Common CV drugs Flashcards
List the drug classes used for anti-cholesterol.
Statins
Fibrates
PCSK 9 Inhibitors (for familial high cholesterol)
List the drugs used for hypertension.
ACE/ARB CCB Thiazide diuretics Beta blockers/alpha blockers Spironolactone
What are you using drugs for to treat angina?
To vasodilate, slow the heart rate, and modulate the metabolism
What drugs would you use to treat angina?
To vasodilate: - Nitrates - Nicorandil - CCB To slow HR: - Beta-blockers - Ivabradine - Calcium antagonists To modulate metabolism: - Ranolazine
Which antiplatelet drugs are there?
Aspirin
Clopidogrel
Prasugrel
Ticagrelor
What do antiplatelet drugs aim to do?
Prevent new thrombus
What anticoagulant drugs are there?
Heparin Warfarin Rivaroxaban Dabigatran Edoxaban
What are clot busting drugs known as and give examples?
Fibrinolytics: streptokinase and tPA
When would you use an antiplatelet drug?
Angina
Acute MI
CVA/TIA
High risk patients of MI and CVA
When would you use an anticoagulant?
DVT
PE
NSTEMI
AF
When would you use a fibrinolytic?
STEMI
PE -selected cases
CVA - selected cases
What are the main three drugs you should use in heart failure to prolong life?
ACEI/ARB
Beta-blocker
Mineralocorticoid antagonist: spironolactone
what does ACEI do?
lower BP
what does amiodarone do?
it is an anti-arrhythmic that cardioverts arrhythmias when a patient is haemodynamically unstable (2nd line to DC cardioversion)
what does adenosine do?
is an anti-arrhythmic that slows conduction through the AVN, is useful for SVT when haemodynamically STABLE
what is atropine used for and what does it do?
treats bradycardia by increasing the heart rate
what does adrenaline do?
increases heart rate AND contractility.
what can spirolactone cause?
gynecomastia in men
what is haeochromocytoma?
an endocrine cause of hypertension
what is the probable diagnosis of a woman in her 20s with hypertension?
renal artery stenosis
what are the stages of hypertension?
stage 1: 140/90
stage 2: 160/100
stage 3: clinical reading of 180 systolic OR 110 diastolic
what is the white coat effect?
increase in BP due to clinical setting
what is the first line treatment for hypertension?
ACEI if <55yrs and NOT pregnant or african/-caribbean - use in diabetics regardless
CCB> 55 or contraindications
what is angina?
chest pain due to lack of blood to the heart
what are the types of angina?
stable - comes on with activity - responds to treatment
unstable - comes on at REST OR with activity but doesn’t respond to treatment
How is angina diagnosed?
ETT
perfusion scanning
CT angiography (gold standard)
what is intermittent claudication?
angina of the leg
leg pain walking uphill
what investigations do you do for intermittent claudication?
ABPI - normal around 1
duplex USS - to assess flow
catheter angiography
What is the treatment for intermittent claudication?
statin/anti-platelet therapy
smoking cessation
more exercise
what is stroke?
acute onset of neurological symptoms due to distruption of blood supply
symptoms of stroke?
numbness or weakness of face
difficulty speaking
dizziness/loss of co-ordination
what are the two types of stroke and what happens in each?
haemorrhagic = bleed in brain
Ischaemic = sign of end organ vascular damage
what is the gold standard investigation for stroke?
Brain CT - only way to differentiate between types
what treatment for ischaemic stroke?
thromolysis within 4.5hrs of onset = gold standard
thrombectomy = done up to 6hrs from onset
smoking cessation, statins, med diet and exercise
*if due to AF then anti-coagulate
what are common anti-coagulant drugs?
warfarin rivaroxoban heparin
