• ACE inhibitor
• Prevents angiotensin II activation
• Decr. ADH, BV, BP

• AGII receptor antagnist
• Blocks pro-hypertensive effects of AgII
• Binds AT1 receptor
• Decreased water retention, Na retention

• Alpha adrenergic antagonist
• Competitive; A1 selective
• Can increase CO, usually temporary. 

• CaCh antagonist/blocker
• decrease channel activity
• decrease TPR
• Can increase CO; usually temporary

Nitroglycerin

(Glyceryl Trinitrate)

• Exogenous NO donor
• Not explosive when in drug form
• Multiple routes of administration
• Venous dilation, decr preload
• Uses: acute cardiogenic pulm edema, CHF
• Tolerance does develop

• Exogenous NO donor
• arterial and venous dilation
• Decr preload, decr afterload, decr BP
• Uses: hypertensive emergencies, acute CHF
• IV administration
• Light sensitive; breaks down into cyanide
• Fresh sol'n = slightly brownish, should be discarded if it is dark brown, orange or blue

• PDE 5 Inhibitor
• Increased cGMP = Incr PKG = decr Ca, decr contraction: vasodilation
• Mostly in lungs, corpus cavernosum
• Manage pulmonary hypertension

• Potassium channel activator
• Hyperpolarization = decr CaCh opening, decr Ca entry/contraction
• Decr BP, TPR; rarely used

• Profound arterial dilation
• Decr IP3 induced calcium release
• Rarely used for hypertensive crises; reflex tachycardia (baroreceptors), fluid retention (use with diuretic)
• Used with mitral insufficiency (decr afterload, decr mitral regurg)