Case 3 Flashcards
(246 cards)
What would you prescribe to a 52 year old Caucasian male with hypertension?
ACE inhibitors or a low cost Angiotensin II receptor blockers
What would you prescribe to a 70 year old Caucasian woman with hypertension?
Calcium channel blockers (CCB)
A patient with hypertension has been on ACE inhibitors for 3 months and has still not improved in their condition. What is your next step?
Prescribe CCB’s along with the ACE inhibitors.
What would you prescribe to someone with hypertension but also an intolerance to ACE inhibitors and low cost ARBs?
Beta blockers
What would you prescribe to a young woman (who can still have children) that has been diagnosed with hypertension?
Beta blockers
If a patient with hypertension is not improving after being prescribed an ACE inhibitor and a CCB, the next step is to seek expert advice and monitor their treatment annually. True/False?
False
The next step (step 3) is to prescribe a thiazide diuretic drug
When does Hypertension become resistant?
When ACE inhibitors/ ARBs, CCBs and Thiazide diuretic drugs do not reduce the hypertension.
What should be prescribed to a patient with resistant hypertension and low blood potassium?
Low dose spironolactone diuretic
What should be prescribed to a patient with resistant hypertension and high blood potassium?
Higher dose spironolactone diuretic
What is prescribed if spironolactone diuretic drug does not work?
Alpha or beta blockers
What is the final step in treatment for hypertension (if the drugs do not work)?
Seeking expert advice and monitoring annually
What would you prescribe to a 48 year old male of afro-Caribbean descent with hypertension?
CCB
What would you prescribe to a 60 year old male of afro-Caribbean descent with hypertension?
CCB and ARB/ Thiazide diuretic
What do CCBs do?
Inhibit the influx of calcium ions
Describe the locations where CCBs act and their effect on these areas
myocardial muscle - inhibit contractility
myocardial conducting system – inhibit formation and propagation of depolarisation
vascular smooth muscle - coronary or systemic vascular tone reduced, allowing vasodilation
Give an example of a CCB
Amlodipine
What does ‘contraindication’ of a drug mean?
Contraindication is a warning explaining when a drug may cause harm. A relative contraindication implies there is a risk in giving the medication in a certain circumstance.
If a CCB is taken orally, what is its expected bioavailability?
60%
What is the half life of amlodipine?
30-50 hours
How long does amlodipine stay in the body plasma?
It remains in steady-state plasma concentrations for up to 7 to 8 days (daily dosing)
Where is amlodipine metabolised?
In the liver by Cytochrome P450 enzymes
Does renal function affect amlodipine elimination?
No
Give an example of an ACE inhibitor
Lisinopril
What do ACE inhibitors do?
Inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme in the renin-angiotensin system