Cadiac Medication - heart treatments - heart disease treatments

Cardiac Medication

Cardiac Medications At-A-Glance

If you’ve had a heart attack, you will most likely be prescribed medication that you will take for the rest of your life.

There are many types and combinations of drugs used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD), and your doctor will decide the best treatment combination for your situation.

The following chart gives you a quick “at-a-glance” look at many typical cardiac medications. Your prescription may have a different name from the ones listed on this chart. Brand names commonly available in the U.S. are shown in parentheses after the generic name for each drug.

Some of the major types of commonly prescribed cardiovascular medications are summarized in this section. For your information and reference, we have included generic names as well as major trade names to help you identify what you may be taking; however, the AHA is not recommending or endorsing any specific products. If your prescription medication isn't on this list, remember that your healthcare provider and pharmacist are your best sources of information. It's important to discuss all of the drugs you take with your doctor and understand their desired effects and possible side effects. Never stop taking a medication and never change your dose or frequency without first consulting your doctor.

Use these handy "At-A-Glance" charts to gain a quick understanding of these common cardiac medications you may be prescribed. If you need more help understanding what medication you’re taking and why you’re taking it, print this chart out and take it to your doctor.

Click on the name of a medication in the chart to learn more.

Click on this picture in the chart to see an illustration how a medication works in your body.

Name of
Medication

What the Medication Does

Reason for the Medication

Anticoagulants
(Also known as Blood Thinners)
Commonly prescribed include:
Dalteparin (Fragmin), Danaparoid (Orgaran),
Enoxaparin (Lovenox),
Heparin (various),
Tinzaparin (Innohep),
and Warfarin (Coumadin)

Decreases the clotting (coagulating) ability of the blood. Sometimes called blood thinners, although they do not actually thin the blood. They do NOT dissolve existing blood clots. Used to treat certain blood vessel, heart and lung conditions.

Helps to prevent harmful clots from forming in the blood vessels.

May prevent the clots from becoming larger and causing more serious problems.

Often prescribed to prevent first or recurrent stroke.

Antiplatelet Agents
Commonly prescribed include: Aspirin, Ticlopidine, Clopidogrel and Dipyridamole.

Keeps blood clots from forming by preventing blood platelets from sticking together.

Helps prevent clotting in patients who have had a heart attack, unstable angina, ischemic strokes, TIA (transient ischemic attacks, or “little strokes”) and other forms of cardiovascular disease.

Usually prescribed preventively when plaque buildup is evident but there is not yet a large obstruction in the artery.

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
Commonly prescribed include:
Benazepril (Lotensin),
Captopril (Capoten),
Enalapril (Vasotec),
Fosinopril (Monopril),
Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril),
Moexipril (Univasc),
Perindopril (Aceon),
Quinapril (Accupril),
Ramipril (Altace) and Trandolapril (Mavik)

Expands blood vessels and decreases resistance by lowering levels of angiotensin II. Allows blood to flow more easily and makes the heart's work easier or more efficient.

Used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure and heart failure.

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (or Inhibitors)
(Also known as ARBs, Angiotensin-2 Receptor Antagonists and AT-2)
Commonly prescribed include:
Candesartan (Atacand),
Eprosartan (Teveten),
Irbesartan (Avapro),
Losartan (Cozaar),
Telmisartan (Micardis) and Valsartan (Diovan)

Rather than lowering levels of angiotensin II (as ACE inhibitors do) angiotensin II receptor blockers prevent this chemical from having any effects on the heart and blood vessels. This keeps blood pressure from rising.

Used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure and heart failure.

Beta Blockers
(Also known as Beta-Adrenergic Blocking Agents)
Commonly prescribed include:
Acebutolol (Sectral),
Atenolol (Tenormin),
Betaxolol (Kerlone),
Bisoprolol/
hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac),
Bisoprolol (Zebeta),
Carteolol (Cartrol),
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
Nadolol (Corgard),
Propranolol (Inderal),
Sotalol (Betapace) and Timolol (Blocadren)

Decreases the heart rate and cardiac output, which lowers blood pressure and makes the heart beat more slowly and with less force.

Used to lower blood pressure.

Used with therapy for cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) and in treating chest pain (angina).

Used to prevent future heart attacks in patients who have had a heart attack.

Calcium Channel Blockers
(Also known as Calcium Antagonists or Calcium Blockers)
Commonly prescribed include:
Amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel),
Bepridil (Vascor),
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac),
Felodipine (Plendil),
Nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia),
Nimodipine (Nimotop),
Nisoldipine (Sular) and Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)

Interrupts the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. May decrease the heart’s pumping strength and relax blood vessels.

Used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina) caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle and some arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).

Diuretics
(Also known as Water Pills)
Commonly prescribed include:
Amiloride (Midamor),
Bumetanide (Bumex),
Chlorothiazide (Diuril),
Chlorthalidone (Hygroton),
Furosemide (Lasix),
Hydro-chlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril),
Indapamide (Lozol) and Spironolactone (Aldactone)

Causes the body to rid itself of excess fluids and sodium through urination. Helps to relieve the heart's workload. Also decreases the buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body, such as the ankles and legs. Different diuretics remove fluid at varied rates and through different methods.

Used to help lower blood pressure.

Used to help reduce swelling (edema) from excess buildup of fluid in the body.

Vasodilators
(Also known as Nitrates. Nitroglycerin tablets are a form of vasodilator.)
Commonly prescribed include: Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil),
Nesiritide (Natrecor),
Hydralazine (Apresoline), Nitrates and Minoxidil

Relaxes blood vessels and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload.

Can come in pills to be swallowed, chewable tablets and as a topical application (cream).

Used to ease chest pain (angina).

Digitalis Preparations
(Also known as Digoxin and Digitoxin)
Commonly prescribed include: Lanoxin

Increases the force of the heart's contractions, which can be beneficial in heart failure and for irregular heart beats.

Used to relieve heart failure symptoms, especially when the patient isn't responding to ACE inhibitors and diuretics.

Also slows certain types of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), particularly atrial fibrillation .

Statins
Common types of cholesterol-lowering drugs include statins, resins and
nicotinic acid (niacin), gemfibrozil and clofibrate

Various medications can lower blood cholesterol levels. They may be prescribed individually or in combination with other drugs. They work in the body in different ways. Some affect the liver, some work in the intestines and some interrupt the formation of cholesterol from circulating in the blood.

More information about cholesterol drugs

Used to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol, raise HDL ("good") cholesterol and lower triglyceride levels.

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