13: Common drugs used to treat cardiovascular disease

Question 1

Broadly, which classes of drugs are used to treat hypertension?

Answer 1

Diuretics

Beta blockers

Vasodilators

Question 2

What are diuretics used to treat?

Answer 2

Hypertension

Heart failure

Question 3

What are beta blockers used to treat?

Answer 3

Hypertension

Angina

Heart failure (mid-long term)

Question 4

What do diuretic drugs do?

Answer 4

Block Na⁺ reabsorption into the kidneys

so more fluid is secreted and the plasma volume decreases

Question 5

Name a thiazide diuretic - what are they used to treat?

Answer 5

Bendrofluazide

Hypertension

Question 6

Name a loop diuretic - what are they used to treat?

Answer 6

Furosemide

Heart failure

Question 7

What are stronger - thiazide diuretics or loop diuretics?

Answer 7

Loop diuretics (e.g furosemide)

Question 8

Name two side-effects of diuretic drugs.

Answer 8

Hypokalaemia - tiredness

Arrythmia

Hyperglycaemia

Increased uric acid - gout

Impotence

Question 9

What do beta blockers do?

Answer 9

Block ß₁​ and ß₂ adrenoceptors

Question 10

Name a beta blocker which only blocks ß1​ adrenoceptors (cardioselective).

Answer 10

Atenolol

Question 11

Atenolol is a cardioselective beta blocker. What does this mean?

Answer 11

Only blocks ß1 adrenoceptors.

Question 12

What conditions can atenolol be used to treat?

Answer 12

Angina

Hypertension

Heart failure

Question 13

What are non-selective beta blockers?

Answer 13

Block both ß₁ and ß₂ adrenoceptors

Question 14

Name an example of a non-selective beta blocker.

Answer 14

Propanolol

Question 15

What is propranolol used to treat?

Answer 15

Thyrotoxicosis

Question 16

In which case should beta blockers NOT be used?

Answer 16

If the patient has asthma

Question 17

What are the side effects of beta blockers?

Answer 17

Fatigue

Heart failure in the short term

Cold peripheries

Question 18

Name the two-types of calcium antagonist.

Answer 18

Dihydropyridines

Non-dihydropyridines

Question 19

Name an example of a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist.

Answer 19

Amlodipine

Question 20

What is amlodipine? What is it used to treat?

Answer 20

Dihydropyridine calcium antagonist

Hypertension and angina

Question 21

What is a common side effect of amlodipine?

Answer 21

Ankle oedema

Question 22

Name an example of a non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist.

Answer 22

Verapamil

Question 23

What conditions can non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists be used to treat?

Answer 23

Hypertension

Angina

Supraventricular arrhythmias

Question 24

The use of verapamil with ___ ___ should be avoided.

Answer 24

beta blockers

Question 25

What do alpha blockers do?

Answer 25

**Block alpha adrenoceptors to cause vasodilation**

Question 26

Name an example of an alpha blocker.

Answer 26

**Doxazosin**

Question 27

What are alpha blockers used to treat?

Answer 27

**Hypertension** **Prostatic hypertrophy**

Question 28

Give an example of an alpha blocker side effect.

Answer 28

**Postural hypotension**

Question 29

What does an ACE inhibitor do?

Answer 29

**Blocks conversion of Angiotensin I to Angiotensin II**

Question 30

Name an example of an ACE inhibitor.

Answer 30

**Lisinopril**

Question 31

When would an ACE inhibitor be used?

Answer 31

**Hypertension** **Heart failure**

Question 32

When shouldn't an ACE inhibitor be used to treat someone with hypertension / heart failure?

Answer 32

**Pregnant woman**

Question 33

Name an angiotensin receptor blocker.

Answer 33

**Losartan**

Question 34

Name a nitrate drug used to treat cardiovascular disease.

Answer 34

**Isosorbide mononitrate** **GTN spray**

Question 35

What would a nitrate be used to treat?

Answer 35

**Angina** **Acute heart failure**

Question 36

How many hours a day should a nitrate user be deprived of the drug to avoid tolerance?

Answer 36

**8 hours per day**

Question 37

Name an antiplatelet agent.

Answer 37

**Aspirin** **Clopidogrel** **Ticagrelor** **Prasugrel**

Question 38

When would an antiplatelet agent be used?

Answer 38

**Angina** **Acute MI**

Question 39

Name two anticoagulant drugs.

Answer 39

**Heparin (IV)** **Warfarin (oral)** **Rivaroxaban** **Dabigatran**

Question 40

When would an anticoagulant drug be used?

Answer 40

**Deep vein thrombosis** **Pulmonary embolism** **NSTEMI** **Atrial fibrillation**

Question 41

Name an anticholesterol drug.

Answer 41

**Simvastatin**

Question 42

Name two anti-arrhythmic drugs.

Answer 42

**Adenosine** **Amiodarone** **Beta blockers** **Flecainide**

Question 43

What does **digoxin** do?

Answer 43

**Block AV node conduction** - causes a degree of AV node delay, reduces heart rate

Question 44

What would digoxin be used to treat?

Answer 44

Heart failure with **a****trial fibrillation**