Medical student's note

Calcium channel antagonists also known as calcium channel blockers (CCBs),  have been widely used for many indications.  often classified into two major categories, non-dihydropyridines  dihydropyridines.  1. Indication This cardiovascular drug class is one of the leading causes of drug-related fatalities.  two major categories non-dihydropyridines include  verapamil---------a phenylalkylamine diltiazem----------a benzothiazepine. dihydropyridines include many other drugs,  most of which end in "pine"  i.e., amlodipine and nicardipine Cardiovascular indications include  hypertension,  coronary spasm,  angina pectoris, 心绞痛 supraventricular dysrhythmias, 室上性心律失常 hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 肥厚型心肌病 pulmonary hypertension. 肺动脉高压 also prescribed for  Raynaud phenomenon,  subarachnoid hemorrhage, 蛛网膜下腔出血 migraine headaches. 偏头痛 2. Mechanism Calcium channel antagonists  block the inward movement of calcium by binding to the L-type “long-acting” voltage-gated calcium channels in the

 Minoxidil 1. Mechanism of action It causes dilatation of arterioles by  unclosing of potassium channels.  causes hyperpolarization relaxation of smooth muscles results in the reduction of total peripheral vascular resistance.  the blood pressure is reduced. 2. Actions Minoxidil may cause palpitations and reflex tachycardia. It may increase the plasma renin activity caused by reflex sympathetic activity or decrease by certain unknown mechanism. It may cause sodium and water retention. 3. Pharmacokinetics It is well absorbed orally. It is metabolized in the liver. Its duration of action is about 1-3 days. 4. Therapeutic uses 1. Moderate to serious hypertension 2. severe hypertension associated with disturbance of renal function 3. topically can be used as an activator of hair growth for baldness 5. Adverse effects Headache,  Tachycardia,  angina,  sweating,  Excessive hair growth,  fluid retention causing volume overload 6. Reference http://jeepakistan.blogspot.com/2011/04/minoxidil.htm

Vasodilators  are useful in the management of hypertension, angina, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and more. 1. Indication most commonly systemic hypertension Other diseases include  myocardial infarction (both ST-segment elevation and non-ST-segment elevation),  angina,  heart failure,  stroke,  chronic kidney disease,  preeclampsia,  hypertensive emergency  Vasodilators most commonly affect the arteries in the human body, but some vasodilators (such as nitroglycerin) can affect the venous system of the body predominantly.  Several different vasodilators have undergone development over the years, as mentioned below. Direct-acting vasodilators (hydralazine, minoxidil, nitrates, nitroprusside) Calcium channel blockers (verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, amlodipine) An antagonist of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (angiotensin receptor blockers, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors) Beta-2 receptor agonist (salbutamol, terbutaline) Postsynaptic alpha-1 receptor antago

 Adrenergic Antagonists Related Link:  【Pharmacology】Adrenergic drug (adrenergic antagonists) The adrenergic antagonists (also called blockers or sympatholytic agents) bind to adrenoceptors but do not trigger the usual receptor-mediated intracellular effects. These drugs act by either reversibly or irreversibly attaching to the receptor, thus preventing its activation by endogenous catecholamines. Like the agonists, the adrenergic antagonists are classified according to their relative affinities for α or β receptors in the peripheral nervous system. [Note: Antagonists that block dopamine receptors are most important in the central nervous system (CNS) and are therefore considered in that section ).]   Adrenergic blockers α -blocker Alfuzosin Doxazosin Phenoxybenzamine Phentolamine Prazosin Tamsulosin Terazosin Yohimbine   β-blocker Acebutolol Atenolol Carvedilol Esmolol Labetalol Metaprolol Nadolol Pindolol Propranolol Timolol   Drugs

Adrenergic Agonists Related link:  【Pharmacology】Adrenergic drug (adrenergic agonists) The adrenergic drugs affect receptors that are stimulated by norepinephrine or epinephrine. Some adrenergic drugs act directly on the adrenergic receptor (adrenoceptor) by activating it and are said to be sympathomimetic.  block the action of the neurotransmitters at the receptors (sympatholytics), whereas still other drugs affect adrenergic function by interrupting the release of norepinephrine from adrenergic neurons. This chapter describes agents that either directly or indirectly stimulate adrenoceptors.   Direct-acting: Albuterol Clonidine Dobutamine Dopamine Epinephrine Formoterol Isoproterenol Metaproterenol Methoxamine Norepinephrine Phenylephrine Piruterol Salmeterol Terbutaline   Indirect-acting Amphetamine Cocaine Tyramine   Direct and Indirect acting (Mixed action) Ephedrine Pseudoephrine 1. The Adrenergic Neuron Adrenergic neurons rel

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) – Does its contemporary business booming and globalization really reconfirm its medical efficacy & safety? 笔记 1. Introduction 有几个国家同意中医 Promoting the globalization of TCM, Traditional Chinese medicine has been spread to 183 countries and regions around the world.  According to the World Health Organization,  103 member states have given approvalto the practice of acupuncture and moxibustion 29 have enacted special statutes on traditional medicine 18 have included acupuncture and moxibustion treatment in their medical insurance provisions  2. What's in the TCM bottle? The philosophy behind Chinese medicine is a melding of tenets from Buddhism, Confucianism, and the combined religious and philosophical ideas of Taoism.  TCM is based on the concept that illness occurs when a person's “internal Qi” falls out of balance.  Qi: the word the Chinese use to describe the un-measurable energies that theoretically permeate everything in the universe. 

Herbal Remedies: Drug-Herb Interactions 笔记  part 2 Content: 1. Herbs harmless? 2. STANDARDIZATION AND QUALITY CONTROL 3. DRUG INTERACTIONS 4. DRUG-HERB INTERACTIONS 5. SELECTED POPULAR HERBS      i. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-----------------------------(Part 1)      ii. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum)      iii. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)     iv. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)     v. Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)     vi. St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) 6. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING 7. Summarizes drug-herb interactions 5. SELECTED POPULAR HERBS ii. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) 亚麻籽 Flax one of the oldest cultivated plants in the world grown for its  fiber (linen) seed oil (linseed oil) seeds (flaxseed) a bulk-producing, stoolsoftening agent that lowers levels of  cholesterol (9%) triglycerides low-density lipoproteins (18%) flax interferes with the reabsorption of fats by binding to bile acids in the intestinal tract When soaked, flaxseeds have mucilaginous properties and can bind wi

Herbal Remedies: Drug-Herb Interactions 笔记  part 1 Content: 1. Herbs harmless? 2. STANDARDIZATION AND QUALITY CONTROL 3. DRUG INTERACTIONS 4. DRUG-HERB INTERACTIONS 5. SELECTED POPULAR HERBS      i. Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)-----------------------------(Part 1)      ii. Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) 亚麻籽      iii. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)      iv. Ginger (Zingiber officinale)      v. Kava Kava (Piper methysticum)      vi. St John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum) 6. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING 7. Summarizes drug-herb interactions 1. Herbs harmless? About one third of our drugs, including  digitalis洋地黄 medicine that is used to treat certain heart conditions morphine嗎啡 treat severe pain atropine treat the symptoms of low heart rate several chemotherapeutic agents were developed from plants.  Herbs can affect body functions; therefore, when herbs are taken concurrently with drugs, interactions are possible. 2. STANDARDIZATION AND QUALITY CONTROL Because herbs are sold as food supplements, co