A great way to learn pharmacology

Now, this is a fun little way to enjoy learning pharmacology for hypertension. All credits must go towards a certain person (with permission to share) who not only made this hilarious and fun rap but actually sang it. Shout out to these amazing people who keep us motivated in medicine!

Use Vanilla Ice - Ice Ice Baby (Official Video) for the song. The version without the singing in it.

All right STOP... now listen

to this important lesson

I’m MC Pharm and this is my crew

And were here tonight, to help you 

get a HD for pharmacology

it’s not that hard it’s pretty easy

this wack ain’t crap

it’s the antihypertensive rap

 

When your patient has got high BP

that's hypertension to you and me

medication is a good way to go

but there’s so many drugs that you need to know

so when you’re swattin' for exams in November

Here’s a little trick for you to remember

classes of drugs to lower BP

it’s just A, A, A, B, C and D

 

High blood pressure 

(drugs to lower) high blood pressure

 

1st A is ACE-Inhibitors who 

block synthesis of angiotensin II

decrease all the actions of this hormone

block release of ADH and aldosterone

decrease sodium and water retention

reduce AngII-mediated vasoconstriction

increase bradykinin which makes you cough 

names all end in pril, that’s not so tough!

 

2nd A is angiotensin II 

receptor antagonists but you

can just call them ARBs

Pete's gonna want you to remember all these drug names, but don’t get disheartened

cause their names all end in “sartan”

work mostly the same as ACE-Is

but no cough, good stuff

 

3rd A it stands for  alpha -1 

receptor antagonists and they 

block alpha-1 receptors 

on smooth muscle of your blood vessels

not used much anymore you’ll see

cause they cause hypotension, make you dizzy

there’s only 2 that you need to know-so

its easy cause they both end in “zosin”

B is beta blockers

they block beta-1 receptors in lots of places

reduce heart rate and CO

also decrease sympathetic outflow

block release of renin by the kidneys

also cause negative dromotropy 

no longer first line for BP control

but easy to know cause they all end in LOL

High blood pressure 

(drugs to lower) high blood pressure

C is calcium channels blockers

you can just call them CCBs

there's two main groups you need to know

the first is dihydropyridines

they relax vascular smooth muscle

and their names all end in “dipine”

the others also act on the heart, and for

arrhythmias there more often seen

 

D is for diuretics yo

they all make your urine flow

lower blood volume to reduce BP

there’s 3 main types you’re gonna see

Loop diuretics on loop of Henle 

thiazides act on the DCT

Potassium-sparing on collecting ducts

they’re not strong but don’t lower K plus 

 

High blood pressure 

(drugs to lower) high blood pressure

 

These drugs will get your BP down to normal ranges

but don’t forget to implement lifestyle changes

 

So when you’re swattin' for exams in November

the easy way for you to remember

classes of drugs  to lower BP

its just A, A, A, B, C and D

A, A, A, B, C and D

classes of drugs to lower BP

Published 20th December 2019. Last reviewed 1st December 2021.