Question

A doctor tells her nursing students that it is important to monitor patients' blood pressure when they are receiving verapamil (a calcium channel blocker). Why?

Answer 1

Calcium channel blockers inhibit the movement of calcium ions from the interstitial fluid into cardiac and smooth muscle cells. This would cause a decrease in heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output. These in turn would lower blood pressure. In addition, the calcium channel blockers would also inhibit contraction of the smooth muscle in the wall of blood vessels, causing them to get wider and thus also lower blood pressure. Because both heart and smooth muscle cells are inhibited by verapamil, its effects on blood pressure are particularly potent.

Answer 2

Before using verapamil it is important to monitor the patient's blood pressure because one of the functions of verapamil is to reduce high blood pressure, so if patients have low blood pressure it is not permissible to use this drug.

Further explanation

Verapamil is a drug that can be used to treat heart rhythm disorders, angina, and high blood pressure. This drug should only be purchased and used by a doctor's prescription.

Calcium can trigger muscle contractions, including muscles in blood vessels. Verapamil works by blocking calcium from entering muscle cells in blood vessels so that the muscles of blood vessels become more relaxed. Relaxed muscles will make blood flow more smoothly, thus lowering blood pressure and alleviating angina complaints.

Several things need to be considered before using Verapamil, among others, as follows :

• During treatment with verapamil, check your blood pressure and liver function regularly to see a doctor.
• Before using verapamil, tell your doctor if you have an allergy to food, medicine, or other ingredients contained in this drug.
• Verapamil can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid driving and doing activities that require vigilance after taking this drug.

• Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart problems, liver disease, kidney disease, and muscle and nerve disorders.
• Be careful consuming alcoholic beverages while using verapamil, because it can increase the risk of low blood pressure.
• Be careful using verapamil in the elderly, because elderly patients are more prone to experiencing side effects of verapamil, such as constipation and swelling in the legs.

Learn more

Verapamil brainly.com/question/4437508, brainly.com/question/8571093

Details

Class: College

Subject: Biology

Keyword: verapamil function.