So i'm blogging in a lecture...

Using this as a notepad :D

An elderly person was suffering from hypertension and heart failure that was manifested by oedema in the lungs, causing pulmonary congestion, and peripheral oedema, causing swelling in the lower limbs.

(i) List the class of drugs that could be prescribed to decrease the patient's extracellular fluid volume, including an example of each type and their mechanism of action (3 mins)

• Loop diuretics - i.e. frusemide
• Thiazides - acting on distal convoluted tubules to inhibit Na/Cl reabsorption
  

(ii) On another visit to the doctor, the cardiac glycoside digoxin was prescribed as the patient was suffered from severe heart failure. What drug interactions should the doctor be aware of that may increase the toxicity of dogixin? Explain the mechanisms causing this potential drug interaction (4 mins)

• Thiazides, frusemide - loss of K+
  
• Digoxin competes for K+ channels - the less K+ present, more chance digoxin will bind to channels -> toxicity
  

On the patient's next visit, the doctor indicates that other treatment options also need to be considered because of the patient's electrolyte imbalance.

(iii) What is the likely ion imbalance? Give an example of each of the treatment options that the doctor should consider, including mechanisms of action for correction of the electrolyte imbalance (3 mins)

• K+ imbalance
• Potassium-sparing diuretics - i.e. aldosterone, Na+ channel blockers
• Potassium supplements

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The following drugs were prescribed to an elderly patient with 'heart problems': aspirin, simvastatin, captopril, atenolol, warfarin.

(i) For each drug, suggest a clinical state/disease for its intended use, and indicate the mechanisms of action that are likely to contribute to the beneficial effects observed in this situation.

• Aspirin - irreversible COX inhibitor
• simvastatin - lipid lowering drug
• captopril - ACE inhibitor
• atenolol -selective beta-1 adrenoceptor antagonist
  
• warfarin - anticoagulant
  

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An elderly man is diagnosed with hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia.

(i) List the symptoms of these 2 conditions.

(ii) Discuss the treatment options for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Surgery
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors - i.e. finasteride
  
• alpha blockers
  

(iii) The doctor prescribes a class of drugs and explains that this will 'provide benefit for both the hypertension and benign prostatic hyperplasia'. Give an example of this particular class of drug and discuss its mechanism(s) of action for both conditions, as well as potential side-effects.

• alpha blocker - anti-hypertensive, blocks tonic activity in blood vessels and prostate.
• Side-effects = dizziness