Cardiac meds ❤️

furosemide drug class

loop diurtetic

furosemide thereptuic uses

• HTN, pulmonary edema, conditions with fluid volume overload (HF)

furosemide complications

• Dehydration, hypovolemia

• Electrolyte imbalances

  • Hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia

• Hypotension

• Ototoxicity

Digoxin toxicity can result when there is a state of

hypokalemia

Patients taking furosemide may need what supplementation

may need potassium supplementation based on levels of potassium

mixing loop diruetics and digoxin can increase risk for 

hypokalemia 

Thiazide Diuretics thereputic uses

HTN, fluid volume overload,

*not ototoxic 

Thiazide Diuretics complications 

• Dehydration

• Hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypochloremia

• Hyperglycemia

ACEi thereptuc uses

HTN, HF, MI

ACEi complications

• Orthostatic hypotension

• Cough

• Hyperkalemia

• Rash

• Angioedema 

• Neutropenia

metoprolol drug class 

cardioselective B1 blocker 

metoprolo thereputic uses

HTN, angina, tachydysrhythmias, HF, MI,

metoprolo complications

• Bradycardia

• Decreased cardiac output, AV block

• Orthostatic hypotension

propranolol drug class 

nonselective B1 and B2 blocker 

propranolol thereputic uses

HTN, angina, tachydysrhythmias, HF, MI,

propranolol complciations

• B₁ blockade

• Bronchoconstriction 

• Hypoglycemia

what are some CCB medications

Amlodipine (Norvasc), Nifedipine (Procardia), Diltiazem (Cardizem) and Verapamil (Calan). Nicardipine (Cardene)

CCB uses

HTN, angina, dysrythmias

nitroprusside drug class

centrally acting vasodilator

nitroprusside uses

HTN crisi

what medications can be given during HTN crisis

nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, nicardipine, labetolol

digoxin drug class 

cardiac glycosides 

digoxin thereptuic uses

2nd line agent HF, dysrythmias

digoxin complications

• Dysrhythmias, cardiotoxicity

  • Bradycardia

  • Hypokalemia at high risk

• GI: anorexia, NV, abdominal pain

• CNS: fatigue, weakness, vision changes

digoxin could be dangerous in people with

hypokalemia

lidocaine drug class

class 1B antidysrythmic

lidocaine uses

• Short-term use only for ventricular dysrhythmias

lidocaine MOA

Block the fast Na+ channels… affect impulse conduction, excitability, and automaticity

MoA: in the atria, ventricles, and His-Purkinje system: 

• ⇩ electrical conduction

• ⇩ automaticity

• ⇧ rate of repolarization

propranolol as an antidysrythmic can be used to treat

• AF, A-Flutter, SVT, HTN, recurrent VT, exercise-induced tachydysrhythmias

amiodarone drug class 

Class III Antidysrhythmics

amiodarone uses

• VF, VT, AF

amiodarone complications

• Pulmonary toxicity

• Sinus bradycardia

• AV block

• Liver/thyroid dysfunction

• GI disturbances

• Photosensitivity

• Phlebitis (IV)

amiodarone must be given 

through central line bc risk for extravasion

amiodarone MOA

• Delays repolarization

• Prolongs action potential

• Reduced automaticity in the SA node

• Reduced contractility and conduction in the AV node, ventricles, and His-Purkinje system

• Dilates coronary blood vessels

verapamil as an antidysrythmic is used for

• Vent rate control in AF and A-Flutter, SVT, HTN, angina

verapamil effect on heart 

⇩ force of myocardial contractility, thereby ⇩ myocardial O2 demand

propranolol effect on heart

⇩ HR and cardiac contractility

morphine affect on heart 

Reduces anxiety which ⇩ O2 demand of heart 

(careful not to give too much bs it can reduce RR)

nitroglycerin thereptuc uses

• Acute angina, px chronic stable angina

nitroglycerin affect on heart 

• Dilates veins and ⇩ preload which ⇩ O2 demand (chronic angina)

• Reduces CA spasm, ⇧ O2 supply

nitroglycerin complications

• HA

• Orthostatic hypotension

• Reflex tachycardia

• Tolerance

atorvostatin uses

Primary hypercholesterolemia, px coronary events, px MI and stroke

atorvostatin complications

• Hepatotoxicity

• Myopathy

what are some vasoconstricitng medications

Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, Phenylephrine, and Dopamine

heparin drug class

anticoagulant 

heparin thereptuic uses

• Stroke, PE, massive DVT

• Postop VTE prophylaxis

enoxaprin drug class

low molecular weight heparins

enoxaprin uses

• DVT and PE

• Postop VTE prophylaxis

asparin uses 

• MI prevention

• Stroke prevention

asparin MOA

prevents platelets from clumping together by inhibiting enzymes and factors that normally lead to arterial clotting

clopidogrel drug class

Antiplatelet/ADP Inhibitor

clopidogrel uses

• MI prevention

• Stroke prevention

• Acute coronary syndromes

clopidogrel MOA

prevents platelets from clumping together by inhibiting enzymes and factors that normally lead to arterial clotting

alteplase drug class

thrombolytics

alteplase uses

• Acute MI, massive PE, ischemic stroke

• Restore patency of central IV catheter

alteplase MOA

dissolve clots that have already formed

fibrates are used to

reduce high levels of plasma triglycerides.

increase HDL cholesterol but have minimal to no effect on LDL cholesterol.

benzodiazepine medications

diazepam and alprazolam

Benzodiazepines are used in cardiac care to manage symptoms of

stress and anxiety, such as in patients awaiting or undergoing procedures like coronary angiography, and to treat non-cardiac causes of chest pain, by providing anxiolytic, muscle relaxant, and analgesic effects

how is epinephrine used for cardiac care? what does it do? when is it used?  

Epinephrine is a critical medication used during cardiac arrest to help restore a heartbeat. It works as a vasopressor causing vasoconstriction which raises blood pressure and improves blood flow to the coronary arteries and brain. It will increase heart rate and contractility

how is dopamine used for cardiac care? what does it do? 

Dopamine is a peripheral vasostimulant used to treat low blood pressure, low heart rate, and cardiac arrest

atropine is used to

treat symptomatic bradycardia

hydralazine is used to

lower BP in HTN and HF

Adenosine affect on heart

slows heart electrical signals and dilates coronary blood vessels, leading to a temporary, slower heart rate and an increased blood flow to the heart

what are early signs of digoxin toxicity

onset of anorexia, nausea and/or vomiting, fatigue, and confusion can indicate that the serum digoxin is above the therapeutic level. A pulse rate that is irregular, if pulse is typically regular, and below 60 beats per minute are also indications of digoxin toxicity.