Hypertension Pharmacology Flashcards
When a patient has hypertension, what medication is our first go to?
Thiazide
You can add an ACE too
What are some examples of ACE inhibitors?
Lisinopril, Captopril, and Fosinopril
Why do we go to an ACE inhibitor first to treat hypertension?
Lowers BP by decreasing peripheral resistance and inhibiting sodium and water retention. They also help increase venous capacity, cardiac output, and vascular volume.
What is the main mechanism of ACE inhibitors that allows them to do so much?
Inhibit the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II – thereby vasodilating.
Besides hypertension, what are the other indications for ACE inhibitors?
Heart Failure, left ventricular dysfunction after an MI, and diabetic neuropathy.
When thinking about heart failure, what do ACE inhibitors do?
Slow heart/muscle remodeling
What are the main side effects of ACE inhibitors?
They can cause a cough, hyperkalemia, and angioedema.
What if a patient can’t handle the cough the ACE inhibitor has caused?
You can switch them to losartan
What type of medication is losartan?
Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)
How does Losartan work?
It competitively blocks angiotensin 1 (1000x greater than ACE) and II. Therefore relaxing and dilating blood vessels = decreased BP
When we give a patient an ACE inhibitor what must we tell them about the first dose?
The first dose can cause hypotension
If a patient has renal insufficiency, can you give them an ACE inhibitor?
you can, but you must monitor creatinine closely
What are the absolute contraindications for ACE’s?
Bilateral renal artery stenosis, angioedema, and pregnancy
What lab work is especially important to watch with ACE inhibitors?
Potassium levels & liver function
In patients over the age of 50, what BP is our target goal?
140/90
What blood pressure reading is an emergency?
A diastolic pressure that is greater than 120
What can you NOT do while on an ACE inhibitor?
get pregnant
If a patient is a diabetic and has hypertension, what do we need to treat them with?
ACE inhibitor + Diuretic
In a patient with hypertension, what are the most common diuretics we would use?
Hydrochlorothiazide or Chlorothalidone
Between Hydrochlorothiazide and Chlorothalidone, which is more potent?
Chlorothalidone – 2x the potency
In general, how to the diuretics work in the body? What is the goal?
They increase urinary sodium and water excretion, which decreases extracellular fluid and plasma volume which helps us reach the goal of decreasing total peripheral resistance.
: How do the thiazide diuretics work?
They inhibit the sodium-chloride symporter, increasing sodium and chloride excretion.
Are there any side effects to be concerned about with Thiazides?
QT prolongation, photosensitivity, nausea, and hypokalemia
If a patient has an allergy to sulfa, can they take a thiazide? If not, what is the alternative?
Nope, Ethacrinic acid