medications to treat angina

Anyone been taken to hospital with unstable angina? If so, i need your knowledge!?

Hello, i’m a student nurse.
I’m writing an essay which talks about stable angina and how it effects quality of life. I understand with stable angina, that it is normally treat with nitrates/aspirin/beta blockers. Pain usually occurs if strenuous activity is undertaken. However….what i need to know is:

Has anyone has an angina attack at rest, where they have had to be rushed into hospital with unstable angina? If so, what happened at the hospital? How did they treat it? They probably gave u an ECG. Did they immediately increase your medications? How did they mangae your pain relief? I really need someone to tell me their experience from hospital admission, so i can understand the stages of care you received! I’d be so grateful! Help!

Unstable angina can basically occur at anytime- even at rest. If one is having an episode, they should take their Glyceryl Trinitrate spray or tablets. GTN usually takes about a minute to work. If the first dose does not work, a second dose should be taken after five minutes. If the pain persists for 10 minutes despite taking GTN, then medical attention should be sought. If GTN is failing to relieve pain, this could point towards an MI. All chest pain that continues past 10 minutes should generally be evaluated

When you reach hospital you would be given an ECG + a blood test to measure troponin. Troponin is released into the blood stream if there is damage to heart muscle cells- generally caused by an MI. If these tests are positive, this will confirm an MI. For pain you’d be given 2.5-5 mg diamorphine or 5-10 mg morphine with an anti-emetic as required.

With unstable angina + non-Q wave infarction the ECG typically shows T wave inversion or ST segment depression.

Mediaction adjustments would be made. In addition to the medication you mentioned; ACE inhibitors are sometimes prescribed to people with angina who have a reduced function of the left ventricle or who have had a heart attack. Nitrates and antiplatlets are also prescribed. If medication fails to control symptoms then Coronary revascularisation/coronary angiogram will probably be the next step- certainly if one has had an MI.

medications to treat angina

Filed under: Angina Pectoris

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!