6.11: Antilipemics
- Page ID
- 24285
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Antilipemic agents reduce hyperlipidemia that may lead to additional health problems such as stroke, myocardial infarction, angina, and heart failure. Medications should be used in adjunct with a healthy diet and exercise regime approved by the patient’s health care provider.
Atorvastatin
Mechanism of Action
Atorvastatin inhibits HMG-CoA reductase and cholesterol synthesis, which reduces LDL (low density lipoprotein).
Indications for Use
This medication is used for hyperlipidemia and the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan
Do not use with patients who have hepatic disease.
This medication is contraindicated with patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not give to patients under 10 years of age.
Use caution with geriatric patients due to increased risk for myopathy.
Adverse/Side Effects
Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not take this medication. A health care provider will assess routine liver function for a patient taking atorvastatin. Nausea, diarrhea, dyspepsia, increase in blood glucose, rhabdomyolysis, myalgia, or muscle spasms may be produced by taking this medication. Rhabdomyolysis is a condition in which damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly, causing muscle pain and weakness. Some of the muscle breakdown products are harmful to the kidneys and can cause kidney failure. There may be tea-colored urine or an irregular heartbeat with rhabdomyolysis. [1]
Patient Teaching & Education
Patients should take the prescribed medication as directed and avoid consuming grapefruit juice during drug therapy. The medication should be used with dietary modifications. If the patient experiences muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, these should be reported to the healthcare provider.[2]
Now let’s take a closer look at the medication grid on atrovastatin in Table 6.11a.[3]
| Class/
Subclass |
Prototype-
generic |
Administration Considerations | Therapeutic Effects | Adverse/Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors | atorvastatin | Take at the same time each day, with or without food
Report muscle weakness, feeling tired, abdominal pain, or yellowing of skin or eyes |
Reduce LDL | Rhabdomyolysis, myalgia, and muscle spasms
Abnormal liver enzymes May increase blood glucose Nausea, diarrhea, and dyspepsia |
Ezetimibe
Mechanism of Action
Ezetimibe blocks the absorption of cholesterol in the small intestines to reduce LDL.
Indications for Use
This medication is used for treatment of hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.
Nursing Considerations Across the Lifespan
If medication is combined with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, do not give to pregnant or breastfeeding patients.
Adverse/Side Effects
Use with caution when ezetimibe is combined with additional medication. Patients may experience arthralgia, rhabdomyolysis, hepatic impairment, dizziness, upper respiratory infections, or diarrhea if they are taking this medication. Minimal side effects were reported with monotherapy. [4]
Patient Teaching & Education
Patients should take the prescribed medication as directed and avoid consuming grapefruit juice during drug therapy. The medication should be used with dietary modifications. If the patient experiences muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, this should be reported to the healthcare provider.[5]
Now let’s take a closer look at the medication grid for ezetimibe in Table 6.11b.[6]
| Class/
Subclass |
Prototype-
generic |
Administration
Considerations |
Therapeutic Effects | Adverse/Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitor | ezetimibe | Take at the same time each day, with or without food
Report muscle weakness, feeling tired, abdominal pain, or yellowing of skin or eyes |
Reduce LDL | Arthralgia, rhabdomyolysis
Hepatic impairment Dizziness Upper respiratory infection Diarrhea |
- This work is a derivative of Daily Med by U.S. National Library of Medicine in the public domain. ↵
- uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https://www.unboundmedicine.com/ucentral↵
- This work is a derivative of Daily Med by U.S. National Library of Medicine in the public domain. ↵
- This work is a derivative of Daily Med by U.S. National Library of Medicine in the public domain. ↵
- uCentral from Unbound Medicine. https://www.unboundmedicine.com/ucentral↵
- This work is a derivative of Daily Med by U.S. National Library of Medicine in the public domain. ↵