Common CV drugs

Question 1

List the drug classes used for anti-cholesterol.

Answer 1

Statins
Fibrates
PCSK 9 Inhibitors (for familial high cholesterol)

Question 2

List the drugs used for hypertension.

Answer 2

ACE/ARB
CCB
Thiazide diuretics
Beta blockers/alpha blockers
Spironolactone

Question 3

What are you using drugs for to treat angina?

Answer 3

To vasodilate, slow the heart rate, and modulate the metabolism

Question 4

What drugs would you use to treat angina?

Answer 4

To vasodilate:
- Nitrates
- Nicorandil
- CCB
To slow HR:
- Beta-blockers
- Ivabradine
- Calcium antagonists
To modulate metabolism:
-  Ranolazine

Question 5

Which antiplatelet drugs are there?

Answer 5

Aspirin
Clopidogrel
Prasugrel
Ticagrelor

Question 6

What do antiplatelet drugs aim to do?

Answer 6

Prevent new thrombus

Question 7

What anticoagulant drugs are there?

Answer 7

Heparin
Warfarin
Rivaroxaban
Dabigatran
Edoxaban

Question 8

What are clot busting drugs known as and give examples?

Answer 8

Fibrinolytics: streptokinase and tPA

Question 9

When would you use an antiplatelet drug?

Answer 9

Angina
Acute MI
CVA/TIA
High risk patients of MI and CVA

Question 10

When would you use an anticoagulant?

Answer 10

DVT
PE
NSTEMI
AF

Question 11

When would you use a fibrinolytic?

Answer 11

STEMI
PE -selected cases
CVA - selected cases

Question 12

What are the main three drugs you should use in heart failure to prolong life?

Answer 12

ACEI/ARB
Beta-blocker
Mineralocorticoid antagonist: spironolactone

Question 13

what does ACEI do?

Answer 13

lower BP

Question 14

what does amiodarone do?

Answer 14

it is an anti-arrhythmic that cardioverts arrhythmias when a patient is haemodynamically unstable (2nd line to DC cardioversion)

Question 15

what does adenosine do?

Answer 15

is an anti-arrhythmic that slows conduction through the AVN, is useful for SVT when haemodynamically STABLE

Question 16

what is atropine used for and what does it do?

Answer 16

treats bradycardia by increasing the heart rate

Question 17

what does adrenaline do?

Answer 17

increases heart rate AND contractility.

Question 18

what can spirolactone cause?

Answer 18

gynecomastia in men

Question 19

what is haeochromocytoma?

Answer 19

an endocrine cause of hypertension

Question 20

what is the probable diagnosis of a woman in her 20s with hypertension?

Answer 20

renal artery stenosis

Question 21

what are the stages of hypertension?

Answer 21

stage 1: 140/90
stage 2: 160/100
stage 3: clinical reading of 180 systolic OR 110 diastolic

Question 22

what is the white coat effect?

Answer 22

increase in BP due to clinical setting

Question 23

what is the first line treatment for hypertension?

Answer 23

ACEI if <55yrs and NOT pregnant or african/-caribbean - use in diabetics regardless
CCB> 55 or contraindications

Question 24

what is angina?

Answer 24

chest pain due to lack of blood to the heart

Question 25

what are the types of angina?

Answer 25

stable - comes on with activity - responds to treatment unstable - comes on at REST OR with activity but doesn't respond to treatment

Question 26

How is angina diagnosed?

Answer 26

ETT perfusion scanning CT angiography (gold standard)

Question 27

what is intermittent claudication?

Answer 27

angina of the leg | leg pain walking uphill

Question 28

what investigations do you do for intermittent claudication?

Answer 28

ABPI - normal around 1 duplex USS - to assess flow catheter angiography

Question 29

What is the treatment for intermittent claudication?

Answer 29

statin/anti-platelet therapy smoking cessation more exercise

Question 30

what is stroke?

Answer 30

acute onset of neurological symptoms due to distruption of blood supply

Question 31

symptoms of stroke?

Answer 31

numbness or weakness of face difficulty speaking dizziness/loss of co-ordination

Question 32

what are the two types of stroke and what happens in each?

Answer 32

haemorrhagic = bleed in brain Ischaemic = sign of end organ vascular damage

Question 33

what is the gold standard investigation for stroke?

Answer 33

Brain CT - only way to differentiate between types

Question 34

what treatment for ischaemic stroke?

Answer 34

thromolysis within 4.5hrs of onset = gold standard thrombectomy = done up to 6hrs from onset smoking cessation, statins, med diet and exercise *if due to AF then anti-coagulate

Question 35

what are common anti-coagulant drugs?

Answer 35

warfarin rivaroxoban heparin