Pharm exam2 prototype drugs

Nitroglycerin

“NITRO = No Ischemia Through Rapid Opening”
Story: Opens "roads" for blood; relieves chest pain fast

Vasodilator; reduces preload and afterload

BP, HR, chest pain, headache, ECG

Hydrochlorothiazide

“Hydro - Cloro - Pee”
Story: Pool boy clears salt & water but loses potassium

Thiazide diuretic; inhibits Na⁺/Cl⁻ reabsorption

Electrolytes (K⁺, Na⁺), BP, I&O, weight

Furosemide

“Furious Peeing”
Story: Pee so much you get dizzy & lose K⁺

Loop diuretic; inhibits Na⁺/K⁺/Cl⁻ transport

Electrolytes, BP, I&O, hearing, weight

Spironolactone

“Spare potassium with Spironolactone”
Story: Nun guards potassium but ignores fluid overload

K⁺-sparing diuretic; aldosterone antagonist

K⁺, renal function, BP

Metoprolol

“LOL = Lowers Our Load”
Story: Calm Beta Bro tells heart to beat slower

Beta-1 blocker; lowers HR and BP

HR, BP, bradycardia, glucose (masking signs)

Prazosin

“PRAy you don’t fall”
Story: Pass out after first dose when standing to pray

Alpha-1 blocker; vasodilation

BP (orthostatic), HR, first-dose syncope

Valsartan

“VALue ARBs”
Story: Knight blocks angiotensin monster

ARB; blocks angiotensin II receptors

BP, K⁺, renal function

Amlodipine

“Amlo-DI-PINE = Dip in pressure”
Story: Float down a river but your ankles swell

Calcium channel blocker; inhibits Ca²⁺ influx

BP, HR, edema

Heparin

“HEP = Helps Eliminate clots Promptly”
Story: Nurse Hepper prevents clots but risks bleeding

Anticoagulant; inhibits thrombin & factor Xa

aPTT, platelets (HIT), bleeding signs

Warfarin

“WAR on Vitamin K”
Story: General bans green food and keeps blood thin like wine

Anticoagulant; inhibits vitamin K clotting factors

INR/PT, bleeding signs, dietary vitamin K

Clopidogrel

“Clopid = Clot Prevention”
Story: Clumsy pig slips and stops platelets from sticking

Antiplatelet; blocks ADP-mediated aggregation

CBC, bleeding signs, GI symptoms

Alteplase

“ALTernate PLASmin path”
Story: Jackhammer busts clots—and might break too much

Thrombolytic; converts plasminogen to plasmin

Bleeding (intracranial), fibrinogen, neuro checks

Atorvastatin

“STATin = Stops The Artery Trouble”
Story: Statue guards arteries but risks muscle and liver damage

HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor; lowers cholesterol

Liver enzymes, CK, muscle pain

Cilostazol

“CILO Strolls Smoothly”
Story: Lets you walk again by thinning blood and dilating legs

Antiplatelet/vasodilator; increases cAMP in platelets

Platelets, bleeding signs, walking improvement