Nitrates are drugs that are used for their vasodilating effects. Category Examples Nitrates Nitroglycerine, nitroprusside, isosorbide mononitrate, and isosorbide dinitrate Use cases in heart failure Use case Nitates Nota bene Inpatient Nitroglyceride Emergency Nitroprusside Outpatient (long-acting) Isosorbide Given in combination with…
Loop diuretics are a potent class of diuretics that are used for volume depletion in patients with oedema. Category Examples Loop diuretics Furosemide and bumetanide
Anti-platelet drugs prevent arterial thrombosis by inhibiting platelet aggregation. Classification according to mechanism of action Mechanism of action Examples Irreversible COX inhibition Aspirin Irreversible ADP (P2Y12) receptor blockers Clopidogrel and prasugrel Reversible ADP (P2Y12) receptor blockers Ticagrelor GpIIb/IIIa inhibitors Abciximab, eptifibatide,…
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are widely prescribed because they are renal- and cardioprotective. Category Examples ACE inhibitors captopril, lisinopril, and enalapril
Centrally acting antihypertensives lower blood pressure by reducing sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system via α2-adrenergic receptors and/or imidazoline receptors. Classification Category Examples α2-adrenergic receptors Clonidine and methyldopa Imidazoline receptor antagonists Moxonidine and rilmenidine
Statins inhibit the action of HMG-CoA reductase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in hepatic cholesterol synthesis. They are usually taken at night since this is when the majority of cholesterol synthesis takes place. The goal of treatment with statins is to reduced…
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) inhibit L-type voltage-gated calcium channels in cardiac and smooth muscle cells. Classification Classification Effect Examples Adverse effects Dihydropyridine CCBs Primarily act on vascular smooth muscles to cause vasodilation Amlodipine, nifedipine, felodipine, nicardipine, clevidipine, and nimodipine Reflex tachycardia, headache,…
Alpha blockers are mainly used to treat pheochromocytoma or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). They can also be used for severe hypertension. They have no significant contraindications. Indications Indications Examples Mechanism BPH Tamsulosin, alfuzosin, doxazosin, terazosin, and silodosin Relaxes muscles in the prostate and bladder neck…
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are diuretics that reduce the reabsorption of sodium and bicarbonate in the proximal tubule. They are mainly used to lower intracranial and intraocular pressure. Category Examples Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors Acetazolamide, dorzolamide, and methazolamide