before the procedure. This is because platelet life in the plasma is about 7 days.
How does aspirin inhibit platelet aggregation?
By altering the balance between throboxane A2 and Prostacyclin
how does clopidogrel inhibit platelet aggregation?
Through ADP inhibition
Combinations of anti-platelet drugs can be given together, and are more effective than an individual drug acting alone. True or false?
True, if a more intense action is required, combination of the drugs is suitable and more effective.
If a patient is on a combination of anti-platelet drugs, what is the main concern?
They may have a more significant bleeding problem upon dental procedures
What are the two new anti-platelet drugs that are only prescribed in conjunction with aspirin, and only licensed for acute coronary syndromes?
Prasugrel and Ticagrelor
What is the most commonly used oral anti-coagulant in dental practice?
Warfarin
What type of drug would be expected to cause immediate bleeding after dental extractions?
Anti-platelets
What type of drug would be expected to cause delayed post treatment bleeding (most likely a few hours after treatment)?
Anticoagulants
Other than warfarin, name 4 new oral anticoagulants (NOAC).
- Rivaroxaban
- Apixaban
- Dabigatran
- Edoxaban
What type of base does the anti-coagulant warfarin have?
Coumarin
How does warfarin inhibit coagulation?
Inhibits synthesis of vitamin K dependant clotting factors: 2,7,9,10, and protein C and S.
If a patient requires to be anti-coagulated immediately, what medication should they be placed on?
Warfarin in conjunction with heparin (another anticoagulant)
How many days does it take for warfarin to take affect?
2-3 days
What anticoagulant is heavily bound to plasma proteins and metabolised in the liver?
Warfarin
How is warfarin action tested?
Monitored with INR test
What is the INR test?
INR = international normalised ratio
This is the ratio of a healthy volunteer’s prothrombin time measured against the patient.
What is meant by “prothrombin time”?
The time taken for prothrombin to be converted to thrombin
In most clinical situations, a patient taking warfarin should have what range of INR in order to not alter medication before treatment?
2-4