What is a severe adverse reaction of anti-anginals?

Anti-anginal medications are primarily used to relieve angina pectoris by improving blood flow to the heart and reducing its workload. While all medications can have side effects, reflex tachycardia is recognized as a significant adverse reaction associated with certain anti-anginals, particularly nitrates and some calcium channel blockers.

Reflex tachycardia occurs when a medication causes vasodilation and subsequent hypotension. The body compensates for the drop in blood pressure by increasing heart rate, which can be problematic, especially in patients with existing heart conditions. This adverse reaction can exacerbate symptoms rather than alleviate them, leading to increased workload on the heart.

In contrast, while hypotension, headache, and rash can also occur with anti-anginals, they are typically less severe in nature compared to reflex tachycardia. Hypotension is a common side effect but is often a goal of therapy for conditions where the heart is overworked. Headaches are a frequent complaint, particularly with nitrates, but are usually mild and manageable. Rash can occur with various medications but is less significant in the context of severe reactions affecting cardiac function directly.

Understanding the implications of reflex tachycardia is essential for practical nurses, as it influences patient monitoring and education