Unit 5: Cardiovascular Drugs Flashcards
The PARASYMPATHETIC portion of the autonomic nervous system is primarily
ADRENERGIC or CHOLINERGIC?
CHOLINERGIC
The SYMPATHETIC portion of the autonomic nervous system is primarily
ADRENERGIC or CHOLINERGIC?
ADRENERGIC
When alpha-1 adrenergic receptors are stimulated, what results? (Think: cardiovascular)
VASOCONSTRICTION
When alpha-2 adrenergic receptors are stimulated, what results?
Affect postsynaptic nerve terminals (nerve itself) —> affects neurotransmitter release —> STIMULATES CNS
When beta-1 adrenergic receptors are stimulated, what is the primary result?
Cardiac stimulation: INCREASED HEART RATE
When beta-2 adrenergic receptors are stimulated, what is the primary result?
DILATION/RELAXATION of SMOOTH MUSCLE:
—decreased BP
—bronchodilation
—glycogenolysis —> increase in serum glucose
What do SNS Agonists do?
— Stimulate BETA-1: increase contractility, increase heart rate
— Stimulate BETA-2: vasodilation
— Stimulate ALPHA-1: vasoconstriction
Name 4 SNS AGONISTS used in the ACUTE setting:
- Dopamine
- Dobutamine
- Epinephrine
- Norepinephrine
What is DOPAMINE, and what does it do?
— SNS Agonist to DOPAMINE receptors
— effects are DOSE-DEPENDENT
— LOW DOSE: renal and coronary vasodilation, stimulates BETA-1 in the heart which increases heart rate and cardiac output
— HIGH DOSE: more ALPHA stimulation —> VASOCONSTRICTION
What is DOBUTAMINE, and what does it do?
— adrenergic AGONIST
— stimulates BETA-2
— stimulates BETA-1 to increase contractility
— TX: cardiogenic shock and severe heart failure
What is EPINEPHRINE, and what does it do?
- SNS agonist with preference for BETA-1
- - increases contractility and heart rate
What is NOREPINEPHRINE, and what does it do?
- SNS agonist with preference for ALPHA receptors
- - increases vasoconstriction and blood pressure
RISKS of SNS agonists
- stimulation of adrenergic system can PRECIPITATE ARRHYTHMIAS d/t tachycardia
- tachycardia can lead to DECREASED CARDIAC OUTPUT
- ISCHEMIA AND TISSUE DAMAGE due to vasoconstriction:
- – coronary arteries –> ischemia
- – splanchnic circulation –> ischemia
- – peripheral vessels –> decreased circulation to hands and feet –> tissue damage
Define splanchnic circulation
gut circulation
Name drugs with SNS agonist effects (but are not SNS agonists)
milrinone
vasopressin
What is MILRINONE, and what does it do?
phosphodiesterase inhibitor
increases contractility
vasodilation
good for beta blocker overdoses
What is VASOPRESSIN, and what does it do?
vasopressor
contracts smooth muscles
no effect on heart rate or contractility because it does not work on the CNS
improvement in BP due to vasoconstriction
What is DIGOXIN, and what does it do?
inhibits Na/K pump –> improves contractility to slow heart rate
USED in heart failure to improve symptoms; but DOES NOT improve mortality
ADVERSE EFFECTS of DIGOXIN
brady arrhythmias, especially if K+ is too low
ANTIDOTE to DIGOXIN
DIGIBIND
When is DIGIBIND used?
For life-threatening dysrhythmias/overdose due to/of digoxin
What is MIDODRINE, and what is it used for?
oral pressor
metabolized in body; active metabolite is an ALPHA-1 agonist
TX: orthostatic hypotension
What is FLUDROCORTISONE, and what is it used for?
synthetic corticosteroid
increases blood volume due to increased sodium and water retention
TX: orthostatic hypotension
What do ALPHA-1 BLOCKERS do to the CV SYSTEM?
vasodilation via peripheral arterioles
Name 4 ALPHA-1 BLOCKERS
- terazosin
- prazosin
- doxazosin
- tamsulosin
What is key to remember about the ALPHA-1 BLOCKERS?
1st dose precipitous hypotension –> use low 1st dose
How do the ALPHA-2 AGONISTS work?
vasodilation
ALPHA-2 stimulates CNS –> inhibits NE release –> inhibits vasoconstriction –> VASODILATION
Name 2 ALPHA-2 AGONISTS
- clonidine
2. methyldopa
What is clonidine used for?
- hypertension
2. relaxation
METHYLDOPA is rarely used; what do we use it for, and what is unique about it?
hypertension
one of the rare BP meds that are okay to use in pregnancy
What beta blocker is good for heart failure as it also has an alpha-blocking effect?
carvedilol
Name 7 beta blockers
- metoprolol
- labetalol
- atenolol
- bisoprolol
- esmolol
- carvedilol
- nebivolol
What beta blocker is nonselective, but selective at very low doses?
nebivolol
What beta blocker is good for aortic dissection because it cuts down on the shear force?
labetalol
What beta blockers also have alpha blocking effects?
labetalol
carvedilol
What to watch for with beta blockers?
BRONCOCONSTRICTION due to blocking of beta-2, especially in asthmatics
(BETA-2 agonism causes broncodilation)
BRADYCARDIA
HYPOTENSION
Why do we often prefer selective beta blockers?
less likely to block beta-2 and cause issues for asthmatics
What can happen with abrupt withdrawal of beta blockers?
hypertension
tachycardia
When can rebound hypertension or tachycardia (from beta blocker withdrawal) cause ANGINA or MI?
in a patient with CAD