Hypertension/Angina Medications - Pharmacology - Cardiovascular | @LevelUpRN

Summary

In this educational video, various medications used to treat hypertension are explored, including calcium channel blockers, alpha-2 agonists, beta-1 blockers, and non-selective beta blockers. The script provides a breakdown of each medication class, explaining their modes of action, key side effects, and crucial patient teachings. Important points include the risk of hypotension with calcium channel blockers, the '3 Ds' of clonidine, and the need for caution with non-selective beta blockers in patients with asthma. This comprehensive overview serves as a helpful guide for healthcare professionals to understand and teach about these medications.

Takeaways

• 😀 Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem, are used to treat hypertension and angina. Nifedipine can also treat pre-term labor.
• 😀 The mnemonic for calcium channel blockers is 'Calcium, channel blockers are very nice drugs' (V for verapamil, N for nifedipine, D for diltiazem).
• 😀 Calcium channel blockers work by blocking calcium channels in the heart and blood vessels, resulting in vasodilation and decreased heart rate.
• 😀 Important side effects of calcium channel blockers include peripheral edema, hypotension, bradycardia, headache, and constipation.
• 😀 Patients should be advised to avoid grapefruit juice when using calcium channel blockers and monitor blood pressure and heart rate carefully.
• 😀 Clonidine is an alpha-2 agonist used for hypertension. It works by decreasing sympathetic outflow to the heart and blood vessels, reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
• 😀 The three key side effects of clonidine are dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth. A helpful mnemonic is '3 Ds of clonidine'.
• 😀 To relieve dry mouth, patients using clonidine can suck on hard candy or chew gum.
• 😀 Beta-1 blockers like metoprolol and atenolol are used for hypertension, angina, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. They block beta-1 receptors in the heart to decrease heart rate and blood pressure.
• 😀 Important side effects of beta-1 blockers include bradycardia, hypotension, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction. Abrupt discontinuation can cause angina or myocardial infarction.
• 😀 Non-selective beta blockers (propranolol, labetalol, and carvedilol) block both beta-1 receptors in the heart and beta-2 receptors in the lungs, potentially causing bronchospasm, especially in asthma patients.
• 😀 Non-selective beta blockers can also cause fatigue, hypotension, bradycardia, and erectile dysfunction. They should be avoided in asthma patients due to the risk of bronchospasm.

Q & A

What are calcium channel blockers, and which medications fall under this class?

Calcium channel blockers are medications used to treat hypertension and angina. They include verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem.

What is a mnemonic to remember the medications that are calcium channel blockers?

The mnemonic to remember calcium channel blockers is: 'Calcium channel blockers are very nice drugs.' The letters V, N, and D correspond to verapamil, nifedipine, and diltiazem.

What is the mode of action of calcium channel blockers?

Calcium channel blockers work by blocking calcium channels in the heart and blood vessels, leading to vasodilation and a decrease in heart rate.

What are the key side effects of calcium channel blockers?

Key side effects of calcium channel blockers include peripheral edema, hypotension, bradycardia, headache, and constipation.

What is an important teaching point for patients taking calcium channel blockers?

Patients should be advised not to consume grapefruit juice while on calcium channel blockers and should have their blood pressure and heart rate carefully monitored during therapy.

What medication is a centrally-acting alpha-2 agonist, and how does it work?

Clonidine is a centrally-acting alpha-2 agonist that works by decreasing sympathetic outflow to the heart and blood vessels, which results in decreased heart rate and blood pressure.

What are the key side effects of clonidine?

The key side effects of clonidine are the 3 Ds: dizziness, drowsiness, and dry mouth.

What is an important teaching point for patients taking clonidine?

Patients can suck on hard candy or chew gum to alleviate dry mouth while on clonidine.

What are beta-1 blockers, and which medications are part of this class?

Beta-1 blockers, such as metoprolol and atenolol, are used for treating hypertension, angina, heart failure, and myocardial infarction. They block beta-1 receptors on the heart to decrease blood pressure and heart rate.

What are the key side effects and precautions for patients taking beta-1 blockers?

Beta-1 blockers can cause bradycardia, hypotension, fatigue, and erectile dysfunction. It is important to teach patients to change positions slowly and monitor blood pressure and pulse. These medications can also mask signs of hypoglycemia in diabetic patients.

What are non-selective beta blockers, and which medications belong to this class?

Non-selective beta blockers, such as propranolol, labetalol, and carvedilol, affect both beta-1 receptors in the heart and beta-2 receptors in the lungs. They are used for hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, and myocardial infarction.

What are the key side effects of non-selective beta blockers, and what precaution should be taken?

Non-selective beta blockers can cause bronchospasm, fatigue, hypotension, bradycardia, and erectile dysfunction. They should not be used in patients with asthma or other conditions that may be worsened by bronchoconstriction.