CV drugs part 2 Flashcards
(111 cards)
What is angina pectoris?
Chest pain from lack of oxygenated blood supply to the heart- insufficient blood flow to heart
How do nitrates relieve angina?
They ____ the vessels to allow..
They _______ both ____ and _____
Results?
They dilate the vessels to allow for more blood flow/o2 flow.
Decrease preload and afterload -
Results:
increase o2, decrease o2 demand.
Nitroglycerin (nitrates): how to treat acute anginal attack?
Fast acting, SL or IV nitrates
Something important about Nitroglycerin/ NTGs/ Nitrates:
NTG is the first line treatment for acute/immediate angina
Use for sublingual NTGs
Used to trat acute anginal attacks
o Sublingual (SL), spray, intravenous (IV)
Proper administration for sublingual NTG:
Place one sublingual (SL) nitroglycerin under the tongue every 5 minutes for a maximum dose of three (3) tablets
Pt. teaching for sublingual NTG
- Tell the patient, “If chest pain not improved after 1 dose, call 911”
- Tell patient they will experience a tingling/burning feeling under their tongue
3 nursing considerations for sublingual NTGs
-Tablets are in an airtight, dark colored glass bottle – away from light, heat, moisture
-Sit or lie patient down and take medication to prevent orthostatic hypotension
-Keep a fresh bottle of SL nitroglycerin, because drug is only stable for 3 to 6 months
Review the use of nitroglycerin transdermal patch and ointments.
What area will you use?
Use a hairless area of the upper arms or body, rotate sites
When should you remove the nitroglycerin patch?
- Tolerance develops with continuous use of transdermal patches/ointments. To decrease tolerance, remove at night to allow 8 hours without patch
For NTG patches, you want to apply it…
Wear the NTG patch for ___ hours
When do you remove the patch?
- Apply once a day, wear for 12 hours; remove after wearing for 12-14 hours a day
How to apply NTG patch?
Squeeze the prescribed amount of ointment onto the paper & apply to the skin without rubbing. Tape the paper in place.
Why do we wear gloves when applying a NTG patch
Use gloves to avoid getting ointment on hands (vasodilation, ↓BP)
What is nitrates free period, how long, and why?
-Nitrate free period is a time frame where patients take a break from the medication. They need to take a break from the medication for 8-12 hours, so tolerance does not develop. Tolerance (a person’s diminished response to a drug) can develop with continuous use of transdermal patches/ointments.
- Generally, we apply the patch once a day in the morning.
Patients wear the patch for 12 hours and we remove the patch before they go to bed, so they take a break from the medication.
How to treat headaches from NTG?
How does NTG affect BP?
Headaches can be managed with acetaminophen.
NTG decreases BP (hypotension)
MOA of nitrates
Dilate (widens) veins and arteries causing smooth muscle relaxation. This decreases preload and afterload.
Adverse effects of nitrates
- CNS – headaches (expected), syncope, flushed feeling, dizziness, weakness
- CV – hypotension; reflex tachycardia
2 contraindications of nitrates
Why? (for first one)
- Contraindicated: phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (sildenafil [Viagra])
- Why? It can cause life-threatening hypotension
- Contraindicated in patients with head trauma and intracranial bleeding
Pt teaching for nitrates
- Careful when taking other medications that can decrease BP
- Avoid alcohol while using
Rapid acting forms of nitrates
- Used to treat acute anginal attacks
- Sublingual (SL), spray, intravenous (IV)
Long acting forms of nitrates
For chronic angina
o Used to prevent anginal attacks
o PO (extended-release), transdermal
Pt teaching with long-acting forms
- Nitrates are not habit-forming, but tolerance may develop
- Have a home monitor BP cuff; rise slowly
- If patient has nitro patch and experiences sudden/acute chest pain, take SL nitro and monitor vital signs (esp. BP and heart rate)
- Be compliant with medication even if experience headaches
- Nursing: can give acetaminophen
- If needs to discontinue, will need to do so slowly to prevent rebound angina
- Remind patients that taking a long-acting NTG preparation should not keep them from using SL or spray nitroglycerin if chest pain develops.
How to evaluate the effectiveness of nitrates?
If the patient reports a relief of chest pain
We evaluate the effectiveness of nitrates by asking the patients about the chest pain and evaluating their vital signs. The pain level should be 0/10 and vital signs should be stable (BP not low/pulse not high).
Antiplatelet drugs
Aspirin
Clopidogrel (Plavix)
Prasugrel (Effient)