Pharmacology Flashcards

Flashcards covering antilipemic drugs, diuretic drugs and anemia drugs.

Hypercholesteremia

High levels of cholesterol in the blood.

Antilipemic drugs uses

Lower lipid levels to help prevent progression of diseases associated with hypercholesterolemia.

Antilipemic drugs expected outcomes

Increase HDL, Decrease LDL, Decrease triglyceride levels, Slow progression or prevent CAD.

Patient teaching: diet and hypercholesterolemia

Eat a healthy diet, increase fiber intake, decrease fat intake.

Patient teaching: exercise and hypercholesterolemia

Exercise is still important.

Patient teaching: fat-soluble vitamins and hypercholesterolemia

Decrease levels of fat-soluble vitamins; assess for altered vitamin absorption.

Patient teaching: constipation and hypercholesterolemia

Constipation is common; increase fiber/fluid intake.

Patient teaching: hypercholesterolemia medication duration

These medications will not cure hypercholesterolemia.

Antilipemic drugs during pregnancy

Do not use during pregnancy.

Patient teaching: monitoring during antilipemic drug therapy

Lipid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels will be checked regularly.

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins)

Pravastatin, atorvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin.

Patient teaching: rhabdomyolysis with statins

Can cause rhabdomyolysis; report any muscle pain/weakness or symptoms to provider.

Patient teaching: taking statins with water

Take with 8 oz of water.

Patient teaching: therapeutic duration of statins

Takes several weeks to be therapeutic.

Patient teaching: statin liver/renal monitoring

Monitor renal/liver function.

Patient teaching: statin and grapefruit juice interaction

Avoid grapefruit juice.

Patient teaching: when is the best time of day to take statins?

Take in the evening.

Bile acid sequestrant

Cholestyramine.

Patient teaching: taking Bile acid sequestrant

Needs to be taken with meals, mixed in water, and 1 hour before or 4-6 hours after other medications.

Niacin

Medication to lower cholesterol that may initially cause cutaneous flushing.

Patient teaching: cutaneous flushing from niacin

May initially cause cutaneous flushing; give ibuprofen 30 minutes before to prevent discomfort.

Contraindications for niacin

Active bleeding, PUD, gout, liver disease.

Fibric acid derivatives

Gemfibrozil, fenofibrate.

Patient teaching: Fibric acid derivatives and rhabdomyolysis

Can cause rhabdomyolysis.

Contraindications: Fibric acid derivatives

Severe hepatic (liver) dysfunction.

Diuretics

Drugs that accelerate the rate of urine formation.

Diuretics used in the treatment of

Hypertension, heart failure (HF), and renal failure.

Diuretics result in

The removal of sodium and water.

Types of Diuretic Drugs

Loop diuretics, Osmotic diuretics, Potassium-sparing diuretics, Thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics.

Decreased fluid volume due to diuretics causes a reduction in:

Blood pressure, Pulmonary vascular resistance, Systemic vascular resistance, Central venous pressure, Left ventricular end-diastolic pressure.

Loop Diuretics

Furosemide, Bumetanide, Torsemide, Ethacrynic Acid.

Uses for Furosemide (Lasix)

Pulmonary edema and the edema associated with HF, liver disease, nephrotic syndrome, ascites, HTN.

Adverse Effects of Furosemide (Lasix)

Hypokalemia, ototoxicity, dizziness, hypotension photosensitivity, SJS

Nursing considerations and patient education for Furosemide

Monitor for hypokalemia; check potassium levels before administration, best taken in the morning, eat potassium rich foods, monitor weight once a week, report to provider if -/+ 3lbs, monitor for sulfonamide allergy

Osmotic Diuretics

Mannitol

Mannitol MOA

Inhibits resorption of water and solutes causing rapid diuresis

Mannitol Used for

Cerebral edema, increased ICP, acute renal failure in oliguric phase, promote excretion of toxic substances

Mannitol Contraindications

Severe renal disease, pulmonary edema, active intracranial bleeds

Thiazide and Thiazide-Like Diuretics

Hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide MOA

Inhibits tubular resorption of sodium, chloride, and potassium ions; result is excretion of water and electrolytes (i.e. sodium, chloride, potassium)

Hydrochlorothiazide Uses

First line treatment to reduce blood pressure if hypertensive, heart failure, diabetes insipidus, edematous states

Potassium-Sparing Diuretics

Spironolactone

Spironolactone (Aldactone) MOA

Competitively block aldosterone receptors and inhibit their action to block resorption of sodium and water which then promotes the excretion of sodium and water ; also prevents potassium secretion

Spironolactone (Aldactone) Contraindications

Hyperkalemia, renal failure

Hematopoiesis

Formation of new blood cells

Erythropoiesis

Formation of Red blood cells (RBCs)

Epoetin alfa (Epogen) MOA

Promotes synthesis of erythrocytes by stimulating RBC progenitor cells in bone marrow.

Epoetin alfa (Epogen) USE

Used to treat anemia, a condition characterized by a deficiency of red blood cells. It stimulates the bone marrow to produce more red blood cells, increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Supplemental Iron

Essential mineral in the body; oxygen carrier in hemoglobin and myoglobin

Folic Acid MOA

Converted in the body to tetrahydrofolic acid which is used for erythropoiesis