Nursing Pharmacology: Cardiovascular

Key meds used to treat electrolyte and acid/base imbalances: calcium, potassium, sodium bicarbonate, sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate), and magnesium.

Medications for anemia: folic acid (vitamin B9), cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12), ferrous sulfate, and iron dextran.

Antilipemic (cholesterol-lowering) medications: statins, cholesterol absorption inhibitors, bile acid sequestrants, fibric acid derivatives, and niacin (B3).

Medications used for the treatment of shock, including: epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine, dobutamine, and albumin.

Hemostatic agent (aminocaproic acid), thrombolytic medications (alteplase, reteplase, streptokinase), erythropoiesis growth factor (epoetin alfa), leukopoietic growth factor (filgrastim).

Learn more about anticoagulants and antiplatelets, including: factor Xa inhibitors, platelet aggregation inhibitors, and thrombin inhibitors.

Learn what you need to know about the anticoagulant medications heparin and warfarin.

Learn the key facts about amiodarone, calcium channel blockers, adeonsine, and atropine, including BLACK BOX WARNINGS!

Cardiac Glycosides (Digoxin), Class I Antidysrhythmics (sodium channel blockers), and Class II Antidysrhythmics (beta blockers)

Learn about the vasodilator nitroprusside, its black box warning, and easy ways to remember the side effects. Plus, antianginals nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate, and isosorbide dinitrate.

Calcium channel blockers (verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem); centrally-acting alpha-2 agonists (clonidine); beta-1 blockers (metoprolol, atenolol); and nonselective beta blockers (propranolol, labetalol, and carvedilol).

Direct renin inhibitors (aliskiren); ACE inhibitors (captopril, lisinopril); angiotensin II receptor blockers (losartan, valsartan); and aldosterone antagonists (eplerenone).