Cardiovascular Drug Introduction Cardiovascular medications can be broken down into the following categories Antiarrhythmics Antihypertensives Inotropes Vasodilators Diuretics Antihyperlipidemics Anti-plateletes Thrombolytics Overview Clinical use CHF → ↑ contractility atrial fibrillation → ↓ conduction at AV node via ↑ in parasympathetic tone Mechanism direct inhibition of Na+/K+ ATPase ↓ Na+ gradient results in indirect inhibition of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger/antiport ↑ [Ca2+]i → positive inotropy Toxicity blurry yellow vision cholinergic nausea, vomiting, diarrhea life-threatening arrhythmias ↑ PR, ↓ QT, T-wave inversion may ↑ increase K+ serum levels renal insufficiency ↑ digoxin toxicity hypokalemia ↑ digoxin toxicity without K+, digoxin can bind to Na+/K+ ATPase digoxin competes for excretion and competes for tissue-binding sites Antidote "KLAM" slowly normalize K+ Lidocaine digoxin Antibodies (anti-dig Fab fragments) Mg2+