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Anticoagulants
blood thinners; Lovenox; decreases clotting ability of blood; used for certain blood vessel, heart and lung conditions; ofter prescribed to prevent first or recurrent stroke
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Antiplatelets
aspirin; prevents platelets from sticking together; helps prevent clotting in patients who have had a MI, unstable angina, usually preventably
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ACE inhibitors
pril; expand blood vessels and decreases resistance; allows blood to flow easier; used to treat HTN and HF
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Angiotensin II receptors
artan; Cozaar, Micardis; prevents angiotensin receptor blockers from having any effects on the heart and blood vessels; keeps BP from rising; treat HF and HTN
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Beta blockers
lol; decreases the heart rate and CO which lowers BP and makes the heart beat more slowly and with less force; Used to lower BP; therapy for cardiac arrhythmias and chest pain; used to prevent future heart attacks in patient who have had one
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Calcium channel blockers
pine; amlodipine, Cardizem; interrupts the movement of calcium into the cells of heat and blood vessels; decrease heart pumping strength and relax blood vessels; HTN, angina and some arrhythmias
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Diuretics
causes body to rid itself of excess fluids and sodium; helps to relieve hearts workload; HTN and edema; moves fluids from 3rd space fluids
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Vasodilators
nitrates; relaxes blood vessels and increases supply of blood and O2 to heart while reducing its workload; prescribed to patients who cant tolerate ACE inhibitors; used for angina
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Digoxin
lanoxin; increases the force of the hearts contractions which can be beneficial in HF and for irregular heart beats; used to relieve HF symptoms especially when ACE inhibitors and diuretics arent working; slows certain types of arrhythmias (especially afib)
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Statins
niacin, genfibrozil, blower cholesterol; work in different ways; used to lower LDL and raise HDL and lower triglycerides
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Amiodarone
Used for AF, PAF, PSVT, life-threatening ventricular dysrhythmias; treat ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia that occurs during cardiac arrest and is unresponsive to shock delivery, CPR and vasopressors; dosage-300 mg IV push for cardiac arrest in VF/pulseless VT; ursing implications-Monitor for return of rhythm and pulse when used for recurrent unstable VT or VF (expected response); Use with extreme caution in patients receiving other antidysrhythmics (reduces the hepatic and renal clearance of certain antidysrhtyhmics, specifically procainamide, quinidine, and flecainide); Use caution in patients with pulmonary, hepatic or thyroid disease (can cause fatal toxicity especially in patients receiving more than 600 mg daily); perform continuous cardiac monitoring while the patient is receiving the loading dose (there is a slow onset of antidysrhythmic effect and a high risk for life-threatening dysrhythmias);Precautions-should only be used after defibrillation/cardioversion and first line drugs (epi and vasopressin) have failed to convert VT/VF
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Atropine
used for bradycardia; increases firing of the SA node by blocking the action of the vagus nerve on the heart resulting in an increased heart rate; monitor heart rate and rhythm; assess for chest pain after administration; assess for urinary retention and dry mouth after administration (atropine is anticholinergic); avoid using in patients with acute angle closure glaucoma (atropine increases ocular pressure); precautions-used cautiously in the presence of myocardial ischemia and hypoxia since it increases oxygen demand of heart and can worsen ischemia
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Adenosine
used for PSVT, WPW;slows cardiac conduction particularly effecting conduction through the AV node;flushing, chest pain/tightness, brief asystole, bradycardia;Monitor heart rate and rhythm after administration (a short period of asystole is common after administration; bradycardia and hypotension may occur): Assess patients for facial flushing, shortness of breath, dyspnea and chest pain (common side effects); Assess patients for recurrence of PSVT or ventricular ectopy (recurrence of PSVT is common; PVCs may occur)
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Vasopressin (ADH)
used for VF, asystole, PEA, shock; raises BP by inducing moderate vasoconstriction and it is more effective than epi in asystole cardiac arrest;side effects-lower risk for adverse side effects than epi; Nursing implications-Monitor for return of rhythm and pulse when used for VF or pulseless VT
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Epinephrine
used for asystole, VF, VT, PEA, hypotension, anaphylaxis (pulseless arrest); causes direct vasoconstriction thus improving perfusion pressure to the brain and heart; increase heart rate, increases heart muscle contractility, increases conductivity through the AV node;Nursing implications-monitor for return of rhythm and pulse when used for asystole or VF (expected response); assess for tachycardia, dysrhythmias or HTN; assess for development of coarse VF when given during the VF (this may improve the response to defibrillation); precautions-used with caution in patients suffering from MI as it increases heart rate and raises BP which can increase myocardial oxygen demand and worsen ischemia
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Dopamine
Used for hypotension, shock, CHF, renal failure; Assess for increased BP (expected response); Monitor for tachycardia, dysrhythmias or HTN (adverse reactions may occur); monitor IV site for infiltration (extravasation of drug can occur causing necrosis); Assess for urine output <30 ml/hr, pallor, cyanosis, pain or numbness in extremities
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