Cardiovascular therapeutics

Abstract

Cardiology is an expanding area, with a strong evidence base for many of the interventions used. When prescribing for a patient with cardiovascular disease, it is essential to check the diagnosis (several drugs can be used for multiple indications but will be dosed differently) and to check the patient's drug history. When doing this, do not rely upon a previous discharge letter alone nor on a GP letter alone; always use the documents available but also ask the patient what he/she is actually taking. The patient may have varied the dosage, with or without medical advice, and it is crucial to know this to make appropriate adjustments.