During the last two weeks of the semester, we will focus on the clinical pharmacology of antihypertensives and diuretics. These are two groups of drugs that every physician encounters daily with his/her patients. Although each in perhaps a slightly different context - newly initiated therapy, titration of therapy when ineffective or when adverse effects occur, perioperative management, drug-induced hypertension, and many other situations. This week, we focus on diuretics.

Study the corresponding chapter of the pre-class reading (chapter 9 in the book). Again, the link can be found here:

However, the treatment of hypertension is not the only indication for diuretics, in fact, quite the opposite. Diuretics play a key role in both the etiology and therapy of many mineral dysbalances. Let us, therefore, recall the therapy of sodium and potassium metabolism disorders mainly from a pharmacological point of view - i.e. which drugs may cause or aggravate these conditions, which drugs are used in therapy, and by what mechanism they act. So let's look first at disorders of kalemia and then disorders of natremia. The length of the first lecture is 30 minutes, the second 23 minutes. The handouts are again available below.

Handouts for both video lectures can be found here:

In the lecture on the disorders of kalemia or the treatment of hypokalemia, we mention the term "high-risk medication" in connection with 7.45% KCl. There is one more video lecture on the topic of high-risk medication and their safe handling. By watching it, you can broaden your horizons about the breadth of the concept of "ensuring the safety of therapy". Let's watch one more video lecture having 23 minutes.

Handouts for the video lecture can be found here:

Test your knowledge after reading the pre-class reading chapters and listening to the complementary lectures.

Try taking the ROPOT test here:

And now you can look forward to the TBL lesson where we will focus on the practical application of these issues in a virtual patient.