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DRUGS  |
 Cardiology
  
 
See also BP Medications
CARDIAC DRUGS - QUICK REFERENCE  | 
  
| NEW Medication: 
       Ranolazine (Ranexa) is a very interesting medicine. While it did not save lives, it substantially improved ischemic signs and symptoms. It acts by influencing the late sodium channel. This changes the diastolic properties of the heart. It changes the perfusion in the smaller blood vessels as well as improving the oxygen requirements. Indication of Use: Angina pectoris, chronic Mechanism: Ranolazine is a piperazine derivative and the mechanism of action of its anti-anginal and anti-ischemic effect is unknown. The anti-anginal and anti-ischemic action of ranolazine is not dependent upon heart rate or blood pressure reduction and does not increase myocardial workload. At therapeutic levels, ranolazine can inhibit the inactivating component of the sodium current (I(Na)) although its relationship to angina symptoms is uncertain. It also inhibits the rapid inward rectifying current (I(Kr)), thereby prolonging the ventricular action potential [3]. Adult Dosing: Angina pectoris, chronic: initial, 500 mg ORALLY twice daily; increase to the maximum recommended dose of 1000 mg ORALLY twice daily as needed based on clinical symptoms. Dose Adjustment: 
 Contraindications: 
 Precautions: QTc interval prolongation may occur Side Effects: 
 How Supplied: Oral Tablet, Extended Release: 500 MG, 1000 MG 5-2011  | 
  
| Adenosine
      (Adenocard) 6 mg IV bolus, may repeat at 12 mg IV bolus.
      for SVT, Narrow Complex Tachycardia or Wide Complex Tachycardia  (Ref: NEJM 12/1991;325:1621 Review) * Adverse effects: dyspnea, flushing, chest discomfort or pain. * Supply: 6mg/2mL vial * Duration: less than 1 minute. 
      Amrinone (Inocor)
      0.75 mg/kg loading over 2-3 min, may repeat loading dose
      x1 30 min later prn, then 5-10 ug/kg/min. (Max: <10mg/kg/day) 
      Atropine
      0.5 - 1.0 mg IV  
      Bretylium
      (Bretylol) 250 - 500 mg or 5 mg/kg IV bolus, may repeat
      in 5 min at 10mg/kg, then 1 - 2 mg/min infusion  
      Cardizem (Diltiazem)
      IV bolus for rate control of atrial fib/flutter.  
      Dobutamine
      (Dobutrex) start 2 - 3 ug/kg/min, increase by 2 - 3 ug/kg/min
      q10 - 15min IV infusion, optimal maintenance doses : 7.5 - 20 ug/kg/min (Max:
      40 ug/kg/min)  
      Dopamine
      (Intropin) usually up to 20 ug/kg/min IV infusion; (Max
      20-50 ug/kg/min) (1-2 ug/kg/min dopaminergic; 2-5 ug/kg/min inotropic; 5-20
      ug/kg/min vasoconstriction Alpha1)  
      Epinephrine
      0.5 - 1.0 mg IV  
      Isoproterenol
      (Isusprel) 2 - 20 ug/min IV (B agent effects: inotropic,
      chronotropic, vasodilatation, bronchodilatation))  
      Lidocaine 50 - 100 mg or 1
      - 1.5 mg/kg IV bolus, may repeat in 3-5min upto total 3mg/kg loading, then
      1 - 4 mg/min infusion  
      Nitroglycerin
      (Tridil) IV infusion, start at 5 ug/min, then may increase
      at increment of 5 ug/min q3 - 5min till response seen. May give up to 80
      - 160 ug/min if needed.  
      Nitroprusside
      (Nipride) IV infusion  
      Procainamide
      (Pronestyl) 200 - 1000 mg IV, usually start @ 20 mg/min
      till total of 1 g (17mg/kg) or hypotensive, or QRS >50% wider, or PVC
      suppressed; then maintenance dose 2 - 6 mg/min. * Adverse risks: hypotension,
      prolonged QRS & QT interval  
      Propranolol
      (Inderal) usual dose 1 - 3 mg IV or at rate 0.5 - 1 mg/min
      to total dose of 0.15 - 0.2 mg/kg 
      Verapamil (Isoptin)
      0.075 - 0.15 mg/kg IV (usually about 5 - 10 mg IVP)  | 
  
| Thrombolytics
      for acute myocardial infarction   2009 
       Indications of Thrombolytic RX in acute MI: ECG criteria: 
 Contraindications for Thrombolytic Rx: Absolute contraindications 
 Relative contraindications 
 * If excluded from thrombolytic Rx, consider immediate percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) 
 Adjunctive Therapy to Thrombolytic Rx in acute MI Heparin: 
 Aspirin: 
 Abciximab (ReoPro) - antiplatelet agent 
 
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Agents FDA approved for acute
      myocardial infarction:
      
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Tenecteplase (TNKase) - easier to administer,
      single bolus over 5 seconds.
      
 - Actions: Binds to fibrin and converts plasminogen to plasmin. It is a relatively fibrin-selective plasminogen activator, has greater resistance to plasminogen-activator inhibitors than alteplase. 
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Reteplase
      (Retavase) - double bolus, 30 min apart  
      
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Streptokinase (Streptase/ Kabikinase):
      
 
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t-PA:
       Alteplase (Activase) - - also called
      recombinant tissue plasminogen activator
      (rt-PA)
      
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Anistreplase (Eminase) - Standard APSAC
      (anisoylated plasminogen/streptokinase activator complex)
      
 
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Lanoteplase  
      
 
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| Anti-arrhythmic
      Agents:
       
      Class IA: Quinidine, Procainamide, Norpace (Disopyramide) 
      Class IB: Lidocaine, Phenytoin (Dilantin), Mexiletine (Mexitil), Tonocard
      (Tocainide), Moricizine (Ethmozine) 
      Class IC: Flecainide (Tambocar), Propafenone (Rythmol), Encainide,
      Lorcainide 
      Class II:  Beta blockers as Propranolol (Inderal), Sectral (acebutolol),
      Esmolol 
      Class III: Amiodarone (Cordarone) 200 mg, Sotalol (Betapace),
      Bretylium 
      Class IV: Calcium blockers as verapamil, diltiazem  |