Hypertension: Pharmacology - Imig Flashcards
Explain the distribution and relative risk of blood pressure.
Blood pressure has a normal distribution; those with elevated BP have exponentially increased risks of stroke and CVD.
Which patient demographic is at highest risk of hypertension (think age, gender)
Post-menopausal women.
About 25-30% of US adults have hypertension. About how many of those are not controlling their hypertension? Why?
Just over half are uncontrolled, of which many are simply unaware of their hypertension.
Vasodilators
Describe how they decrease blood pressure.
Give some examples.
Vasodilators
Directly decrease vascular tone via multiple pathways (NO>>cGMP, K+-ATPase, dopamine antagonism)
Hydralazine, Nitroprusside, Diazoxide, Minoxidil, Fenoldopam
Why are direct arterial vasodilators often coadministered with a beta-blocker?
The beta-blocker will counter the resulting baroreceptive reflex (tachycardia, renin release).
What defines a hypertensive crisis?
Distinguish between hypertensive urgency and emergency.
How are they handled?
BP >180/120mm Hg.
Urgency features no organ injury. Emergency does (eg encephalopathy, hemorrhage, LV failure, eclampsia, UA, dissecting aneurysm)
Reduce blood pressure (GRADUALLY).
Fill in the blank:
Nitroprusside is a vasodilator that acts mainly on the ____ circulation, producing NO to activate ____. Its major toxicity is ____, made worse by ____.
Nitroprusside is a vasodilator that acts mainly on the venous circulation, producing NO to activate GC/cGMP. Its major toxicity is cyanide toxicity, made worse by renal or hepatic injury.
What are the side effects of direct arterial vasodilators? (general AND specific)
With what should they be co-administered?
General: Sodium/fluid retention, tachycardia/angina.
Specific: Hydralazine causes lupus-like syndrome, Minoxidil causes hair growth.
Counteract the general SEs with diuretics and beta-blockers.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Describe how they decrease blood pressure.
Give some examples.
Calcium Channel Blockers
They decrease vascular tone, and sometimes decrease heart chronotropy/inotropy.
Nifedipine, Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Verapamil.
Distinguish between the mechanisms of actions of DHPs and non-DHP CCBs.
Describe their side effects.
DHPs act more on vascular tissue, while non-DHPs act more on heart tissue (decrease HR and AVN conduction).
Both cause flushing and headaches. nonDHPs cause constipation and –Inotropy/AVN conduction, while DHPs (mostly nifedipine) cause edema and “refractoriness”.
Try to recall the locations and effects of the adrenergic receptors: α1, α2, β1, β2.
α1 in arterioles (vasoconstriction of skin & splanchnics) & kidneys (increased renin)
α2 in many presynaptic terminals (negative feedback)
β1 in heart (++ino/chrono), kidneys (increased renin)
β2 in lungs (bronchodilation)
a1/a2 Blockers
Describe how they decrease blood pressure.
Give some examples.
a1/a2 Blockers
Decrease vascular tone by blocking SNS constriction.
Phenoxybenzamine, Phentolamine.
How are a1 blockers superior to a1/a2 blockers?
Do they competitively or noncompetitively block a1?
When should they be administered?
Blockage of a2 blocks negative feedback via the presynaptic receptors; a1 blockers avoid this (net better SNS blocking)
Competitive.
At bedtime to minimize SEs.
a1 Blockers
Give some examples.
Name their side effects (general and specific)
a1 Blockers
Prazosin, Terazosin, Doxazosin.
First dose effect results in orthostatic hypotension, dizziness/faintness, palpitations, syncope. Still some reflex tachycardia.
ß-Blockers
Describe how they decrease blood pressure.
Give some examples.
ß-Blockers
Block stimulation of renin secretion, as well as heart inotropy/chronotropy.
Propranolol, Metoprolol, Atenolol, Labetalol… about 10 others.
Recall some of the side effects of beta blockers.
What do most of these result from?
Which beta blockers avoid these effects?
Glucose intolerance, masked hypoglycemia, bronchospasm, altered lipid profile, CNS depression, impotence, decreased CO/HR…
Many of these result from ß-2 blockage.
The cardioselective beta blockers (metoprolol, atenolol) do not have these effects at low dosage. Better for those with bronchospasm, diabetes, PAD…
Are beta blockers indicated for patients with high-renin HTN?
How does age affect beta-blocker usage?
Yes; beta blockers are much more effective in these patients than in those with low renin.
Beta blockers are less effective in older adults, and are best paired with diuretics then.
What category do labetalol and carvedilol fall under?
What are their side effects?
These are mixed a1/ß blockers. (competitive inhibitors)
MIld orthostatic hypotension & headaches.