THE LEARNER WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Understand the basic pharmacology of medications used in cardiovascular medicine
• Hypertensive medications
• Cholesterol lowering agents
• Anticoagulants
• Anti-arrhythmics
• Diabetic medication
• Develop skills to effectively search for information regarding medication unfamiliar to you (both non-cardiac and herbal medications)
• Identify potential interaction with cardiac medications or cardiac health (i.e. non-cardiac medication that your patient may be taking)
• Identify common adverse drug reactions associated with cardiovascular medication and understand how to manage them and report them to Health Canada.

• UNDERSTANDING CARDIAC MEDICATIONS (10 contact hours) On-line COURSE
  Main website: http://icontentportal.plateau.com/ecommerce/control/main
• SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MEDICATIONS AND POTENTIAL INTERACTIONS
• USEFUL AND EVIDENCE BASED MEDICATION SEARCH ENGINES
  (Most Institutions Will Have Access to At Least One Of The Following Databases)
• Micromedex
• Provides useful, succinct information on medication and is very well referenced
• Also has patient information section for most medications
• Has a comprehensive drug interaction program
• Epocrates
• Free database for handheld devices
• Useful information, but American based
• Lexi-comp
• Physician Drug reference
• Available online and in hardcopy.
• CPS
• Available in French and English
• Mayo clinic
• Good overview of many Over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs and herbal products (most of the information on specific drugs provided by micromedex)
• Also has general information on medications
• HERBAL PRODUCTS
• Heather Boon, Michael Smith. The Complete Natural medicine guide to the 50 most common Medicinal Herbs. 2004.
• CACR Guidelines 2nd edition: Chapter 5 Alternative therapies
• ADVERSE DRUG EVENTS
• Health Canada or Review guidelines and importance of reporting an ADR

• Complete Understanding Cardiac Medication Course through iContent
• Case Studies and knowledge questions
• Mr. Henry James
• Questions




Mr. James asks you if it is okay to take Ginkgo biloba and his anticoagulant medication for atrial fibrillation. The doctor says it is fine, but he has been noticing some increased bruising since he has started taking the Gingko. Could it be related? List what sources you would search and Answer your question Check Answer




• Sophia Smith
• Questions




After your first interview with Mrs. Smith, you discover she is taking Advil Extra Strength for her arthritis and is wondering if it is okay with her other medications. What is your response to Sophia? Write a formalized response to her family doctor regarding your conversation with Sophia and back this up with references from at least two reliable sources. Check Answer

Example of a formalized drug information response addressed to a family doctor

• If possible, report an adverse drug reaction that you have witnessed using the Health Canada online reporting website.

• Hypertensive Medications
• Cholesterol Lowering Agents
• Anticoagulants
• Anti-Arrhythmics
• Diabetic Medication
• Patient Information

• Evidence Based Case Review: Treating hypertension. West J Med 2000;173 (4):259-260.
• Heather Boon, Michael Smith. The Complete Natural medicine guide to the 50 most common Medicinal Herbs. 2004
• ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular Arrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death. Circulation 2006;114 (10):e385
• ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for the management of patients with atrial fibrillation. Circulation 2006;114(7):700.
• Hirsh J, Guyatt G, et al. The Seventh ACCP Conference on Antithrombotic and Thrombolytic Therapy: Evidence-Based Guidelines. Chest, Sep 2004; 126: 172S - 173S.
• Canadian Cardiovascular Society position statement- Recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of dyslipidemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Can J Cardiol 2006 (22):915.
• Canadian Journal of Diabetes