Stuff to Learn - Notes Flashcards
What Chads-Vasc scores would warrant anticoagulation treatment for men & women with AF ?
Women = score of 2 or more Men = score of 1 or more
What are the treatment options for rate control in AF?
Monotherapy 1st Line: Β Blocker OR Rate-Limiting CCB (or Digoxin if have congestive heart failure/sedentary)
Dual Therapy 2nd Line: B blocker/CCB with Digoxin (HF ideally B blocker licensed for HF with Dig)
3rd Line: Rhythm Control
True or False, rate-limiting CCB’s are contraindicated in HF?
True.
Why should you wait before doing cardio version for AF if symptoms present for > 48 hours?
Increased risk of stroke:
- wait and anticoagulate 3 weeks before + 4 weeks after cardio version
- give rate control in the meantime
What are the drugs used in pharmacological cardio version?
Flecainide - if no structural/ischaemc heart disease
Amiodarone - if there is structural heart disease, start 4 weeks before electrical cardioversion + continue up to 12 months
Treatment options of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation?
paroxysmal = episode resolves in 48 hrs without tx
- symptomatic: β blocker
- pill in pocket (infrequent episodes): flecainide/propafenone
Treatment options for paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmias
will terminate spontaneously
1st Line: Adenosine (C/I in asthma, COPD, HF)
2nd Line: Verapamil IV
Treatment in ventricular tachycardia
Medical Emergency
- Direct Cardioversion + CPR
- IV Amiodarone + Cardioversion repeated
Flecainide/Propafenone?
Contraindications: Heart Block, Structural Heart Disease, Heart Failure
Interactions: other anti-arrhythmias - can cause bradycardia, weaken the heart and QT prolongation (cardio-depression)
Adenosine
Used for Paroxysmal Supra-ventricular Tachycardia’s - injected to restore
- Contraindicated: Asthma, COPD, Heart Failure, Heart Block
- Side Effects: once injected - bradycardia + asystole, initially get a sense of impending doom and sinking feeling in the chest (but short duration of action)
Sotalol
Water-Sol Β Blocker - main thing = QT !
- Contraindicated: Long QT Syndrome
- Cautions: severe diarrhoea/prolonged - potassium changes and can cause arrhythmias
- Side Effects: life threatening arrhythmias due to QT !
- Renally Cleared - need dose reductions CrCl < 60
- Monitoring: ECG, potassium, QT
Diltiazem/Verapamil - Contraindications
- Contraindications: HEART FAILURE, bradycardia, heart block
- Cautions: poor LV function - can precipitate HF
Which CCB can be used in heart failure?
ONLY Amlodipine
Diltiazem/Verapamil - Interactions
- Β Blockers - can cause heart failure, bradycardia, systole
- Grapefruit Juice
- Statins
Dilitiazem/Verpamil Side Effects
- CONSTIPATION
- hypotension/bradycardia, cardiac failure
- other CCB side effects such as ankle swelling, flushing, headache, palpitations
Verapamil is MORE cardioselective than Diltiazem - so will have less of the other CCB side effects like ankle swelling
Pharmacological Prophylaxis for Surgical Patients
LMWH/Fondaparinux/Heparin
- 7 days post-op for general surgery
- 28 days post-op for abdominal cancer surgery
- elective hip: LMWH for 10 days + Aspirin for 28 days OR LMWH for 28 days OR Rivaroxaban
- elective knee: low-dose aspirin for 14 days OR Rivaroxaban
Pharmacological Prophylaxis in Medical Patients
1st Line: LMWH
2nd Line: Fondaparinux
Renal Impairment: Heparin
Initial Treatment of DVT - doses
- Apixaban: 10mg BD for 7 days then 5mg BD
- Rivaroxaban: 15mg BD for 21 days then 20mg OD
- Edoxaban: 5 days of LMWH then 60mg OD
- Dabigatran: 5 days of LMWH then 150mg BD
- Warfarin: LMWH + Warfarin for 5 days/until INR at least 2 for 2 readings then continue Warfarin
Which DOACs require dose adjustments for VTE doses?
- Apixaban - don’t reduce dose based on age (80) or weight (< 60kg) like you do in AF
- Dabigatran - 110-150mg BD if 75-79 years OR if there’s renal impairment OR if taking Amiodarone/Verapamil
- Edoxaban - 30mg OD if < 60kg
How long to continue maintenance of VTE treatment?
3 months if provoked
> 3 months if unprovoked
Stroke Prevention in AF - doses
- Apixaban: 5mg BD
- Rivaroxaban: 20mg OD
- Edoxaban: 60mg OD
- Dabigatran: 150mg BD
/Warfarin - according to INR
Which DOACs require dose adjustments for VTE doses?
Apixaban: 2.5mg BD IF have any 2 of
- > 80 years
- < 60kg
- Cr > 133 (CrCl 15-30)
Rivaroxaban: 15mg OD IF CrCl 15-49
Edoxaban: 30mg OD IF
- < 60kg
- CrCl 15-50
- Concomitant tx with Dronedarone, Erythromycin, Ciclosporin
Dabigatran: 110mg BD if
- > 80 years
- Concomitant tx with Amiodarone/Verapamil
Renal cut-offs for DOAC reduced doses
Apixaban = CrCl 15-30 - reduce dose
Rivaroxaban = CrCl 15-50 - reduce dose
Edoxaban = CrCl 15-50 - reduce dose
Dabigatran = CrCl 30-50 - reduce dose
Side effects of Heparin + LMWH
- Hyperkalaemia - inhibits aldosterone secretion
- Skin Reactions/Injection Side Reactions
- Haemorrhages (Protamine)
- Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia (30% reduction in platelet counts, less likely with LMWHs)
Dose adjustments of LMWH
- Renal Impairment = CrCl 15-30
- Extremes of Body Weight (< 50, > 100)
Interactions with DOACs
- Enzyme Inducers - reduced effectiveness
- Enzyme Inhibitors - reduced doses may be needed
- Apixaban, Dabigatran, Rivaroxaban - DON’T use SYSTEMIC azoles or HIV protease inhibitors
- Dabigatran + Rivaroxaban - DON’T use dronaderone
Dabigatran
- Verapamil + Amiodarone = dose reductions
- C/I = inducers + inhibitors (other DOACs are cautioned)
Edoxaban + NSAIDs = C/I
Dose reductions of Dabigatran required with these concomitant drugs
- Verapamil
- Amiodarone
Dose reductions of Edoxaban required with these concomitant drugs
- Ciclosporin
- Dronedarone
- Erythromycin
- Ketoconazole
Aspirin Side Effects + Caution
- Bronchospasm - cautioned in asthma
- GI Bleeds/Ulceration - contraindicated in active disease, may need PPI protection
Clopidogrel Interactions
Clopidogrel is a pro-drug + needs to be metabolised in order to get the active form
Inhibitors of the CYP 450s:
- Omeprazole
- Ciprofloxacin
- Erythromycin
- Antifungals
- SSRIs
Side Effects of Dipyridamole
Dipyridamole - alternative to Clopi/Aspirin
Causes vasodilation + tachycardia - so careful in some conditions
- diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting
- dizziness, headache, flushing
Stages of Hypertension
Stage 1: 140/90 to 160/100 = treat at risk patients
(< 60 yrs with a > 10% CVD risk, over 80s with BP of 150/90) + consider treatment in others at risk
Stage 2: 160/100 to 180/120 = treat all patients
Stage 3: >180/120 = severe, treat same day