drugs

Question 1

Cardiac Glycosides

Answer 1

• Positive Inotrope (CHF)
• Negative Dromotrope (A. Fib)
• Example: Digitalis (Digoxin)

Question 2

What is Inotropy? What drugs have positive Inotropic effects? Negative?

Answer 2

Contractility (how strong the tension is during contraction like a big bear hug)
- Positive: Cardiac Glycosides and Beta Adrenergic Sympathomimetics
- Negative: N/A

Question 3

What is Chronotropy? What drugs have positive Chronotropic effects? Negative?

Answer 3

Rate (HR)
- Positive: Beta Adrenergic Sympathomimetics and Parasympatholytics
- Negative: Sympatholytics

Question 4

What is Dromotropy? What drugs have positive Dromotropic effects? Negative?

Answer 4

Conduction Velocity (speed of re/depolarization)
- Positive: Beta Adrenergic Sympathomimetics
- Negative: Cardiac Glycosides, Calcium Channel Blockers, and Anti-arrhythmics

Question 5

Beta Adrenergic Sympathomimetics

Answer 5

• Positive Inotrope
• Positive Chronotrope
• Positive Dromotrope
• Used to treat anything causing heart contractility, rate, or conduction velocity to be too low (Bradycardia, Heart Block)
• Too much can cause Tachycardias or Ventricular Arrhythmia
• Example: Isoproterenol

Question 6

Parasympatholytics

Answer 6

• Positive Chronotrope (Bradycardia)
• Example: Atropine

Question 7

Sympatholytics

Answer 7

• Negative Chronotrope (Tachyarrythmias, Hypertension)
• Example: Beta Blockers (Inderol)
• Too much can cause Bradycardia or Heart Blocks

Question 8

Calcium Channel Blockers

Answer 8

• Make smooth muscle relax so Negative Dromotrope (Hypertension, Angina Pectoris)
• Too much can cause conduction blocks

Question 9

Anti-arrhythmics

Answer 9

• Negative Dromotrope (arrhythmias)
• classified by part of heart they affect
• Example: Quinidine - suppresses conduction and automaticity
• Example: Lidocaine - treats ventricular arrhythmias
• Example: Amiodarone - for ventricular arrhythmias and used in resuscitation algorithm for patients in V. Tach or V. Fib