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Common Heart Medications

This section is for general information only. It should not be used in place of your doctors’ or pharmacists’ instructions. You should call your doctor if you start to have any side effects to your medicine.

• Aldosterone Antagonist
• Anti-Arrhythmics
• Aspirin
• ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors
• ARBs (Angiotension II Receptor Blockers)
• Beta Blockers
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines
• Coumadin
• Diuretics
• Nitroglycerin
• Plavix

Aldosterone Antagonist
Aldosterone Antagonists are used to help protect the heart from harmful hormones.  They block hormones that regulate how much salt the body retains. 

1. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
2. Eplerenome (Inspra)

Anti-Arrhythmics
Anti-arrhythmics are medicines used to treat fast or irregular heart beats. They are given to people who have:

1. atrial fibrillation
2. atrial flutter
3. extra heart beats.

These medicines can have a lot of serious side effects. Let your doctor know if you get any of the following:

1. headaches
2. blurry vision
3. dizziness  weakness
4. swelling in your legs
5. problems breathing
6. problems sleeping
7. nausea
8. more asthma problems
9. easily sunburn

Make sure to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking any herbal supplements or over-the-counter medicines while taking an anti-arrhythmic.

Common anti-arrhythmics include:

1. Amiodarone (Codarone)
2. Sotalol (Betapace)
3. Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
4. Propafenone (Rhythmol)
5. Flecainide (Tambacor)
6. Digoxin (Lanoxin).

Aspirin
Aspirin is given to patients with artery disease to keep platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming a clot. Platelets are more likely to stick together in:

1. small arteries
2. areas that have had angioplasty or stent
3. areas where bypasses have been placed.

While you are taking aspirin, it may take longer for bleeding to stop and you may have bruise easily. Be careful about taking extra aspirin for pain or fever because it can cause bleeding and ulcers. In general, Tylenol can be used for fever or pain. Check with your doctor about medications that are safe for you.

ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and block stress hormones. They make it easier for the heart to pump blood. ACE inhibitors are given to people who have:

1. high blood pressure
2. coronary artery disease
3. heart failure
4. had a heart attack
5. kidney damage.

ACE inhibitors may cause low blood pressure, lightheadedness, dizziness, or a dry, constant cough.

Common ACE inhibitors include:

1. Lisinopril (Zestril)
2. Enalapril (Vasotec)
3. Ramipril (Altace)
4. Captopril (Capoten)
5. Benazapril (Lotensin).

ARBs (Angiotension II Receptor Blockers)
ARBs are a group of medicines that work like ACE inhibitors. They lower blood pressure and block stress hormones. ARBs are most commonly given to people who have:

1. high blood pressure
2. kidney damage  heart failure
3. cough with ACE inhibitors.

ARBs may cause low blood pressure, lightheadedness, or dizziness.

Common ARBs include the following:

1. Candesartan (Atacand)
2. Olmesartan (Benicar)
3. Losartan (Cozaar)
4. Irbesartan (Avapro)
5. Valsartan (Diovan).

Beta Blockers
Beta blockers slow down the heart rate to let your heart rest and heal. Beta blockers are used for people who have:

1. had a heart attack
2. ongoing chest pain
3. irregular heart beats
4. high blood pressure
5. heart failure.

Beta blockers may cause a low heart rate, low blood pressure, and may make you feel tired. They should not be used if you have asthma.

Common beta blockers include the following:

1. Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL)
2. Atenolol (Tenormin)
3. Carvedilol (Coreg)
4. Sotalol (Betapace).

Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure, slow down the heart rate, and help the heart squeeze harder. They are used with people who have:

1. high blood pressure
2. ongoing chest pain
3. had an artery in the wrist removed during bypass surgery.

Calcium channel blockers may cause dizziness, or swelling in your legs.

Common calcium channel blockers include:

1. Diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia XT)
2. Verapamil (Calan)
3. Amlodipine (Norvasc).

Cholesterol-Lowering Medications
Cholesterol-lowering medicines lower the amount of fat in your blood stream, by stopping your body from making as much cholesterol. They also keep the inside of your arteries smooth, and they lower bad cholesterol. Some medicines also help increase the good cholesterol in your blood.  They are given to people who have:

1. high cholesterol levels
2. heart disease
3. had a heart attack
4. had a stroke.

Cholesterol-lowering medicines may cause pain in your muscles or joints, as well as liver problems.  You will need to get a blood test to check your liver after starting a cholesterol medicine, usually after six weeks. Common cholesterol-lowering medicines include:

1. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
2. Simvastatin (Zocor)
3. Rosuvastatin (Crestor)
4. Pravastatin (Pravachol)
5. Niacin (Niaspan)
6. Fenofibrate (Tricor)
7. Ezetimibe (Zetia)
8. Colesevelam (Welchol).

Coumadin
Coumadin (warfarin) is a blood thinner that is used to prevent blood clots from forming. Blood clots can cause:

1. strokes
2. heart attacks
3. lung problems.

You will need to have your blood tested regularly while taking Coumadin. This test is call a protime (PT) or INR. This lets the doctor see how thin or thick your blood is.

While taking Coumadin, you may have bleeding problems. Let your doctor know if you have:

1. bleeding gums or nose
2. bleeding that won’t stop
3. blood in your stool or black stool
4. blood in your urine
5. hit your head on something

Coumadin is used for patients who have:

1. atrial fibrillation
2. artificial heart valves
3. a high risk for getting a clot
4. a clot
5. a clotting disorder.

Diuretics
Diuretics are sometimes called “water pills.” They help remove extra water from the body. They are used for people who have:

1. heart failure
2. high blood pressure
3. valve problems
4. atrial fibrillation
5. kidney problems.

Call your doctor if you are taking a diuretic and get:

1. dizzy or lightheaded
2. headaches
3. more tired than usual
4. muscle weakness.

If you are throwing up or having diarrhea, call your doctor. He or she may have you stop taking the diuretic. Some diuretics can lower the amount of potassium in your body, so your doctor may prescribe potassium pills.

If your doctor has put you on a diuretic, you should not drink extra water to make up for the water you are losing.

Common diuretics include:

1. Furosemide (Lasix)
2. Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
3. Spironolactone (Aldactone)
4. Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
5. Bumetanide (Bumex)
6. Torsemide (Demedex).

Nitroglycerin
Nitroglycerin is used to treat sudden chest pain. It helps open the blood vessels around the heart and allows more blood to reach the heart muscle. Nitroglycerin comes in a small brown bottle or in a spray bottle and should be carried with you at all times.

1. Keep it away from direct light.
2. If you carry it in your pockets or next to your body you will need to replace your nitroglycerin every three months.
3. If you carry your nitroglycerin in a bag or purse, you will need to replace it every six months.

Nitroglycerin can cause headaches, dizziness, and can make you feel hot.

How to use Nitroglycerin

1. Sit down and rest.
2. If you still have chest pain, put a nitroglycerin pill or one spray under your  tongue and let it dissolve. Sit or lay down because it can make you dizzy.
3. If you still are having chest pain after 5 minutes, call 911. Then put another nitroglycerin pill or spray under your tongue.
4. If after another 5 minutes, you still have chest pain and are not dizzy, put a 3rd nitroglycerin pill or spray under your tongue.
   * Do not take more than 3 Nitroglycerin pills or sprays*

Plavix
Plavix (Clopidogrel) is a medicine that keeps platelets in the blood from sticking together and forming a clot. Plavix is given to people who have specific areas that are likely to clot, such as:

• where bypasses have been placed
• where angioplasty has been done
• where a stent is located
• small arteries.

Never stop taking your Plavix without talking to your cardiologist. If any doctor asks you to stop taking Plavix, make sure you tell your cardiologist.

If you stop taking Plavix, a clot can form that can cause a massive heart attack. Many people don’t survive this kind of heart attack.

While you are taking this medicine, it may take longer for bleeding to stop or you bruise more easily. You need to tell every doctor you see that you are taking Plavix.

You should talk to your doctor or other health care providers before taking any over-the-counter pain medicines, like aspirin or ibuprofen. Taking these with Plavix may cause you to bleed too much.