Cardiovascular Pharmacology

Block angiotensin II, with cough from bradykinin

A memory aid for the uses, side effects and monitoring of ACE inhibitors.

Lungs, liver, thyroid, eyes, skin and nerves

A memory aid for the organ toxicity and monitoring of amiodarone.

Adenosine for supraventricular tachycardia, amiodarone broadly, digoxin for rate control

A memory aid for choosing antiarrhythmic drugs by arrhythmia.

Warfarin blocks vitamin K, heparin activates antithrombin, DOACs block Xa or thrombin

A memory aid for how the anticoagulants work and are monitored.

ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, thiazides, then spironolactone or beta blockers

A memory aid for the main antihypertensive drug classes and their side effects.

Aspirin blocks thromboxane, clopidogrel blocks ADP, abciximab blocks GPIIb/IIIa

A memory aid for the antiplatelet classes and their targets.

Cardioselective agents spare beta-2 receptors; non-selective agents do not

A memory aid for the differences between beta blockers.

Dihydropyridines act on vessels, non-dihydropyridines on the heart

A memory aid for the two classes of calcium channel blocker.

PT tests the extrinsic pathway, APTT the intrinsic, both the common

A memory aid for interpreting prothrombin time and APTT together.

Nausea, confusion, yellow vision and arrhythmia, worsened by hypokalaemia

A memory aid for recognising and treating digoxin toxicity.

Acetazolamide proximal, loop diuretics in the loop, thiazides distal, potassium sparers in the collecting duct

A memory aid for where each diuretic class acts and its electrolyte effects.

ACE inhibitor, beta blocker, mineralocorticoid antagonist and SGLT2 inhibitor

A memory aid for the drugs that improve survival in heart failure.

Nitric oxide donation causes venodilatation, reducing preload and wall stress

A memory aid for how nitrates relieve angina.

Renin, angiotensinogen, angiotensin I, ACE, angiotensin II, aldosterone

A memory aid for the steps of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone cascade.

Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase; ezetimibe blocks absorption; PCSK9 inhibitors preserve LDL receptors

A memory aid for the lipid-lowering drug classes.

Vasopressors squeeze the vessels; inotropes squeeze the heart

A memory aid for classifying vasoactive drugs by their receptor actions.

Sodium blockers, Beta blockers, Potassium blockers, Calcium blockers

A mnemonic for the classes of antiarrhythmic drug.

Cofactor for gamma-carboxylation of factors II, VII, IX and X plus proteins C and S

A memory aid for the role of vitamin K in clotting.