NSG1550 Pharmacology Exam 2 Review Notes

Anticholinergic Drugs

• Medications that block the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, in the brain and body.

Antihypertensive Drugs

• Medications used to lower blood pressure.

ACE Inhibitors & ARBs

• ACE Inhibitors: Block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, leading to vasodilation and decreased blood pressure.
• ARBs (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers): Block angiotensin II receptors, preventing vasoconstriction and lowering blood pressure.

Calcium Channel Blockers (Diltiazem)

• Block calcium channels in heart and blood vessels, leading to vasodilation and reduced heart rate.
• Diltiazem is a specific example.

Vasodilators

• Medications that directly relax blood vessels, causing them to widen and reducing blood pressure.

Beta-Blockers (Atenolol)

• Block beta-adrenergic receptors, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
• Atenolol is a specific example.

Diuretics

• Increase urine production, reducing blood volume and blood pressure.

Antianginal Drugs

• Medications used to treat angina (chest pain) by improving blood flow to the heart.

Nitrates (Nitroglycerin)

• Dilate blood vessels, improving blood flow to the heart and reducing chest pain.
• Nitroglycerin is a common example.

Beta-Blockers

• Reduce heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing the heart's workload and oxygen demand.

Calcium Channel Blockers

• Dilate blood vessels and reduce heart rate, improving blood flow and reducing chest pain.

Antiarrhythmic & Heart Failure Drugs

• Medications used to treat irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) and heart failure.

Sodium Channel Blockers (Class I)

• Affect the influx of sodium ions in cardiac cells, stabilizing the heart rhythm.

Beta-Blockers (Class II)

• Reduce heart rate and blood pressure, helping to control arrhythmias.

Potassium Channel Blockers (Class III - Amiodarone)

• Prolong the repolarization phase in cardiac cells, stabilizing heart rhythm.
• Amiodarone is a specific example.

Calcium Channel Blockers (Class IV)

• Slow the heart rate and AV node conduction, helping to control certain arrhythmias.

Adenosine, Digoxin

• Adenosine: Used to treat supraventricular tachycardia by slowing conduction through the AV node.
• Digoxin: Increases the force of heart contractions and slows heart rate, used in heart failure and certain arrhythmias.

Heart Failure

• A condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, β-blockers

• These medications are commonly used to manage heart failure by reducing fluid overload, blood pressure, and the heart's workload.

Anticoagulant Drugs

• Medications used to prevent blood clots.

Warfarin, Heparin

• Warfarin: An oral anticoagulant that inhibits vitamin K-dependent clotting factors.
• Heparin: An injectable anticoagulant that inhibits clot formation.

Treatment of DVT

• Anticoagulants are used to treat deep vein thrombosis (DVT) to prevent further clot formation and pulmonary embolism.

Antilipemic Drugs

• Medications used to lower cholesterol and other lipids in the blood.

CAD

• Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries.

MI

• Myocardial infarction (MI), or heart attack, occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked.

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors - Statins

• Inhibit HMG-CoA reductase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol synthesis, thus lowering cholesterol levels.
• Statins are a common example.

Diuretic Drugs

• Medications that increase urine production.

Thiazide and Thiazide-Like Diuretics

• Increase urine production by inhibiting sodium reabsorption in the kidneys.

Loop-Diuretic - Furosemide

• Increase urine production by inhibiting sodium and chloride reabsorption in the loop of Henle.
• Furosemide is a specific example.

Potassium-Sparing - Spironolactone (Aldactone)

• Increase urine production without causing potassium loss.
• Spironolactone is a specific example.

Fluid & Electrolytes

Electrolyte levels

• Refers to the concentration of electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and calcium in the blood.

FVD & FVE

• FVD (Fluid Volume Deficit): Dehydration, a condition in which the body lacks enough fluid.
• FVE (Fluid Volume Excess): Overhydration, a condition in which the body has too much fluid.

Severe Diarrhea

• Can lead to fluid and electrolyte imbalances, particularly dehydration and loss of potassium.

Thyroid and Antithyroid Drugs

Graves' Disease; Cushing's

• Graves' Disease: An autoimmune disorder that causes hyperthyroidism.
• Cushing's syndrome A hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol.

Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism

• Hypothyroidism: Underactive thyroid, resulting in insufficient thyroid hormone production.
• Hyperthyroidism: Overactive thyroid, resulting in excessive thyroid hormone production.

Thyroid Replacement Therapy (Levothyroxine - Synthroid)

• Levothyroxine is a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism.
• Synthroid is a brand name for levothyroxine.

Antidiabetic Drugs

• Medications used to manage diabetes mellitus.

Insulin Therapy

• Used to replace or supplement the body's own insulin production in type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Oral Diabetic Agent (Metformin)

• Metformin is a common oral medication used to improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 DM

• Type 1 DM: An autoimmune condition in which the body does not produce insulin.
• Type 2 DM: A condition in which the body does not use insulin properly.

Hypoglycemia

• Low blood sugar level.

Hyperglycemia

• High blood sugar level.

HHS/DKA

• HHS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State): A serious complication of type 2 diabetes characterized by extremely high blood sugar levels, dehydration, and altered mental status.
• DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis): A serious complication of diabetes that occurs when the body produces excess blood acids (ketones).

HgA1C levels

• Glycated hemoglobin test, which reflects average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months.

Glucocorticoids Drugs

• A class of corticosteroids that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

Treatment for Addison's Disease

• Addison's disease is a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol.
• Glucocorticoids are used as replacement therapy.

Estrogen/Oral Contraceptives

• Hormonal medications used for contraception and hormone replacement therapy.

Treatment for BPH (Doxazosin - Cardura)

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement of the prostate gland.
• Doxazosin is an alpha-blocker that relaxes the muscles in the prostate and bladder neck, improving urine flow.
• Cardura is a brand name for doxazosin.

Treatment for common cold (empiric)

• Symptomatic relief, as the common cold is caused by viruses.
• Empiric treatment involves treating the symptoms without knowing the exact cause.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• A chronic inflammatory lung disease that causes obstructed airflow from the lungs.

Treatment for Asthma

• Medications to reduce inflammation and open airways, such as bronchodilators and corticosteroids.

Bronchodilators

• Medications that relax the muscles in the airways, widening them and making it easier to breathe.