10/16 - Rx Counseling Points

Cholesterol drugs?

Ezetimibe → blocks cholesterol absorption

Atorvastatin → statin; lowers LDL

Fenofibrate → lowers triglycerides

Chest pain drug?

Sublingual nitroglycerin → relieves an angina attack

Diabetes / heart and kidney protection?

Empagliflozin → lowers glucose and can benefit HF and CKD

Blood thinners?

Apixaban → oral anticoagulant

Enoxaparin → injectable anticoagulant

Diuretics?

Furosemide → loop diuretic; removes lots of fluid

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) → lowers BP, increases urination

Spironolactone → potassium-sparing; helps HF, retains potassium

ACE/ARB protect heart / kidneys?

Lisinopril → ACEi

Valsartan → ARB

Slow the heart BB?

Carvedilol → HF and BP

Metoprolol → BP and certain heart conditions

Relax blood vessels, CCB?

Amlodipine

Furosemide?

Benefit → Removes extra fluid and reduces swelling

Side effects → Frequent urination, dehydration, low potassium

Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)?

Benefit → Lowers blood pressure by removing extra salt and water

Side effects → Frequent urination, dizziness, low potassium

Spironolactone?

Benefit → Helps manage heart failure and blood pressure

Side effects → High potassium, breast tenderness or enlargement

Lisinopril

Benefit → Lowers blood pressure and helps protect the heart.

Side effects → Dry cough, dizziness, high potassium.

Serious warning → Swelling of the face or throat requires emergency care.

Valsartan

Benefit → Lowers blood pressure and helps manage heart failure

Side effects → Dizziness, high potassium

Carvedilol

Benefit → Lowers blood pressure and helps the heart work more efficiently in heart failure

Side effects → Slow heart rate, dizziness, fatigue

Take with food

Metoprolol?

Benefit → Lowers blood pressure and heart rate

Side effects → Slow heart rate, fatigue, dizziness

Amlodipine?

Benefit → Relaxes blood vessels to lower blood pressure

Side effects → Ankle swelling, headache, dizziness

Ezetimibe?

Benefit → Lowers LDL

Side effects → Diarrhea, joint pain

Atorvastatin?

Benefit → Lowers LDL

Side effects → Muscle pain, stomach upset

Counseling → Report unexplained muscle pain or weakness, especially with dark urine

Fenofibrate?

Benefit → Lowers triglycerides

Side effects → Stomach upset, muscle injury is possible.

Report unusual muscle pain

Sublingual nitroglycerin?

Benefit → Quickly relieves angina (chest pain).

Side effects → Headache, dizziness, low blood pressure.

Counseling → Sit down and place under the tongue. If chest pain persists 5 minutes after the first dose, call 911

Never combine with sildenafil, tadalafil, or similar erectile dysfunction drugs.

Empagliflozin?

Benefit → Lowers blood sugar

Side effects → Genital yeast infections, increased urination, dehydration

Counseling → Stay hydrated; report nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or unusual breathing because ketoacidosis can occur even if blood sugar isn't very high.

Apixaban?

Benefit → Prevents blood clots and reduces stroke risk

Side effects → Bleeding, easy bruising

Don't stop without medical guidance

Report unusual bleeding

Enoxaparin?

Benefit → Prevents blood clots

Side effects → Bleeding, bruising at the injection site

Counseling → Inject under the skin as instructed; don't rub the injection site after injecting