Can any one tell me a good site for cardiac drugs?

Specialties CCU

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Hi, Can any one tell me if you have found a great site on the net or a book that explains vasoactive drugs and about titration. And also on how to selct one drug vs another. For instance Neo-Sy. Vs Dopa. Thanks

adam

Hey Adam ... this may seem a little self explanatory but the PDR is a great reference for EVERYTHING you want to know about your drugs. If you have a palm-OS then you can down load it (or several other pharmacologic programs) and keep it handy while you're working. I know the actual PDR is quite cumbersome, but if you have some free time at work then pick a drug and read about it ... that should only take about 5-10 minutes (depending on the drug). Good luck!

If you really want to learn about cardiac pharmacology, you must first have a firm grasp on cardiac physiology and pathophysiology. How can one learn antiarrythmics without first understanding the various cardiac action potentials, and how can one learn vasopressors without understanding the receptors on which many of them act? Without reservation I recommend "Pathophysiology of Heart Disease: A Collaborative Project of Medical Students and Faculty." It does an exquisite job of reviewing normal phys, followed by patho, then pharmacologic management. It's too the point, and appropriately written for medical students. I wish I had heard of this book when I worked in the ICU, but now in nurse anesthesia school I use it all the time. Look for it on Amazon and read the reviews to get some further insight. Good luck!

c - thor ... thanks for the advice. I went on amazon last night and bought it for less than $10!!! I'll be starting my CRNA program this fall and that'll be a great reference/refresher. Thanks again :)

I'll also be starting anesthesia school this fall. I currently work in a cvsicu and love learning about drugs, hemodynamics, etc constantly. I know not everyone is as interested in it as I am, but I think it is so important to know exactly why you are giving a certain drug and alternatives. It amazes me the knowledge gap I see in some nurses, fortunately I had great preceptors and a strive to dig for info from books, other nurses, and docs. I wish there was a complete book accurately listed vasoactive meds easily with implications, all the ones i have read are somewhat incomplete.

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