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CVS Pharmacology Final Exam Newest 2025-2026/ CVS
Pharmacology Final Exam Preparation / CVS Pharmacology
Final Practice Exam With Complete 200 Questions And
Correct Detailed Answers |Already Graded A+(Newest
Version!)
What are the adverse effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers? -
ANSWER-Include hypotension, hyperkalaemia and they can
worsen/cause renal failure
What are contraindications and drug interactions of ARBs? - ANSWER-
Shouldn't be given to patients with renal artery stenosis, AKD, CKD or
pregnant women or to patients taking other hyperkalaemia causing drugs
or NSAIDs
What are the 3 types of CCB? - ANSWER-Dihydropyridines or non-
dihydropyridines (phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines)
What are the dihydropyridines? - ANSWER-Selective for peripheral
vasculature and have little to no chronotropic/inotropic effects
Adverse effects includes ankle swelling, flushing, headaches due to
vasodilation and palpitations due to compensatory tachycardia (to
compensate for the decreased BP). Unstable angina and severe aortic
stenosis are contraindications, with amlodipine interacting with
simvastatin to increase its effects - dose would be decreased.
,2|Page
E.g. amlodipine, nifedipine and nimodipine
What are phenylalkylamines? - ANSWER-Depress the SA node, slow
AV conduction and have a negative inotropic effect making them useful
antiarrhythmics
Adverse effects include constipation, bradycardia, heart block and
cardiac failure, with contraindications including poor LV function and
AV nodal conduction delay. They shouldn't be used alongside ß-blockers
or other antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic agents.
E.g. Verapamil
How can beta blockers be used in hypertension? - ANSWER-Decrease
sympathetic tone by blocking NA and reducing myocardial contraction
resulting in a reduced CO. They also decrease renin secretion due to
action at ß1 receptors. Adverse effects include bronchospasm, heart
block, Raynaud's (cold hands), lethargy, impotence and they can mask
tachycardia. They are contraindicated in asthma and COPD,
haemodynamic instability and hepatic failure and shouldn't be taken
along with non-dihydropyridine CCBs
How can alpha blockers be used in hypertension? - ANSWER-
selectively antagonistic of alpha1 receptors and reduce peripheral
vascular resistance. Adverse effects include postural hypotension,
dizziness, syncope, headache and fatigue, with contraindication
including postural hypotension. They shouldn't be used in conjunction
with dihydropyridines as that can cause oedema.
,3|Page
How is heart failure treated? - ANSWER-A diuretic and other
therapeutic agents are added, with the aims of treatment being to reduce
symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, address arrhythmias,
hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, slow morbidity and increase the quality of
life
What diuretics are used in hypertension? - ANSWER-Thiazides -
vasodilation and diuresis
Spironolactone, e.g. Liddle syndrome - all ENaC channels open leading
to lots of Na+ reabsorbed
Loop diuretics
What diuretics are used in heart failure? - ANSWER-Loop diuretics,
spironolactone
Where does the fast action potential occur? - ANSWER-Cardiac
myocytes and purkinje tissue
Where does the slow AP occur? - ANSWER-SAN and AVN
What effect do drugs have on the slow AP? - ANSWER-CCB's decrease
the slope of phase 0 leading to a reduced conduction velocity, and also
increase the refractory period
Beta agonists increase the rate of spontaneous depolarisation
Muscarinic agonists and adenosine decrease it
, 4|Page
Class IB drugs - ANSWER-- Lidocaine (IV only), mexiletine (oral only)
- Have fast binding offset kinetics, lead to no change in phase 0 of
normal tissue, but decrease the AP duration
- In fast beating or ischaemic tissue lead to an increased threshold for
Na+ ions and decrease the phase - conduction rate
- No effects on ECG in normal tissue but increase the QRS complex in
fast beating/ischaemic tissue
- Used acutely in VT especially during ischaemia but not used in atrial
arrhythmias or AV junctional arrhythmias
- Side effects include CNS (dizziness and drowsiness) and abdominal
upset (especially with mexiletine)
Class IC drugs - ANSWER-- Flecainide mainly, but also propafenone -
via oral or IV routes
- Very slow binding offset kinetics
- Substantially decrease phase 0 in normal tissue, decrease automaticity
and increases threshold and increases the AP duration and refractory
period (especially in rapidly depolarising atrial tissue)
- Increases PR interval, QRS complex and QT interval
- Wide spectrum of uses - supraventricular arrhythmias (fibrillation and
flutter), premature ventricular contractions (ectopic beats) and Wolff-
Parkinson-White syndrome
- Side effects include being pro-arrhythmic, and cause of sudden death
with chronic use, in structural and coronary heard disease, increased
CVS Pharmacology Final Exam Newest 2025-2026/ CVS
Pharmacology Final Exam Preparation / CVS Pharmacology
Final Practice Exam With Complete 200 Questions And
Correct Detailed Answers |Already Graded A+(Newest
Version!)
What are the adverse effects of angiotensin II receptor blockers? -
ANSWER-Include hypotension, hyperkalaemia and they can
worsen/cause renal failure
What are contraindications and drug interactions of ARBs? - ANSWER-
Shouldn't be given to patients with renal artery stenosis, AKD, CKD or
pregnant women or to patients taking other hyperkalaemia causing drugs
or NSAIDs
What are the 3 types of CCB? - ANSWER-Dihydropyridines or non-
dihydropyridines (phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines)
What are the dihydropyridines? - ANSWER-Selective for peripheral
vasculature and have little to no chronotropic/inotropic effects
Adverse effects includes ankle swelling, flushing, headaches due to
vasodilation and palpitations due to compensatory tachycardia (to
compensate for the decreased BP). Unstable angina and severe aortic
stenosis are contraindications, with amlodipine interacting with
simvastatin to increase its effects - dose would be decreased.
,2|Page
E.g. amlodipine, nifedipine and nimodipine
What are phenylalkylamines? - ANSWER-Depress the SA node, slow
AV conduction and have a negative inotropic effect making them useful
antiarrhythmics
Adverse effects include constipation, bradycardia, heart block and
cardiac failure, with contraindications including poor LV function and
AV nodal conduction delay. They shouldn't be used alongside ß-blockers
or other antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic agents.
E.g. Verapamil
How can beta blockers be used in hypertension? - ANSWER-Decrease
sympathetic tone by blocking NA and reducing myocardial contraction
resulting in a reduced CO. They also decrease renin secretion due to
action at ß1 receptors. Adverse effects include bronchospasm, heart
block, Raynaud's (cold hands), lethargy, impotence and they can mask
tachycardia. They are contraindicated in asthma and COPD,
haemodynamic instability and hepatic failure and shouldn't be taken
along with non-dihydropyridine CCBs
How can alpha blockers be used in hypertension? - ANSWER-
selectively antagonistic of alpha1 receptors and reduce peripheral
vascular resistance. Adverse effects include postural hypotension,
dizziness, syncope, headache and fatigue, with contraindication
including postural hypotension. They shouldn't be used in conjunction
with dihydropyridines as that can cause oedema.
,3|Page
How is heart failure treated? - ANSWER-A diuretic and other
therapeutic agents are added, with the aims of treatment being to reduce
symptoms, increase exercise tolerance, address arrhythmias,
hyperlipidaemia and diabetes, slow morbidity and increase the quality of
life
What diuretics are used in hypertension? - ANSWER-Thiazides -
vasodilation and diuresis
Spironolactone, e.g. Liddle syndrome - all ENaC channels open leading
to lots of Na+ reabsorbed
Loop diuretics
What diuretics are used in heart failure? - ANSWER-Loop diuretics,
spironolactone
Where does the fast action potential occur? - ANSWER-Cardiac
myocytes and purkinje tissue
Where does the slow AP occur? - ANSWER-SAN and AVN
What effect do drugs have on the slow AP? - ANSWER-CCB's decrease
the slope of phase 0 leading to a reduced conduction velocity, and also
increase the refractory period
Beta agonists increase the rate of spontaneous depolarisation
Muscarinic agonists and adenosine decrease it
, 4|Page
Class IB drugs - ANSWER-- Lidocaine (IV only), mexiletine (oral only)
- Have fast binding offset kinetics, lead to no change in phase 0 of
normal tissue, but decrease the AP duration
- In fast beating or ischaemic tissue lead to an increased threshold for
Na+ ions and decrease the phase - conduction rate
- No effects on ECG in normal tissue but increase the QRS complex in
fast beating/ischaemic tissue
- Used acutely in VT especially during ischaemia but not used in atrial
arrhythmias or AV junctional arrhythmias
- Side effects include CNS (dizziness and drowsiness) and abdominal
upset (especially with mexiletine)
Class IC drugs - ANSWER-- Flecainide mainly, but also propafenone -
via oral or IV routes
- Very slow binding offset kinetics
- Substantially decrease phase 0 in normal tissue, decrease automaticity
and increases threshold and increases the AP duration and refractory
period (especially in rapidly depolarising atrial tissue)
- Increases PR interval, QRS complex and QT interval
- Wide spectrum of uses - supraventricular arrhythmias (fibrillation and
flutter), premature ventricular contractions (ectopic beats) and Wolff-
Parkinson-White syndrome
- Side effects include being pro-arrhythmic, and cause of sudden death
with chronic use, in structural and coronary heard disease, increased
