Cardiovascular drugs: anticoagulants, antiplatelets, thrombolytics
Pharmacology · MBBS
Study notes
A stroke patient arrives at 2 hours; CT shows no bleed — alteplase is given. This is thrombolysis for ischemic stroke — alteplase dissolves the clot, but only within 4.5 hours and only after hemorrhage is excluded (lysis would worsen bleeding). The same drug dissolves coronary clots in STEMI. Afterward, antiplatelets (aspirin + clopidogrel) prevent re-clotting; anticoagulants (heparin/warfarin/DOACs) suit venous clots and atrial fibrillation. Time is brain — every minute 1.9 million neurons die.
Related topics
- General pharmacology: pharmacokinetics — absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion
- General pharmacology: pharmacodynamics — receptors, dose-response, drug interactions
- General pharmacology: adverse drug reactions, pharmacovigilance
- Autonomic drugs: cholinergic agonists and antagonists
- Autonomic drugs: adrenergic agonists and antagonists
- Cardiovascular drugs: antihypertensives, antianginal drugs