Hygiene Atlas

Atlas · Plate VIII · Pharmacology and Local Anesthesia · 06

Cardiovascular drugs

Drug name endings help: -olol for beta-blockers, -pril for ACE inhibitors (dry cough), -sartan for ARBs and -statin for cholesterol drugs. Nonselective beta-blockers can spike blood pressure with epinephrine. Calcium channel blockers can enlarge the gingiva, and diuretics dry the mouth and cause orthostatic hypotension. Warfarin is monitored by INR, and antiplatelet drugs are not stopped for routine care without the physician.

High-yield facts · 8

  1. Beta-blockers end in "-olol"; nonselective ones (propranolol, nadolol) can cause a dangerous BP spike with epinephrine (alpha effect unopposed).S14S51
  2. ACE inhibitors end in "-pril" and can cause a dry cough and angioedema; ARBs end in "-sartan".S51
  3. Calcium channel blockers (nifedipine, amlodipine, verapamil, diltiazem) can cause gingival enlargement.S51
  4. Diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide) cause xerostomia and orthostatic hypotension.S51
  5. Nitroglycerin dilates veins and coronary arteries; side effects are headache, flushing and hypotension.S51
  6. Warfarin is monitored by INR; DOACs (apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, edoxaban) usually need no routine lab monitoring.S57
  7. Antiplatelets: aspirin, clopidogrel; do not stop them for routine dental care without the physician.S57
  8. Statins (end in "-statin") lower LDL cholesterol; rare muscle side effects.S51

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