Cardiovascular

Slow heart rate & lower BP by blocking β-adrenergic receptors. Watch for bradycardia.

Lower BP by blocking angiotensin conversion. Classic dry cough & angioedema risk.

Lower LDL cholesterol via HMG-CoA reductase inhibition. Monitor for myopathy.

Injectable antibodies that protect the liver’s LDL receptors, cutting LDL cholesterol by about half and lowering cardiovascular events. Given subcutaneously every 2–4 weeks.

PPAR-α agonists that mainly lower triglycerides — used with diet for severe hypertriglyceridemia — with muscle, gallbladder, liver and kidney risks, highest for gemfibrozil combined with a statin.

Non-absorbed resins that trap bile acids in the gut, forcing the liver to use cholesterol and pull LDL from the blood. Constipation, drug binding and rising triglycerides are the issues to manage.

Six non-statin drugs with six targets: ezetimibe (intestinal cholesterol absorption), bempedoic acid (liver cholesterol synthesis), inclisiran (PCSK9 mRNA), niacin and icosapent ethyl (triglyceride-rich lipoproteins) and lomitapide (MTP, for homozygous FH only).

Prevent clot formation. High-alert medications — bleeding precautions essential.

Relax vessels (dihydropyridines) or slow the heart (non-dihydropyridines). Watch edema & bradycardia.

Offload fluid via the kidney — loop, thiazide & potassium-sparing. Monitor electrolytes closely.

Restore & maintain normal rhythm across the four Vaughan-Williams classes. All can be proarrhythmic.

Strengthen and slow the heart in HF and atrial fibrillation. Narrow therapeutic index — a high-alert drug.

Three newer heart-failure drugs, each with its own target: sacubitril/valsartan (neprilysin inhibitor + ARB), ivabradine (the sinus-node If channel) and vericiguat (soluble guanylate cyclase).

Vasodilators that relieve angina by cutting cardiac workload. Never combine with PDE5 inhibitors.

Ranolazine — an add-on for chronic angina that eases ischemia without lowering heart rate or blood pressure. Watch the QT interval and CYP3A drug interactions.

Block the angiotensin II receptor — the ACE-inhibitor alternative without the cough. Recognizable by -sartan.

Stop platelets from clumping — the arterial-clot drugs. Distinct from anticoagulants; do not stop after a stent.

Clot-dissolving drugs for acute ischemic stroke, STEMI and massive PE — they break down a clot that has already formed, at the price of serious bleeding.

Adrenergic drugs (and vasopressin) that raise blood pressure — and, for most, cardiac output — in shock, plus the PDE3-inhibitor inotrope milrinone. ICU titration (epinephrine and norepinephrine are ISMP high-alert). Oral midodrine treats orthostatic hypotension, and IV ephedrine treats hypotension during anesthesia.

Alpha-blockers, central alpha-2 agonists, direct vasodilators and the direct renin inhibitor aliskiren — the add-on/resistant-HTN agents.