Medications - Cardiology

🩸 Anticoagulants – stop clots forming

  • Heparin – fast-acting, given IV/subcut to prevent clots in hospital

  • Warfarin – long-term tablet, used for AF or prosthetic heart valves

  • Dabigatran – direct thrombin blocker, used for stroke prevention (AF)

  • Rivaroxaban – factor Xa blocker, prevents DVT or PE

🧠 Think: “thin the blood, prevent clots”

💊 Antiplatelets – stop platelets sticking together

  • Aspirin – prevents heart attack & stroke

  • Clopidogrel – used with aspirin after stents or heart attack

🧠 Think: “stop sticky platelets”

❤ Antihypertensives – lower blood pressure

  • Sodium Nitroprusside (SNP) – fast IV BP control in theatre

  • Beta-blockers (Metoprolol, Labetalol, Esmolol) – slow HR & lower BP

  • Hydralazine – relaxes arteries, used in hypertension

  • Clonidine – lowers BP via the brain (central effect)

🧠 Think: “relax heart and vessels to drop BP”

💥 Vasopressors – raise BP (the opposite of above)

  • Adrenaline – for anaphylaxis or cardiac arrest

  • Noradrenaline – main ICU drug for low BP (shock)

  • Ephedrine – boosts BP and HR after anaesthesia

  • Phenylephrine – raises BP, slows HR a bit

  • Dobutamine – helps a weak heart pump stronger

  • Dopamine – raises HR and BP depending on dose

  • Metaraminol – short-acting BP booster in surgery

🧠 Think: “squeeze vessels or pump heart to raise BP”

⚡️ Anti-arrhythmics – fix irregular heartbeats

  • Amiodarone – treats AF, VT, VF

  • Lignocaine (Lidocaine) – for dangerous ventricular rhythms

  • Adenosine – resets the heart in SVT (short, sudden stop then restart)

🧠 Think: “steady the rhythm”

💧 Nitrates – open up blood vessels

  • GTN (IV or Sublingual) – relieves angina, lowers BP

🧠 Think: “relax vessels, more oxygen to heart”

🧈 Lipid-Lowering Agent

  • Atorvastatin – lowers cholesterol, prevents heart disease

🧠 Think: “cleans up fats in blood”

💨 Anticholinergics – dry and speed things up

  • Atropine – increases HR, dries secretions

  • Glycopyrrolate – same as atropine but no brain effects

🧠 Think: “dry mouth, fast heart”

🌊 Special Mentions

  • Furosemide – diuretic; removes extra fluid (pee it out)

  • Magnesium – helps heart rhythm, treats low Mg or seizures

  • Calcium Chloride – strengthens heart, treats high K⁺

  • Digoxin – helps weak heart pump stronger and slows AF

🧠 Think: “balance electrolytes, support heart”