blood thinners, cholesterol, and diabetes medications - amanda pharmD

anticoagulants

blood "thinners" (don't actually thin the blood); prevent blood clots from forming to protect against heart attacks and strokes

vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant

block vitamin K, which is involved in the clotting process

warfarin

vitamin K antagonist; coumadin

direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs)

direct (clotting) factor Xa inhibitors

direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) suffix

-aban

apixaban

factor Xa inhibitor (DOAC); eliquis

rivaroxaban

factor Xa inhibitor (DOAC); xarelto

antiplatelets

platelet aggregation inhibitors; not technically anticoagulants but work by preventing platelets from sticking together to decrease risk of heat attack or stroke

aspirin

antiplatelets; ecotrin

clopidogrel

antiplatelets; plavix

HMG CoA reductase inhibitors

"statins;" reduce production of cholesterol made by the liver

HMG CoA reductase inhibitors suffix

-statin

atorvastatin

HMG CoA reductase inhibitor; lipitor

simvastatin

HMG CoA reductase inhibitor; zocor

rosuvastatin

HMG CoA reductase inhibitor; crestor

pravastatin

HMG CoA reductase inhibitor; pravachol

lovastatin

HMG CoA reductase inhibitor; mevacor, altoprev

other cholesterol medications: fenofibrate

reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels; tricor

other cholesterol medications: omega-3-acid ethyl esters

reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels; lovaza

other cholesterol medications: ezetimibe

inhibit intestinal absorption of dietary cholesterol; zetia

diabetes medications

can be taken by mouth or injected

sulfonylureas

taken by mouth; oldest diabetes meds available; increase insulin release from beta cells of the pancreas

glipizide

sulfonylurea; glucotrol

glimepiride

sulfonylurea; amaryl

biguanides

sulfonylureas

also taken by mouth; reduce the amount of sugar produced by the liver, reduce the amount of sugar absorbed in the intestines, and increase insulin sensitivity

metformin

biguanide; glucophage

DPP-4 inhibitors (dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors)

sulfonylureas

taken by mouth; slow the inactivation/degradation of GLP-1, an incretin hormone which triggers insulin release to lower blood sugar

DPP-4 inhibitors suffix

-gliptin

linagliptin

DPP-4 inhibitor; tradjenta

sitagliptin

DPP-4 inhibitor; januvia

metformin/sitagliptin

DPP-4 inhibitor; janumet

TZDs (thiazolidinediones)

sulfonylureas

taken by mouth; known as "glitazones;" increase the senstivity of cells to insulin (decreases insulin resistance)

TZD suffix

-glitazone

pioglitazone

TZD; actos

SGLT-2 inhibitors (sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors)

sulfonylureas

taken by mouth; known as "gliflozins;" cause more glucose to be excreted into the urine instead of reabsorbed into the body

SGLT-2 inhibitors suffix

-gliflozin

canagliflozin

SGLT-2 inhibitor; invokana

GLP-1 analogs (glucagon-like peptide 1 agonists)

injectables; also known as "incretin mimetics;" mimic incretin hormone GLP-1 produced in GI tract after a meal, causing increased release of insulin from the pancreas

GLP-1 analog suffix

-glutide OR -atide

liraglutide

GLP-1 analog; victoza

dulaglutide

GLP-1 analog; trulicity

insulins

injectables; take the place of insulin that is normally produced by the body to move glucose out of the blood into other body tissues where it is used for energy

different types of insulins

rapid, short, intermediate, and long-acting

(rapid and long are in top 200 drugs)

insulins - rapid acting

onset within 30 minutes; duration 3-5 hours

insulin lispro

insulin - rapid acting; humalog

insulin aspart

insulin - rapid acting; novolog

insulin - long acting

onset within 2 hours; duration up to 24 hours (up to 45 hours with insulin degludec)

insulin glargine

insulin - long acting; lantus, basaglar

insulin detemir

insulin - long acting; levemir

insulin degludec

insulin - long acting; tresiba