Review of Cardiac Medications

These flashcards cover key terminologies and definitions for various cardiac medications, their mechanisms of action, indications, side effects, and dosages.

Calcium Chloride 10%

Medication that increases myocardial contractility and vasoconstriction. Used as a premedication to Diltiazem for hypotensive patients, suspected hyperkalemia, and cardiac arrest from calcium channel blocker overdose.

Epinephrine

A catecholamine with alpha and beta effects used for cardiac arrests, symptomatic bradycardia, shock unresponsive to fluids, anaphylaxis, and severe airway constrictions.

Adenosine

A drug that slows conduction through the AV node, used for converting Paroxysmal Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia (PSVT) to Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR).

Amiodarone

An antiarrhythmic medication that slows conduction and reduces automaticity in the ventricles, indicated for refractory sustained ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia.

Aspirin

Medication that disrupts platelet aggregation, typically indicated for acute coronary syndrome.

Atropine Sulfate

An anticholinergic medication that blocks vagal stimulation to increase conduction through the AV node, used in symptomatic bradycardias and organophosphate poisonings.

Calcium Gluconate

A medication that increases myocardial contractility and is indicated for suspected hyperkalemia and calcium channel blocker overdose.

Diltiazem

A calcium channel blocker that slows conduction through SA and AV nodes, indicated for rapid ventricular response in atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or PSVT.

Dopamine

A vasopressor with dose-dependent action stimulating alpha and beta receptors, indicated for cardiogenic shock.

Magnesium Sulfate

An antiarrhythmic cation that stabilizes smooth and cardiac muscle contractility, indicated for polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and eclamptic seizures.

Norepinephrine (Levophed)

A potent vasopressor primarily stimulating alpha receptors with some beta-1 effects, used for severe hypotension and shock states unresponsive to fluid resuscitation.

Sodium Bicarbonate

An alkalizing agent used to treat metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and specific intoxications (e.g., tricyclic antidepressant overdose).

Lidocaine

An antiarrhythmic medication that suppresses ventricular ectopy and increases the fibrillation threshold, indicated for stable monomorphic ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation refractory to amiodarone.

Nitroglycerin

A vasodilator used to reduce cardiac preload and afterload, indicated for chest pain associated with acute coronary syndrome and acute pulmonary edema.

Esmolol (Brevibloc)

A cardioselective beta-1 adrenergic blocker used for rapid control of heart rate in intraoperative or critically ill patients, particularly for tachycardia or hypertension.

Furosemide (Lasix)

A loop diuretic used to treat edema and hypertension by promoting renal excretion of water and electrolytes.