NURS 165 Study Guide - Final Guide: Sympatholytic, Metoprolol, Angiotensin
Heart Failure PHARM Study Guide
• Types of cardiovascular drugs
o Diuretics – water pills
o RAAS agents
▪ Aldosterone/Renin agents - vasodilators
o Blockers/Antagonists
▪ Calcium channel blockers
▪ Adrenergic receptor
o Others
• Therapeutic approaches
o Non-pharmacologic
▪ Smoking cessation, physical activity, healthy diet
o Pharmacologic
▪ Aldosterone antagonists
▪ Renin antagonists
▪ Adrenergic receptor blockers (Beta blockers)
▪ Calcium channel blockers
▪ Diuretics (thiazides)
▪ Loop diuretics
▪ Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE-Is)
• Diuretics – Mechanism of Action
o Several classes
▪ Loop (action at thick limb of ascending LOH)
• Furosemide
▪ Thiazides (action at distal tubule)
• Hydrochlorothiazide
▪ Potassium sparing (distal nephron)
• Spirinolactone
▪ Osmotic (inhibits passive water reabsorption)
• Mannitol
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
o Diuretics that block transporters from reabsorbing sodium would also
block water
▪ When sodium is excreted → water follows
• Calcium, magnesium, etc.
▪ Happens at distal convoluted tube (thiazides)
▪ This helps relieve fluid retention
o In collecting duct, lots of water reabsorbed
▪ ADH – antidiuretic hormone
• Wants to KEEP water
▪ Drugs block this (vasopressin antagonists)
o In above picture, sodium, potassium, an chloride are being
reabsorbed. Water follows sodium → also being reabsorbed
▪ Drug that blocks this would prevent reabsorption → more
fluid excreted
▪ Significantly more Na+ is excreted in patients on diuretics!
▪ See other pictures like this on slides!
• RAAS Agents – compounds that affect RAA system
o Aldosterone antagonists
▪ Act at distal nephron to block aldosterone
o ACE-inhibitors
▪ Block activity of enzyme that converts angiotensin
o ARBs
▪ Block activity of receptor for angiotensin II
o Renin antagonist
▪ Block access to renin
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
