Drugs for Lipid Disorders

Question 1

What is the most common type of lipid?

Answer 1

neutral fat

Question 2

We need to consume cholesterol and triglycerides in the diet. T or F

Answer 2

False
The body makes all the cholesterol and triglycerides needed

Question 3

What organ creates cholesterol?

Answer 3

liver

Question 4

What are the lipids in the blood?

Answer 4

cholesterol & triglycerides

Question 5

What are the functions of cholesterol?

Answer 5

cell membrane structure
organelle membranes
create steroid hormones
synthesize bile salts
striatum corneum of skin

Question 6

How long do patients need to fast to get an accurate lipid profile?

Answer 6

minimum 8 hrs
recommended 10-12

Question 7

What is the desirable total cholesterol?

Answer 7

< 200 mg/dL

Question 8

What total cholesterol is borderline risk for CVD?

Answer 8

200-239 mg/dL

Question 9

What total cholesterol is high risk for CVD?

Answer 9

240 mg/dL

Question 10

Why is HDL considered “good” cholesterol?

Answer 10

Carries cholesterol to get broken down and expelled from the body

Question 10

What density lipoprotein carries the most amount of cholesterol?

Answer 10

LDL

Question 11

When would drugs be the first-line treatment for high cholesterol?

Answer 11

If a patient has a significantly high cholesterol level and a significant family history of high cholesterol, CVD, or MI

Question 12

What is first-line treatment for high cholesterol?

Answer 12

Diet modification

Question 13

What is atherosclerosis?

Answer 13

cholesterol plaque build up in arteries

Question 14

What is aterosclerosis?

Answer 14

Arteries become stiffer and less elastic

Question 15

What causes arterosclerosis?

Answer 15

Age & uncontrolled blood pressure

Question 16

What is the prototype drug for statins?

Answer 16

Atorvastatin (Lipitor)

Question 17

What drug is given if statins are not tolerated for hypertriglyceridemia?

Answer 17

gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Question 18

What is the mechanism of action for atorvastatin (Lipitor)?

Answer 18

Decreases cholesterol production, which also leads to decrease of LDL

Question 19

What does a high dose of niacin do for high cholesterol?

Answer 19

Decrease VLDL (main triglyceride carrier) production, therefore decreasing cholesterol

Question 20

What medication can often cause a patient to still have high cholesterol?

Answer 20

cholesterol absorption inhibitors like ezetimibe (Zetia)

Question 21

Why can taking ezetimibe still result in high cholesterol?

Answer 21

Less cholesterol is absorbed by the small intestines, but the body compensates by producing more cholesterol.

Question 22

What is usually given with ezetimibe?

Answer 22

statin drug

Question 23

What should the patient do if prescribed digoxin and cholestyramine?

Answer 23

Take cholestyramine 2 hr before or 4 hrs after digoxin

Question 24

What is the main carrier of LDL?

Answer 24

very low-density lipoprotein

Question 25

What are common SE of niacin?

Answer 25

Intense flushing Hot flashes N / D Gas Hepatotoxicity Gout

Question 26

What serum lipid measurement is the most accurate indicator for CVD risk?

Answer 26

LDL : HDL ratio

Question 27

Why is the LDL : HDL ratio most important?

Answer 27

Some cholesterol is always transported for destruction, so the ratio is more accurate indicator for CVD risk

Question 28

What time are short half-life statins taken?

Answer 28

at night

Question 29

Why are short half-life statins taken at night?

Answer 29

Cholesterol is mainly produced at night

Question 30

What nutrients should a client on long-term statins increase?

Answer 30

Fat-soluble vitamins and folic acid

Question 31

What is the main modifiable lifestyle factor of concern for dyslipidemia?

Answer 31

High saturated fat consumption

Question 32

what should patients taking statins increase consupmtion of?

Answer 32

coenzyme Q10?

Question 33

What is a source of coenzyme Q10?

Answer 33

pork sardines beef heart salmon broccoli spinach nuts

Question 34

What are common side effects of statins?

Answer 34

headache abd cramping heartburn

Question 35

What are rare, serious AE of statins?

Answer 35

myopathy rhabdomyolysis

Question 36

What is usually used to treat hypertriglyceridemias?

Answer 36

fibric acid

Question 37

What is commonly taken at a lower dose if the patient is also prescribed gemfibrozil (Lopid)?

Answer 37

warfarin

Question 38

Why are periodic liver function studies done during dyslipidemia treatment?

Answer 38

Most drugs used to treat dyslipidemia are mainly metabolized in the liver and can lead to liver damage.

Question 39

What tests should be done BEFORE hyperlipidemia medications are administered?

Answer 39

Get liver function studies & lipid profiles

Question 40

What should be immediately reported if a patient is on a statin medication?

Answer 40

muscle or joint pain A sign of myopathy or rhabdomyolysis

Question 41

What is usually prescribed if the patient has a high LDL?

Answer 41

gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Question 42

What is a contraindication of cholestyramine (Questran)?

Answer 42

biliary obstruction

Question 43

What is a contraindication of gemfibrozil?

Answer 43

CKD

Question 44

What is a normal cholesterol level?

Answer 44

< 150 mg/dL

Question 45

What is cholesterol level is considered boderline high risk?

Answer 45

188 mg/dL

Question 46

What cholesterol level range is considered high risk?

Answer 46

200-499 mg/dL

Question 47

What is cholesterol level is considered very high risk?

Answer 47

500 mg/dL +

Question 48

Why is LDL considered "bad" cholesterol?

Answer 48

Can accumulate and form plaque deposits in arteries