Authors

  1. Dalal, Kavitha S. PharmD
  2. Bridgeman, Mary Barna PharmD, BCPS

Article Content

Can you identify these newer cardiovascular drugs? To find out, match each brand name in Section I with its generic name in Section II.

 

Section I

_____ 1. Corlanor (Amgen)

 

_____ 2. Praluent (Sanofi-Aventis US)

 

_____ 3. Savaysa (Daiichi Sankyo)

 

Section II

a. ivabradine. This hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated channel blocker is indicated to reduce the risk of hospitalization for worsening heart failure in patients with stable, symptomatic, chronic heart failure with certain clinical specifics and who are already on maximum dosages of a beta-blocker or who may have a contraindication to beta-blocker use. Teach patients to avoid grapefruit juice and St. John's wort.

 

b. alirocumab. Administered subcutaneously, this drug is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits proprotein convertase subtilisin kexin type 9. It's indicated to treat patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and patients with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease who require additional lowering of LDL cholesterol in conjunction with diet and maximum-tolerated doses of statin therapy. Injections are usually administered every 2 weeks. Teach patients to let the solution sit at room temperature for 30 to 40 minutes before injection.

 

c. edoxaban. This factor Xa inhibitor is indicated to reduce the risk of stroke and venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. However, it's contraindicated in patients with a creatinine clearance greater than 95 mL/min due to an increased risk for ischemic stroke. It's also indicated to treat VTE following 5 to 10 days of initial therapy with a parenteral anticoagulant. Teach patients to take the drug at the same time every day. If they miss a dose, they should take it as soon as they remember on the same day, but warn them never to double a dose.

 

ANSWERS: 1. A, 2. B, 3. C