Cardiovascular Medications Cheatsheet
ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, CCBs, nitrates, anticoagulants, antiplatelets, antiarrhythmics, and statins. One printable page — built for LPN/LVN exit exam and NCLEX-PN prep.
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What's inside
A focused, one-page reference covering the must-know facts on cardiovascular medications for the LPN/LVN exit exam and NCLEX-PN. No fluff — just the content that actually shows up on the test.
- ACE inhibitors (-pril) & beta-blockers (-olol)
- Calcium channel blockers & nitrates
- Anticoagulants: heparin, warfarin, DOACs
- Antiplatelets: aspirin, clopidogrel
- Antiarrhythmics: amiodarone, digoxin, adenosine
- Statins (-statin)
Every drug class on the sheet, at a glance
The same eight boxes that are on the PDF, with the one fact each class is most tested on. If you can recall the right-hand column cold, you're ready for most cardiac-med questions on the exit exam and NCLEX-PN.
| Drug class | Key medications | The one thing to remember |
|---|---|---|
| ACE inhibitors-pril | lisinopril, enalapril, ramipril | Dry cough and hyperkalemia are the classic side effects; angioedema means stop the drug immediately. Contraindicated in pregnancy. |
| Beta-blockers-olol | metoprolol, atenolol, carvedilol, propranolol | Check HR and BP before every dose and hold per parameters (commonly HR <60 or SBP <90). Never stop abruptly, and remember they mask hypoglycemia in diabetics. |
| Calcium channel blockers-dipine + diltiazem, verapamil | amlodipine, nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil | No grapefruit juice. Amlodipine causes peripheral edema; verapamil and diltiazem can cause bradycardia. |
| Nitrates | nitroglycerin (SL, patch, IV) | One sublingual dose every 5 minutes, up to 3 — call 911 if the first brings no relief. Headache is expected, and the patch comes off at night to prevent tolerance. |
| Anticoagulants | heparin, warfarin, DOACs | Heparin is monitored by aPTT and reversed with protamine; warfarin by INR (2–3) and reversed with vitamin K. |
| Antiplatelets | aspirin, clopidogrel | Bleeding precautions for all of them; watch for GI bleeding on aspirin, and the effect can't easily be reversed. |
| Antiarrhythmics | amiodarone, digoxin, adenosine | Amiodarone is effective but toxic — monitor lungs, thyroid, and liver. For digoxin, check the HR and the potassium: low K⁺ raises toxicity risk. |
| Statins-statin | atorvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin | Dose at bedtime, monitor liver enzymes, and report muscle pain or weakness right away (possible rhabdomyolysis). |
Looking for furosemide and the potassium rules? Diuretics have their own page — grab the Diuretic & Renal Medications cheatsheet. And every claim above is unpacked, with the “why,” in the full Cardiovascular Medications study guide.
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