Fenoldopam is a dopamine agonist used for the acute treatment of severe hypertension.
The α1 antagonists, such as PRAZOSIN, terazosin, and doxazosin, dilate arteries and veins.
β-Blockers may be particularly useful in patients with angina or those with migraines.
Pharmacologically, the treatment of coronary artery disease focuses on the reduction of myocardial oxygen demand.
Treatment of heart failure is targeted toward decreasing cardiac workload, controlling excess fluid, and enhancing myocardial contractility.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lessen the symptoms of heart failure by reducing cardiac workload.
Diuretics are almost always used to control excess fluid accumulation in heart failure.
The cardiac glycosides (DIGOXIN and DIGITOXIN) improve myocardial contractility. They inhibit Na+–K+–ATPase.
Digoxin has a shorter half-life, no (the ultimate fewer) metabolites, is less completely absorbed from the GI tract, and is less protein bound than digitoxin.
DOBUTAMINE is a β1 agonist. At moderate doses it increases contractility of the heart without changing blood pressure or heart rate.
ADENOSINE is highly effective in terminating paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.
DIGOXIN is used to control the ventricular rate in atrial fibrillation or flutter.
Drugs that can be used to increase heart rate include ATROPINE, ISOPROTERENOL, and EPINEPHRINE.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including aspirin, inhibit platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time.
Platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists prevent platelet aggregation by blocking the binding of fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor to the glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor on the surface of the platelet.
HEPARIN interferes with clotting factor activation in both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathway.