Adrenergic System Inhibitors features videos that provide a visual approach to alpha and beta blockers in cardiovascular pharmacology.
Cardiovascular pharmacology deals with the study of the effects of drugs upon the heart or circulatory system. Cardiovascular medicines help to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, slow the progression of it as well as treat its symptoms whilst providing a better quality of life and increasing life expectancy.
Types of Cardiovascular Drugs include:
- Anti-Hypertensive Drugs
- Anti-Angina Drugs
- Anti-Arrhythmic Drugs
- Anti-Coagulants
- Anti-Hyperlipidaemic Drugs
Anti-Hypertensive Drugs are further sub-divided into 4 categories, namely:
Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone Inhibitors
Adrenergic System Inhibitors
Diuretics
Direct Vasodilators
Below you can find a collection of videos that can help provide a more visual approach to cardiovascular pharmacology, specifically on the Anti-Hypertensive Drugs – Adregenic System Inhibitors.
The Adrenergic System:
The main neurotransmitter of the Adrenergic system is Nonepinephrine. Nonepinephrine acts on all adrenergic receptors to generate a response.
When the sympathetic system is stimulated, there is an increase in heart rate and contractility, and blood vessels constrict. When the sympathetic system is blocked, the heart rate slows down and the blood vessels dilate.
Drugs that STIMULATE the adrenergic system = alpha or beta agonists (sympathomimetics).
Drugs that BLOCK the adrenergic system = alpha or beta blockers (sympatholytics).
Beta Blockers:
Beta Blockers block action of Epinephrine and Nonepinephrine and act as antagonists, blocking beta1 (heart) and beta2 (lungs) adrenergic receptors.
First Generation Nonselective Beta Blockers – Act on B1 (Heart) & B2 (Lungs) eg. Nadolol, Oxprenolol, Penbotalol, Pindolol, Propanolol, Sotalol, Timolol.
Second Generation B1 Selective Beta Blockers – Act on B1 (Heart) eg. Acebutolol, Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Esmolol, Metoprolol. Ideal for asthmatics!
Third Generation Vasodilatory: Nonselective eg. Carteolol, Carvedilol, Labetalol; B1 Selective eg. Betaxolol, Nebivolol.
- INDICATIONS: angina, arrhythmias, heart failure, hypertension, MI.
- ADVERSE EFFECTS: bradycardia, hypotension, increase in lipidemia, decrease in libido, bronchospasm causing shortness of breath, chronic heart failure due to abnormalities in conductivity, kinks peripheral vessels, exhaustion, emotional depression, masks hyperglycaemia.
- CONTRAINDICATIONS: bradycardia, heart block, asthma (do not administer 1st Gen Beta Blockers especially Propanolol), CHF, diabetes, COPD. Avoid concurrent administration of BB with CCBs and Diuretics.
- NURSING INTERVENTION: check pulse and do not administer if patient is bradycardic. Be extremely careful with HF patients. Monitor side effects.
- PATIENT EDUCATION: advise not to stop medication abruptly. Take with food to reduce or prevent GI disturbances. Whilst body adjusts to medication, side effects such as dizziness, light headedness, drowsiness and blurred vision may occur. Cold extremities may be due to the reduction of blood circulation to the extremities.
Alpha Blockers:
Alpha Blockers eg. Doxasozin, Prasozin.
Alpha 1 causes blood vessels to dilate = reduction in the peripheral resistance = fall in BP = postural hypotension. Decreases contraction force of the heart.
Alpha 2 causes vascular smooth muscles to dilate = decrease in BP.
The Sympathetic vs Parasympathetic Nervous System: Inhibiting and Stimulating Drugs
Beta Blockers
Alpha Blockers
Special thanks to the creators of the featured videos on this post, specifically Youtube Channels Registered Nurse RN and Drugs in Motion.
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