Drugs Flashcards
What 4 drugs are given post MI
Aspirin, Beta Blocker, ACE inhibitor, Statin
What 4 drugs are given in a suspected MI
GTN or opioid eg Diamorphine (2.5-5mg) with an anti-emetic
Aspirin (300mg) chewable.
Clopidogrel (300mg),
3 types of Drugs used in Hypertension
Thiazide Diuretics
Beta Blockers
Vasodilators e.g. Calcium antagonist, alpha blockers, ACE inhibitors, ARBs
4 Drugs used in angina
Beta blockers, calcium antagonists, nitrates (GTN), Nicorandil
What do diuretics do and where?
Block Na reabsorption in the kidney
Name the two types of diuretics
Loop and Thiazide
When are loop diuretics used?
In heart failure
What is the stronger type of diuretic?
Loop Diuretics
What are some of the side effects of diuretics?
Hypokalaemia, Hyperglycaemia, Increase in Uric Acid, Impotence
What do Beta blockers do?
Block B1 and B2 adrenoceptors
What patients would you never give a beta blocker to?
Asthmatics
What do Cardioselective B blockers do?
Only block B1 receptors
What do non-selective B Blockers do?
Block B1 and B2 receptors
What do Beta blockers usually end in?
-lol e.g. Atenolol
Name 3 side effects of Beta blockers?
Tiredness, Cold Peripheries, short term heart failure
What are the two types of calcium antagonists?
Dihydropyridines and Rate limiting calcium antagonists
What are the dihydropyridines (calcium antagonist) used for?
Hypertension and angina
What is the main side effect of dihydropyridines?
Ankle oedema
What are the rate limiting calcium antagonists used for?
Hypertension and angina as well as SV arrythmias (e.g. AF and SVT)
What to the rate limiting calcium antagonists do?
They block the effect of the AV node
What do alpha blockers do? What does this result in?
Block alpha adrenoceptors which result in venodilation
What are alpha blockers used in?
Hypertension and prostatic hypertrophy
What is the main side effect of alpha blockers?
Postural Hypotension (dizziness when the patient stands up due to a drop in blood pressure)
How do ACE inhibitors work?
Block the conversion of angiotensin 1 to angiotensin 2
What do ACE inhibitors end in?
pril - e.g. lisinopril
What are ACE inhibitors used for?
Hypertension and Heart Failure
Name 3 side effects of ACE inhibitors
Dry cough, hypotension, renal dysfunction
When should ACE inhibitors not be used?
In pregnancy induced Hypertension
Why would and ARB be used instead of an ACE inhibitor?
If the patient can’t tolerate the dry cough
What do ARBs do?
Block angiotensin 2 receptors
What do ARBs end in?
-artan e.g. Losartan
Can patient with pregnancy induced Hypertension use an ARB? Yes or No?
No
What do the nitrates do in the body?
Cause venodilation
When are nitrates used?
In angina and acute heart failure
What are the main side effects of nitrates?
Headaches and syncope due to lowered blood pressure
How do you prevent tolerance in patients?
Ensure they have a nitrate free period (e.g. 8 hours without taking nitrates a day)
What is the function of antiplatelet agents?
Prevent a new thrombosis
When are antiplatelet agents used?
In angina, acute MI, CVA and TIA
What are the main 2 antiplatelet agents used?
Aspirin and clopidogrel
What are the 3 side effects of antiplatelet agents?
Risk of haemorrhage, peptic ulcer, aspirin sensitivity which could trigger an asthma attack
What is the role of anticoagulants?
To prevent a new thrombosis
Name the 4 drugs used as anticoagulants
Heparin IV, Warfarin, Rivaroxaban abd Dabigatron
When are anticoagulants used?
In patients with DVT, PE, AF and NSTEMI
What do fibrinolytic drugs do?
Dissolve a formed clot
In what patients are fibrinolytic drugs used in?
STEMI patients, and some cases of CVA and PE
What is the main risk of fibrinolytic drugs?
Serious risk of haemmorhage
Name 5 examples of patients that cannot have fibrinolytic drugs
Recent haemorrhage, trauma, bleeding tendencies, severe diabetic retinopathy and peptic ulcer
What are the two types of anticholesterol drugs?
Statins and Fibrates
What do statins do?
Block HMG CoA reductase
When are statins used?
Hypercholesteraemia, diabetes, Angina, MI, CVA/TIA, Patients with a high risk of MI and CVA
What is the main side effect of a statin?
Myopathy
Name 2 cases where a fibrate would be used
Hypertriglyceridaemia and Low HDL cholesterol
What drug is used in the acute phase of supraventricular tachycardia?
Adenosine
What 3 types of drugs are used to treat ventricular / supraventricular arrythmias?
Amiodarone, Beta blockers and Flecainide
What are the 3 side effects of anti-arrhytmic drugs?
Phototoxicity, pulmonary fibrosis and thyroid abnormalities (hypo or hyper)
What 2 things does digoxin do?
Block atrial-ventricular (AV) conduction, and increases ventricular irratibility
Patients with what arrythmia benefit from Digoxin?
Atrial Fibrillation
What is the main risk of excessive use of digoxin? what can this result in?
Bradycardia due to the heart rate falling too much. this can result in heart block
What can digoxin toxicity cause?
Nausea / vomiting, yellow vision, bradycardia, heart block and ventricular arrythmias
