Deck 17: Drugs for Heart Failure

Question 1

The pharmacist is preparing a patient to be discharged home. Which items should the pharmacist instruct the patient to do to help control heart failure? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Reduce weight to an optimum level.
B) Increase caffeine intake.
C) Stop using tobacco.
D) Increase salt intake.

Answer 1

Reduce weight to an optimum level.
Stop using tobacco.

Question 2

The pharmacist is caring for a patient with newly diagnosed heart failure. Which items should the pharmacist instruct the patient to do to help control heart failure? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Eat foods rich in potassium and magnesium.
B) Increase alcohol consumption.
C) Implement a medically supervised exercise plan.
D) Learn and use effective ways to deal with stress.

Answer 2

Eat foods rich in potassium and magnesium.
Implement a medically supervised exercise plan.
Learn and use effective ways to deal with stress.

Question 3

A patient has been prescribed carvedilol to treat heart failure. Which statements are true regarding carvedilol and treatment for heart failure? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Carvedilol should not be used to treat heart failure.
B) Carvedilol has the potential to worsen heart failure.
C) Carvedilol is always used in combination with other agents, usually ACE inhibitors.
D) Carvedilol is a first-line drug for treating heart failure.
E) Carvedilol should never be used with other medications when treating heart failure.

Answer 3

Carvedilol has the potential to worsen heart failure.
Carvedilol is always used in combination with other agents, usually ACE inhibitors.

Question 4

The pharmacist is caring for a patient receiving ACE inhibitor therapy for heart failure. Which statements are true regarding ACE inhibitor treatment of heart failure? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and reduce blood volume by enhancing the excretion of sodium and water.
B) ACE inhibitors decrease cardiac output.
C) ACE inhibitors increase the workload of the heart.
D) ACE inhibitors increase cardiac output.
E) ACE inhibitors decrease the workload of the heart.

Question 5

Which medications are reserved for patients unable to tolerate the adverse effects of ACE inhibitors? (Select all that apply.) Note: Credit will be given only if all correct choices and no incorrect choices are selected.

A) Enalapril
B) Valsartan
C) Lisinopril
D) Candesartan
E) Furosemide

Question 6

Chronic hypertension and diabetes are two disorders commonly associated with heart failure development.

Question 7

Left-sided heart failure is sometimes called congestive heart failure.

Question 8

Medications are available that have the potential to cure heart failure in a large percentage of patients.

Question 9

Increasing salt and alcohol consumption can help control heart failure without drugs.

Question 10

Cardiac glycosides increase cardiac output by increasing the force of myocardial contraction.

Question 11

Vasodilators decrease cardiac workload by constricting vessels and increasing preload. An example is hydralazine.

Question 12

List 4 signs or symptoms of heart failure.

Question 13

Keeping in mind the three characteristics of heart function, explain how the following classes of drugs work and give an example of each class: Adrenergic blockers; Vasodilators; ACE Inhibitors & ARBs; Phosphodiesterase inhibitors; Diuretics; Cardiac glycosides.