bed for a few minutes
before standing)
Pharmacology
o Rebound hypertension
(do not suddenly stop the
Cardiovascular medication
ACE Inhibitors
Medication Class (Antihypertensive
agents) Alpha2 Adrenergic Agonists
Therapeutic Uses: Medication Class: (Antihypertensive
o Treats hypertension agents)
o Treats heart failure Therapeutic Uses: Calcium Channel Blockers
o Treats myocardial infarction o Treats hypertension Medication Class: (Antihypertensive
Drug Names: o Manages opioid agents)
o Captopril withdrawal Therapeutic Uses:
Drug Names: o Treats hypertension
o Enalapril
o Clonidine o Treats stable angina
o Fosinopril
o Methyldopa o Treats dysrhythmias
o Lisinopril
Side Effects: Drug Names:
o Ramipril
o Dry mouth o Amlodipine
Side Effects
o Drowsiness o Nifedipine
o Angioedema (rapid swelling of the
o Dizziness o Nicardipine
face and neck)
o Cough dry (normal) Patient Education: Side Effects:
o Report to HCP if swelling o Orthostatic hypotension
o Elevated K+ (can cause cardiac
of the face or mouth o Dizziness
dysrhythmias)
occurs. o Flushing
Patient Education
o Orthostatic Hypotension o Headache
o Report to HCP if swelling of the face
(change positions slowly o Peripheral edema
or mouth occurs.
and sit on the side of the o Constipation
o Orthostatic Hypotension (change
bed for a few minutes Patient Education:
positions slowly and sit on the side
before standing) o Orthostatic Hypotension
of the bed for a few minutes before
o To help with dry mouth:
standing) (change positions slowly
chew gum.
o Avoid potassium(containing foods and sit on the side of the
suck on hard
and potassium pills) (salt substitutes bed for a few minutes
candy.
contain potassium) before standing)
use over the
o Rebound hypertension (do not o Rebound hypertension
counter mouth
suddenly stop the medication) moisturizers (do not suddenly stop the
o Monitor renal values because ACE o Rebound hypertension medication).
inhibitors are excreted by the (do not suddenly stop the o Do not drink grapefruit
kidneys and can cause kidney medication). juice (causes severe
failure) Beta Blockers hypotension)
o ACE inhibitors are Teratogenic, Medication Class (Antihypertensive o Leg elevation and
and not safe during pregnancy. agents. compression to reduce
ARBs Therapeutic Uses: edema.
Medication Class (Antihypertensive o Treats hypertension o To help with
agents) o Treats stable angina constipation: Fluids,
Therapeutic Uses:
o Treat fiber, and fruits.
o Treats hypertension
chronic/compensated Direct Thrombin Inhibitors (DTIs)
o Treats heart failure Medication Class: Anticoagulants
heart failure
Drug Names: o Treat dysrhythmias. Therapeutic Uses:
o Losartan o Reduces the risk of clot
Drug Names:
o Olmesartan o Acebutolol formation
o Valsartan o Metoprolol o Reduces the risk of stroke
Side Effects o Propranolol in clients with chronic
o Angioedema (rapid swelling of the AFib.
o Nadolol
face and neck) Drug Names:
o Atenolol
o Elevated K+ (can cause cardiac o Dabigatran
o Carvedilol
dysrhythmias) o Argatroban
Patient Education Side Effects:
o Bradycardia and heart o Bivalirudin
o Report to HCP if swelling of the face o Desirudin
or mouth occurs. blocks.
o Breathing problems: Patient Education:
o Orthostatic Hypotension (change o Bleeding Precautions:
positions slowly and sit on the side bronchospasm or
bronchoconstriction (bad Avoid
of the bed for a few minutes before NSAIDs,
standing) for asthma patients).
o Bad for heart failure aspirin,
o Avoid potassium(containing foods antibiotics,
and potassium pills) (salt substitutes patient (in an acute
setting) and alcohol
contain potassium) (alcohol-based
o Rebound hypertension (do not o Blood sugar masking
(monitor s/s of mouthwash).
suddenly stop the medication) Soft-bristled
o Monitor renal values because ACE hypoglycemia).
o Hypotension toothbrush.
inhibitors are excreted by the Avoid contact
kidneys and can cause kidney Patient Education:
sports
failure) o Orthostatic Hypotension
Remove throw
o ACE inhibitors are Teratogenic, (change positions slowly
rugs (risk for
and not safe during pregnancy. and sit on the side of the
falls)
, Use an electric Avoid o Ischemic stroke, acute MI
razor. NSAIDs, and PE.
o Swallow capsules whole aspirin,
with a glass of water. antibiotics, NCLEX Tips:
o Keep capsules in their and alcohol
original container. (alcohol-based o No new injections
o Do not stop the mouthwash). o Avoid MI injections
medication Soft-bristled o Avoid unnecessary IV
o Do not crush or open pills
toothbrush. punctures
Factor Xa Inhibitors o Prevent injury
Avoid contact
Medication Class: Anticoagulants
sports o Monitor for signs of
Therapeutic Uses:
o Prevents DVTs post Remove throw bleeding:
hip/knee replacement. rugs (risk for
o Prevents stroke falls) Abdominal
o Management of Use an electric pain
Pulmonary Embolism razor. Coffee ground
Drug Names: o Wear a MedicAlter emesis
o Rivaroxaban device Hematuria
o Edoxaban o Educate the patient to be Coughing
o Apixaban (Eliquis) consistent with Vitamin blood
Patient Education: K food intake. (Liver Black, tarry
o Bleeding Precautions: and Green Leafy stools.
Avoid Vegetables, broccoli,
NSAIDs, spinach, Brussels Do not give to the patient and notify
aspirin, sprouts, cabbage) HCP if:
antibiotics, o Take the medication same
and alcohol o Active bleeding
time every day.
(alcohol-based o Recent head trauma
mouthwash). Heparin
Medication Class: Anticoagulants o Aneurysms or AV
Soft-bristled malformation
toothbrush. Therapeutic Uses:
o Prevents new clots or o History of hemorrhagic
Avoid contact
sports prevents current clots stroke
Remove throw from getting bigger. o Uncontrolled
rugs (risk for o Treats DVTs, pulmonary hypertension.
falls) embolism, MI, and Statins
Use an electric angina. Medication Class:
razor. Antihyperlipidemics &Lipid-
o Contact HCP if the Drug Names: lowering agents.
patient experiences Therapeutic Uses: Treats
neurological impairment o Heparin hyperlipidemia (lowers cholesterol)
such as numbness, o Enoxaparin (Lovenox) Drug Names:
weakness, and altered o Atorvastatin
sensation (increases NCLEX Tips o Fluvastatin
the risk for spontaneous
intracranial bleeding and o Lovastatin
o Heparin works faster than
formation of epidural warfarin. Adverse Reactions:
hematomas).
o Stop the infusion if
evidence of bleeding is o Risk for
seen. Rhabdomyolysis:
Warfarin o Both medications will be Rare condition
Medication Class: Anticoagulants. given for several days where the
Therapeutic Uses: until warfarin reaches muscles are
o Supresess coagulation by therapeutic levels. damaged.
interfering with the Myoglobin
production of vitamin K. Patient Education leaks into the
o Prevents new clots or blood which
prevents current clots o Bleeding Precautions: can cause
from getting bigger. o Avoid NSAIDs, aspirin, kidney
o Treats Afib, artificial antibiotics, and alcohol damage.
heart valves, and those (alcohol-based o Signs and symptoms:
with a history of mouthwash).
thrombosis. Muscle pain,
o Soft-bristled toothbrush. tenderness or
NCLEX Tips:
o Avoid contact sports weakness,
o Warfarin works slowly
o Remove throw rugs (risk malaise, and
(48-72 hours to takes
effect) for falls) fever.
o Route is PO. o Use an electric razor. High
o PT/INR 2-3 Tissue Plasminogen Activators creatinine
o The higher the number, (TPA) levles.
the higher the the chance Medication Class: Thrombolytics Dark urine
of bleeding. Therapeutic Uses: color (tea or
Patient Education: o Clot busters (actually cocoa-like
o Bleeding Precautions: dissolves the clot) urine)
, o Hepatic Dysfunction: o Therapeutic range: Adverse Effects:
check liver function and 0.5-2.0 ng/mL
monitor ALT & AST. (2 = think o Serotonin Syndrome (too
Patient Education: toxic) much serotonin in the
o Report any signs of brain):
muscle aches or NCLEX Tips: Muscle
weakness. rigidity
o Apical pulse must be High HR &
o Take medication in the
assessed for 1 minute BP.
evening.
before administering Tightness in
o Avoid grapefruit and St
digoxin. the muscles.
John Wort.
Mental
Signs of toxicity: changes.
o Sexual dysfunction
o Nausea, vomiting and
Nitrates o Stomach issues
diarrhea.
Antianginals o Swollen (weight gain).
o Blurred vision, yellow or
Therapeutic Uses:
o Treats angina and acute green vision, halo effect
Patient Education:
around dark objects.
coronary syndrome
o Headache, drowsiness, o Educate that it may take 4-6 weeks
o Prevents angina attacks
confusion and to take effect.
Drug Name: disorientation. o Take the medication in the morning
Adenosine o Do not stop it abruptly
o Nitroglycerin Medication Class: Antiarrhythmics o Eat a healthy diet and exercise
Therapeutic Uses:
regularly to combat weight gain.
NCLEX Tips: o First-line drug of choice
o Do not take St. John’s Wort, it
for treatment of
o Do not take erectile increases serotonin levels in the
Supraventricular
dysfunction drugs, brain.
Tachycardia.
which cause low blood o Monitor suicidal thoughts.
pressure resulting in Drug Name: SNRIs & DNRIs
death. Medication Class:
o Expected signs and o Adenosine o Antidepressants
symptoms:
Administration: Therapeutic uses:
Headache,
Hypotension o Treats depressive
o Valsalva maneuver (have
& Hot
the patient bear down) episodes, fibromyalgia,
flushing of the
o Administer as close to the and anxiety disorders and
face.
heart as possible. treats diabetic neuropathy
Patient Education: o Rapid administration (1-2 pain.
seconds)
o Topical and Transdermal Drug Name:
o Followed by a saline
Patch: flush. o Bupropion
Remove prior o A brief period of asystole o Duloxetine
dose may be seen. o Venlafaxine
Rotates sites
Monitor the client for: o Milnacipran
Place over a
clean/hairless o Nefazodone
area. o Flushing
o Dizziness NCLEX Tips
Wear gloves
Do not rub o Hypotension
o Do not chew, cut, or
nitro ointment o Bradycardia
crush this medication.
into the skin, o Chest pain or o Swallow hole.
it can cause palpitations. o Monitor patient for
rapid
absorption.
Nervous System suicidal plans
Patches can SSRIs
Medication Class: Patient Education
worn in the
shower. o Antidepressants
o May take effect in 4-6
o Keep in the original weeks.
Therapeutic Uses:
container (dark, glass o Do not mix with TCAs or
bottle) in a dry cool place. o Treats depression, OCD, MAOIs.
o Do not swallow or chew anxiety, and eating Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)
these tablets. disorder. Medication Class:
Digoxin o Antidepressants
o Cardiac glycoside Drug Name:
Therapeutic Uses:
Therapeutic Uses: o Sertaline
o Citalopram o Treat depressive
o Treats heart failure, o Escitalopram episodes, bipolar
cardiogenic shock, o Fluoxetine disorder, OCD,
dysrhythmias and AFib. o Vilazodone neuropathy, and enuresis.
