CVS Drugs Flashcards
What is the purpose of anticoagulants?
Prevent thrombus formation or increasing size of an existing thrombus in the venous circulation
What monitoring is needed for warfarin?
Initially, a blood test twice a week which then progressed to fortnightly and then monthly
Give some pharmacokinetic characteristics of warfarin
Highly plasma protein bound
Small volume of distribution
Narrow therapeutic range
Give some side effects of warfarin
Haemorrhage
Skin necrosis
Teratogenicity
What do you need to make the patient aware of before you prescribe warfarin?
Diet Alcohol Herbal/OTC remedies Other medication interactions Anticoagulation booklet Regular INR checks
Give the mechanism o action of aspirin
Inhibits cyclo-oxygenase enzymes which prevent the formation of thromboaxe A2 and other prostaglandins
Give some side effects of warfarin
Bleeding
GI irritation - consider giving omeprazole at the same time
What do you have to be aware of with certain patient taking aspirin?
Aspirin can causes bronchospasm, so take with asthmatics. Although not all asthmatics will have this reaction
What are the effects of aspirin hypersenstivity?
Urticaria
Angioedema
How does clopidogrel work?
Antiplatelet drug
Binds to ADP receptor on platelet cell membranes, therefore preventing platelet production and therefore platelet cross-linking with fibrin
Mechanism of action of aspirin
Antiplatelet
Acts to inhibit the production of thromboxane A2
Mechanism of action of enoxaparin
Activates antithrombin 3 which leads to inhibitions of Xa coagulation factors
Mechanims of fondaparinux
Activates antithrombin 3 which leads to inhibitions of Xa coagulation factors
Mechanism of action of bivalirudin
Reversible direct thrombin inhibitor
