Drugs

What commonly used medications cause hypercalcemia and how? Vitamin D toxicity, which usually develops in vitamin faddists, manifests clinically with hypercalcemia. In general, serum 25D levels above 80 ng/mL are necessary for vitamin D toxicity, though much higher levels are typically seen in symptomatic hypercalcemia. Hypercalcemia also occurs in CKD patients treated for secondary hyperparathyroidism …

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Why is hydrochlorothiazide an effective treatment for PHA 2. Familial hyperkalemic hypertension? PHA 2 is a heterogeneous condition that can be transmitted in autosomal-dominant, autosomal-recessive, or de novo fashion. In addition to hypertension and hyperkalemia, patients feature hyperchloremic metabolic acidosis. Aldosterone levels are typically in the low normal range, reflecting the opposing effects of hyperkalemia, …

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Why are amiloride or triamterene used to treat Liddle syndrome? First described by Grant W. Liddle in 1963, individuals with this autosomal-dominant form of hypertension feature hypokalemia and metabolic alkalosis, suggesting hyperaldosteronism; however, their aldosterone levels are completely suppressed. Interestingly, affected individuals do not respond to spironolactone treatment; however, they show significant improvement of blood …

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Should a thiazide diuretic or loop diuretic be used to treat hypertension? In patients with normal kidney function, thiazide diuretics are preferred to loop diuretics. The thiazide diuretics have a longer duration of action than do loop diuretics. Furosemide, for example, has a duration of action of approximately 6 hours. After 6 hours, activation of …

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Should a thiazide diuretic or loop diuretic be used to treat hypervolemia? Approximately 25% of sodium filtered by the glomeruli is reabsorbed by the loop of Henle. Approximately 3% to 5% of filtered sodium is reabsorbed by the distal tubule and connecting segment. Because of their greater potency, loop diuretics are used to treat symptomatic …

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How do diuretics work? All diuretics block sodium reabsorption by the kidney. Diuretics are classified according to the site in the nephron at which they block sodium reabsorption. There are four classes of diuretics. • The thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, and metolazone) inhibit the Na + -Cl − cotransporter in the luminal membrane of the distal tubule and connecting …

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Efficacy of antihypertensive drugs Clonidine and other centrally acting α2-agonists (e.g., methyldopa, guanfacine) work by decreasing sympathetic outflow from the central nervous system; in small doses, this causes vasodilation and BP lowering. In larger doses, sedation, dry mouth, drowsiness, and other symptomatic adverse effects occur, which are presumably the reason clonidine was the least well-tolerated …

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