Cardiovascular Agents Pharmacy Technician Preparation Cardiovascular Agents Cardiovascular agents are used to treat the heart, circulatory, and vascular systems. Each subclass has a unique active ingredient that addresses problems that our body cannot fight on its own. Patients who have one or more cardiovascular conditions such as CHF, hypertension, and arrhythmia may take multiple medications for each condition. There are more subclasses that I will talk about. Although they are all used for the cardiovascular system, they affect different areas. Ace inhibitors are used to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF). Most drugs that are ace inhibitors have the common ending –pril. Inhibits an enzyme; which decreases blood vessel tension and blood volume, thus lowering blood pressure. Lotensin (benzapril) is available in tablets and is used for oral administration. It is one of the ace-inhibitors indicated in the treatment of hypertension. There is a warning while using Lotensin during pregnancy, it indicates to stop use immediately when pregnancy is detected. Vasotec (enalpril) is available in tablets and injections. It is indicated for the treatment of hypertension and is effective alone or in combination with other ace-inhibitory agents, in particular thiazide-type diuretics. There is a warning for fetal toxicity; when pregnancy is detected; stop using. Antiarrhythmic agents are used to suppress abnormal heart rhythms. Many attempts have been made to classify antiarrhythmic agents. There is a problem arising from the fact that many antiarrhythmic agents have multiple actions, making any classification accurate. Betapace (sotalol) is available in tablets and oral solution...... middle of paper......drugs.com/mtm/hylorel.html11. http://www.medicinenet.com/calcium_channel_blockers/article.htm12. http://www.rxlist.com/norvasc-drug/indications-dosage.htm13. http://www.medicinenet.com/bepridil-oral/article.htm14. http://www.drugs.com/drug-class/vasodilators.html15. http://www.medicinenet.com/hydralazine-oral/article.htm16. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-6929-Nitrostat+SL.aspx?drugid=6929&drugname=Nitrostat+SL17. http://www.medicinenet.com/angiotensin_ii_receptor_blockers/article.htm18. http://www.medicinenet.com/valsartan/article.htm19. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-Depth/alpha-blockers/art-2004421420. http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-3710-Cardura+Oral.aspx?drugid=3710&drugname=Cardura+Oral21. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a693045.html22. http://www.rxlist.com/minipress-drug.htm