Pharmacology - Chapter 45 - Vasodilators

Question 1

What are vasodilators used for? (6)

Answer 1

Essential hypertension, angina pectoris, heart failure, myocardial infarction, pheochromocytoma (tumor of chromaffin tissue of adrenal medulla), and peripheral vascular disease.

Question 2

What are the adverse effects of Vasodilators?

Answer 2

Postural Hypotension, Reflex Tachycardia, and Expansion of blood volume.

Question 3

Hydralazine (Apresoline) - What does it do?

Answer 3

Direct dilation of arterioles. The mechanism is unknown.

Question 4

Hydralazine - never used with a beta blocker. T/F?

Answer 4

False - it is usually used with a beta blocker.

Question 5

Hydralazine - can cause __ ___ ___.

Answer 5

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus like syndrome. (Acute rheumatoid syndrome closely resembles SLE, which is characterized by muscle pain, joint pain, fever, nephritis, pericarditis.

Question 6

Minoxidil (Loniten) - What does it do?

Answer 6

Directly dilates the arterioles.

Question 7

What are the adverse effects of Minoxidil (Loniten) ?

Answer 7

Reflex tachycardia, sodium and water retention, hypertrichosis (excessive growth of hair), and pericardia effusion (fluid accumulation beneath the pericardium.)

Question 8

Sodium Nitroprusside (Nipride) - what does it do?

Answer 8

Potent venous and arterial vasodilator.

Question 9

What are the adverse effects of Sodium Nitroprusside (Nipride) ?

Answer 9

Thiocynate (metabolite of nitroprusside) toxicity, cyanide poisoning, and excessive hypotension.

Question 10

What are some other vasodilators?

Answer 10

ACE inhibitors, Angiotensin 2 receptor antagonist, Organic Nitrates, CCB, and Sympatholytics (drugs that promote dilation by preventing SNS from causing vasoconstriction.)