What are Cardiac Medications used for? - ANSWERS--Used to treat
cardiovascular pathology
What are some examples of Cardiac Medications? - ANSWERS---
Antiarrhythmic
-Antihypertensive
Antiarrhythmics - ANSWERS--Medications that affect the electrical
conduction system of the myocardium
Common Antiarrhytthmics: - ANSWERS---Digoxin
-Propafenone
-Amiodarone
Antihypertensive - ANSWERS--Medications that assist in lowering the
blood pressure to safe, long-term goals
Common Antihypertensives: - ANSWERS---Verapamil
-Nadolol
-Reserpine
,Heart Failure medicaitons: - ANSWERS---Digoxin
-Dopamine
-Norepinephrine
-Epinephrine
Lipid-lowering medications (to lower the cholesterol levels) -
ANSWERS---Lovastatin
-Gemfibrozil
Diuretics - ANSWERS--AKA water pills Designed to eliminate excess
fluid and sodium from the bloodstream, decreasing overall pressure
within the vessels
Common Diuretics: - ANSWERS---Torsemide
-Metalozone
-Indapamide
Patients taking blood thinners are at risk for what? - ANSWERS--
Bleeding, especially when dealing with Thrombolytics can lead to
hemorrhagic stroke
Anticoagulants - ANSWERS--Patients with history of blood clot
formation or potential to develop blood clots
Common Anticoagulants: - ANSWERS---Warfarin
,-Heparin
-Enoxaparin
Warfarin - ANSWERS--Oral medication to prevent absorption of
Vitamin K from intestinal tract
Heparin/Enoxaparin - ANSWERS--IV injection- affect the activity of
thrombin in various ways to inhibit clot formation
Digoxin - ANSWERS--Increases the force of myocardial contraction in
the failing heart
Dopamine/Norepinephrine/Epinephrine - ANSWERS--Intravenous
meds can be used same as digoxin however, these also have
VASOACTIVE properties to help increase blood pressure
Antiplatelet - ANSWERS---A disc shaped element in the blood that
assists in blood clotting
-Patients who have experienced an acute ischemic event to heart or
brain
Common Antiplatelets: - ANSWERS---Aspirin
-Eptifibatide
Aspirin - ANSWERS--One of the most common types of oral
medication
, Eptifibatide - ANSWERS--Frequently used intravenous
Thrombolytics - ANSWERS--Actively break up a newly formed clot
Common Thrombolytics: - ANSWERS---Alteplase
-Urokinase
Alteplase/Urokinase - ANSWERS--Most frequently used meds in this
class
Analgesic - ANSWERS---Pain Reliver
-Prescribed more frequently than any other medication on the
market
-Treat both acute and chronic pain
Subclasses on Analgesics: - ANSWERS---Narcotics
-Non steroidal anti-inflammatory
-Muscle relaxants
-Acetaminophen
Narcotics - ANSWERS---Stimulate central nervous system receptors:
Opioid receptors
-Very potent analgesic
-Potential for physical and psychological addiction