Nursing NUR304 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Cardiac Arrhythmia, Atrial Flutter, Cardiac Glycoside
Document Summary
Cardiac glycosides are the most effective drugs for treatment of c. h. f. They increase myocardial contractions, which will increase blood supply to all organs including the kidneys therefore causing diuresis, which will decrease the edema. They are used to treat cardiac arrhythmia because they decrease heart rate. They increase the force of myocardial contractions (positive inotropic). It increases the contractility of the heart muscle by minimizing the movement of na + and k+ions and increasing the release of ca2+ ions in the myocardial cells. It decreases the heart rate due to increase in parasympathetic nervous system and decrease in the sympathetic tone. The initial dose is the larger dose (the loading or digitalizing dose), the subsequent doses are referred to as (maintenance doses). Indications: congestive heart failure (c. h. f), cardiac arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter and sinus tachycardia). Given with caution for elderly and people who have kidney failure. Skin rashes, blurring of vision, diplopia and white halos.
