Pharmacology Flashcards
Calcium Channel Blockers - Examples
DHP: amlodipine, nimodipine, nifedipine
Non-DHP: diltiazem, verapamil
First line HTN therapy for diabetics or CHF
ACE inhibitors/ARBs
Calcium Channel Blockers - Mechanism
Block Ca++ channels, reducing muscle contractility of cardiac and smooth muscle.
Vascular smooth muscle: A=N>D>V
Cardiac muscle: opposite
Which calcium channel blocker acts like a beta blocker? Which one acts like a nitro drug?
Verapamil has much more activity on the heart than smooth muscle. Decreases afterload, similar to a beta blocker.
Nifedipine has more activity at smooth muscle, decreasing preload like a nitro.
Hydralazine - mechanism, clinical use, and toxicity
Increases cGMP –> smooth muscle relaxation. Affects arterioles, decreases afterload.
First line therapy for HTN in pregnancy. Also used for severe HTN and CHF.
Toxicity includes cardiac depression, AV block, edema, flushing, dizziness, hyperprolacinemia, constipation.
Often given with beta blocker for reflex tachycardia.
Nitroprusside
Short acting vasodilator for hypertensive emergency. Increases cGMP by direct release of NO. Also releases cyanide.
Fenoldopam
Dopamine D1 receptor agonist –> vasodilator.
Nitroglycerine, isosorbide dinitrate
Nitro drugs that increase NO, causing vasodilation in vascular smooth muscle via cGMP.
Affect veins preferentially –> decrease preload
Toxicity: reflex tachycardia (co administer with beta blockers), hypotension, flushing, headache.
Interacts with PDE inhibitors (ED drugs) to dangerously increase cGMP –> hypotension
Antianginal therapy
Nitrates and beta blockers
Statins - examples
lovastatin, pravastatin, simvastatin, atorvastatin, rosuvastatin, and all sorts of thing that end with statin.
Statins - mechanism of action, effects on LDL, HDL, triglycerides
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (inhibit cholesterol synthesis)
LDL: large decrease
HDL: small increase
Triglycerides: small decrease
Statins - toxicity
Hepatotoxicity - check LFTs
Rhabdomyolysis
Niacin (B3) - mechanism, LDL, HDL, Triglycerides
Inhibits lipolysis in adipose tissue, lowers hepatic VLDL synthesis (a precursor to LDL)
LDL: moderate decrease
HDL: moderate increase
Triglycerides: small decrease
Bile acid resins - examples
Cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam
Niacin - toxicity
Red flushed face, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia (bad for gout)
Bile acid resins - mechanism, LDL, HDL, triglycerides
Prevents intestinal reabsorption of bile acids so the liver must use up cholesterol to make more.
LDL: moderate decrease
HDL: slight increase
Triglycerides: slight increase
Cholestyramine, colestipol, colesevelam toxicity
GI discomfort, decreased absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, cholesterol gallstones
Ezetimibe
Cholesterol absorption blocker at small intestine brush border. Decreases LDL, no effect on HDL or triglycerides.
Toxicity = diarrhea
Fibrates - examples
gemfibrozil, clofibrate, vezafibrate, fenofibrate
Fibrates - mechanism and effects
Upregulates lipoprotein lipase, increasing triglyceride clearance. Also activates HDL synthesis.
Large decrease in triglycerides. Small increase in HDL, decrease in LDL.
Fibrates - toxicity
Myositis (especially with statins)
Hepatotoxicity
Cholesterol bile stones
Cardiac glycosides - examples and differences
Digitalis: long half life, eliminated by liver
Digoxin: shorter half life, eliminated by kidney
Digitoxin: longer half life, eliminated by liver
Cardiac glycosides - mechanism
Digitalis/digoxin
Competes with K+ at Na/K ATPase –> increased intracellular Na+ –> inhibition of Na+/Ca++ exchanger –> cell doesn’t pump Ca++ out, high [Ca++] –> positive inotropy, increased contractility. Stimulates vagus nerve to decrease HR.