1. Introduction to Clinical Pharmacology Chapter 36 Antianginal and Vasodilating Drugs

2. Key Definitions
Atherosclerosis: disease characterized by deposits of fatty plaques on the inner walls of arteries
Angina: acute pain in the chest resulting from decreased blood supply to the heart muscle

3. Antianginal Drugs: Actions
Nitrates: act by relaxing the smooth muscle layer of blood vessels, increasing the lumen of the artery or arteriole, and increasing the amount of blood flowing through the vessels
Calcium channel blockers: act by inhibiting the movement of calcium ions across cell membranes of cardiac and arterial muscle cells; effects on the heart: slowing the conduction velocity of the cardiac impulse; depression of myocardial contractility; dilating coronary arteries and arterioles

4. Antianginal Drugs: Uses
Nitrates: relieve pain of acute anginal attack; prevent angina attacks; treat chronic stable angina pectoris
All nitrates, such as isosorbide mononitrate, topical nitroglycerin, and oral nitroglycerin, are indicated for the prevention of angina pectoris
Calcium channel blocker: anginal pain associated with certain forms of angina, such as vasospastic angina; chronic stable angina; hypertension
Nicardipine is the drug used in the treatment of angina when arrives in urgent or emergency situations
Ensure to go over Summary Drug Tables4

5. Antianginal Drugs: Adverse Reactions #1
Nitrates:
CNS reactions: headache (may be severe and persistent), dizziness, weakness, and restlessness
Other body system reactions: hypotension, flushing, and rash

6. Antianginal Drugs: Adverse Reactions #2
Calcium channel blockers
CNS reactions: dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nervousness, asthenia (loss of muscular strength), and fatigue
Gastrointestinal reactions: nausea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort
Cardiovascular reactions: peripheral edema, hypotension, arrhythmias, and bradycardia
Other body system reactions: rash, flushing, nasal congestion, and cough

7. Antianginal Drugs: Contraindications and Precautions #1
Nitrates:
Contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drugs, severe anemia, closed-angle glaucoma, postural hypertension, early myocardial infarction (MI), head trauma, cerebral hemorrhage (may increase intracranial hemorrhage), allergy to adhesive (transdermal system), or constrictive pericarditis; amyl nitrite: pregnancy

8. Antianginal Drugs: Contraindications and Precautions #2
Nitrates (cont.)
Precautions: in patients with severe hepatic or renal disease, severe head trauma, acute MI, and hypothyroidism; during pregnancy and lactation
Calcium channel blockers:
Contraindicated: patients who are hypersensitive to the drug; with sick sinus syndrome; with second- or third-degree atrioventricular (AV) block; with hypotension (systolic pressure less than 90 mm Hg); with ventricular dysfunction; with cardiogenic shock

9. Antianginal Drugs: Contraindications, Precautions, and Interactions
Calcium channels blockers (cont.)
Precautions: in patients with congestive heart failure, hypotension, renal impairment, and hepatic impairment; during pregnancy and lactation
Interactions:
Nitrate interacts with alcohol—severe hypotension and cardiovascular collapse may occur; aspirin— increased nitrate plasma concentrations and action may occur; calcium channel blockers—increased symptomatic orthostatic hypotension; dihydroergotamine—increased risk of hypertension and decreased antianginal effect; heparin—decreased effect of heparin

10. Antianginal Drugs: Interactions
Interactions (cont.)
Calcium channel blockers interact with cimetidine or ranitidine—increased effects of calcium channel blockers; theophylline— increased pharmacologic and toxic effects of theophylline; St. John’s wort—reduced serum concentrations of calcium channel blocker, e.g., nifedipine; digoxin—increased risk for digitalis toxicity; rifampin—decreased effect of calcium channel blocker

11. Nursing Process: Assessment #1
Preadministration assessment:
Before administering an antianginal drug: obtain and record a thorough description of the patient’s anginal pain, events trigger anginal pain, if pain radiates, and event(s) trigger anginal pain as well as a history of allergy to the nitrates or calcium channel blockers and of other disease processes that would contraindicate administration of the drug; take apical and radial pulse, blood pressure, and respiratory rate
Assess the physical appearance of the patient, auscultate the lungs for adventitious sounds, and obtain a baseline ECG and vital signs
Hold antianginal medications such as calcium channel blockers and contact provider is heart rate below 50 bpm or systolic blood pressure below 90 mm Hg.

12. Nursing Process: Assessment #2
Ongoing assessment:
Monitor the patient for the frequency and severity of any episodes of anginal pain; report to the primary health care provider any chest pain that does not respond to three doses of nitroglycerin given every 5 minutes for 15 minutes; take the patient’s vital signs before administration and frequently during administration; assess patients receiving the calcium channel blockers for signs of CHF: dyspnea, weight gain, peripheral edema, abnormal lung sounds (crackles/rales), and jugular vein distention

13. Nursing Process: Diagnosis
Risk for Injury related to hypotension, dizziness, lightheadedness; weakness
Pain related to narrowing of peripheral arteries, decreased blood supply to the extremities

14. Nursing Process: Planning
Expected outcomes for the patient depend on the specific reason for administration of an antianginal drug but may include:
Optimal response to drug therapy
Meeting of patient needs related to the management of common adverse drug reactions
Understanding of the postdischarge drug regimen

15. Nursing Process: Implementation #1
Promoting an optimal response to therapy:
Nitrates administered by the sublingual (under the tongue), buccal (between the cheek and gum), oral, IV, or transdermal route; nitroglycerin administered by the sublingual, buccal, topical, transdermal, oral, or IV route; if the buccal form of nitroglycerin prescribed, instruct the patient to place the buccal tablet between the cheek and gum or between the upper lip and gum above the incisors and allow it to dissolve

16. Nursing Process: Implementation #2
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Nitrates (cont.): nitroglycerin also administered by a metered spray canister to abort an acute anginal attack; instruct the patient to call the nurse if pain not relieved in three doses
Administering topical nitroglycerin: dose measured in inches or millimeters; before measuring and applying the drug obtain patient’s blood pressure and pulse rate: compare with baseline and previous vital signs—if blood pressure lower or pulse rate higher, contact primary health care provider before applying

17. Nursing Process: Implementation #3
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Nitrates
Administering topical nitroglycerin (cont.): nurses need to don gloves to prepare; applicator paper supplied with drug; one paper per application; express the prescribed amount of ointment onto paper while holding the paper; remove paper from previous administration, folding in half and dispose, and cleanse area; rotate application sites to prevent inflammation of skin using upper arms and legs; cleanse the area of skin before applying; do not massage application of paper applicator

18. Nursing Process: Implementation #4
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Nitrates (cont.)
Administering transdermal nitroglycerin: convenient and easier to use; should be applied every day for 10 to 12 hours; drug absorbed through skin; has the drug impregnated in a pad; tolerance to vascular and anginal effects of nitrates—patients taking higher dosages: prescribed longer-acting products; on dosing schedules

19. Nursing Process: Implementation #5
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Nitrates (cont.)
Administering transdermal nitroglycerin (cont.): patients using patches prone to tolerance—nitroglycerin released at constant rate, steady plasma concentration maintained; when applying transdermal system; inspect skin site—dry, free of hair, and not subject to excessive rubbing or movement; discuss the nursing interventions when applying transdermal system on the patient

20. Nursing Process: Implementation #6
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Nitrates (cont.)
Administering oral nitroglycerin: available as tablet that is swallowed; provide to patient on empty stomach, unless ordered otherwise; if nausea occurs after administration, notify the health care provider; taking tablet or capsule with food may be ordered to relieve nausea; due to tolerance primary health care provider may prescribe short- acting two to three times per day until 7 p.m. and long-acting twice daily

21. Nursing Process: Implementation #7
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Nitrates (cont.)
Administering IV nitroglycerin: administered diluted in normal saline solution or in 5% dextrose in water by continuous infusion using infusion pump to ensure rate; by using glass IV bottles and sets provided by manufacturer; use non-polyvinyl chloride (PVC) infusion sets; regulate dosage according to patient’s response and as per primary health care provider’s instruction

22. Nursing Process: Implementation #8
Promoting an optimal response to therapy (cont.)
Calcium channel blockers: taken without regard to meals, unless GI upset occurs, then give with meals; verapamil and bepridil cause gastric upset, hence taken with meals; verapamil tablets opened and sprinkled on foods or mixed in liquids, tablet coverings can be expelled in stool; patient with difficulty swallowing diltiazem: tablets crushed and mixed with food or liquid

23. Nursing Process: Implementation #9
Monitoring and managing patient needs:
Risk for injury: assist patient having episodes of postural hypotension with all ambulatory activities; instruct the patient to take the drug in the sitting or supine position and keep the position until symptoms disappear; instruct to lie down if dizziness occurs; monitor blood pressure frequently in patient with dizziness and lightheadedness
Pain: evaluate response to therapy by questioning about anginal pains; pain: relieved partially or entirely, less intense or frequent, or occurs with prolonged exercise; record information on patient’s chart—helps in future therapy and making dosage adjustments

24. Nursing Process: Implementation #10
Educating the patient and family:
Patient and family should have a thorough understanding of treatment of chest pains with an antianginal drug; explain the therapeutic regimen to the patient; adapt the teaching plan to the type of antianginal drug prescribed
Instruct to keep a record of frequency of attacks (date, time, drug, and dose used to relieve the pain)
If headaches occur might decrease continued therapy, may use aspirin or acetaminophen, or may be an indication of the nitrate’s effectiveness

25. Nursing Process: Implementation #10
Educating the patient and family:
Proper storage of oral nitroglycerin includes keeping tablets and capsules in their original container, never mixing oral nitroglycerin with other drugs in a container, never storing oral nitroglycerin in a plastic container, keeping the drug away from light, and always replacing the container lid tightly
Nitroglycerin translingual spray can be used prophylactically 5 to 10 minutes prior to engaging in activities that precipitate an anginal attack. The client should not shake the canister before use. At the onset of an anginal attack, the client should spray one or two metered doses onto or under the tongue and not exceed three metered doses within 15 minutes. The client should clean the canister as directed on the package.

26. Nursing Process: Implementation #10
Educating the patient and family:
When taking a vasodilator nurse should instruct the client to notify primary health care provider: if the client experiences a heart rate of 20 bpm or more above the normal rate; rapid weight gain of 5 lb or more; unusual swelling of the extremities, face, or abdomen; dyspnea; angina; severe indigestion; or fainting.

27. Nursing Process: Evaluation
The therapeutic effect is achieved and pain is relieved
Adverse reactions are identified, reported to the primary health care provider, and managed successfully through nursing interventions
The patient verbalizes an understanding of the treatment modalities
The patient and family demonstrate an understanding of the drug regimen

28. Question #1 Is the following statement true or false?
When the fatty deposits of atherosclerosis involve the coronary vessels supplying the heart, anginal pain can occur.

29. Answer to Question #1 True
When the fatty deposits of atherosclerosis involve the coronary vessels supplying the heart, anginal pain can occur.

30. Question #2 Is the following statement true or false?
Antianginal drugs vasodilate and relax the smooth muscle of arterioles around the heart; this promotes blood flow and reduces pain.

31. Answer to Question #2 True
Antianginal drugs vasodilate and relax the smooth muscle of arterioles around the heart; this promotes blood flow and reduces pain. Some drugs are used for immediate relief of pain; others are used routinely to prevent painful episodes.

32. Question #3 Is the following statement true or false?
Men taking antianginals need to be assessed and cautioned for use of erectile dysfunction medications because these drugs also cause vasodilation.

33. Answer to Question #3 True
Men taking antianginals need to be assessed and cautioned for use of erectile dysfunction medications because these drugs also cause vasodilation.