Heart Disease: Medications
You are a Part of Your Health Team |
Taking Your Medication List of Medications
You are a Part of Your Health Team
Drug therapy can help you
avoid heart attack and stroke. Your doctor will prescribe drugs to help prevent
complications and slow the progression of cardiovascular diseases. Remember
that you are the most important member of your health care team. The
medications won't do any good if you don't follow the prescribed schedule and
doses. You should also understand why you are taking the medication in the
first place. It's important that you understand the desired effects and all the
possible side effects.
You have to tell your
doctor and pharmacist about all other medication, vitamins and herbal or
dietary supplements you are currently taking. Tell your doctor about any
allergies or if you have had difficulty taking a particular type of medication
before.
Keep a detailed list of
your medications, including supplements and vitamins, with your medication
schedule. Give a copy of this list, along with contact information for your
doctors and pharmacists, to a close friend or family member.
Alert your doctor about
any other medical conditions you might have or if you are, or might be,
pregnant.
Taking Your Medication
If you are taking multiple medications to help control
your heart condition, your doctor will put you on a strict schedule. It may
seem overwhelming having to remember which medications, when and the dosage.
Tips for remembering your medication schedule
- If possible, take your
medications along with meals or at the same time as other daily events,
like brushing your teeth.
- Special pill boxes can
help you keep track, like the ones divided into sections and labeled for
each day or each time of the day.
- Ask family and friends
to remind you to take your medications.
- Keep a calendar near
your medicine or use a dry-erase board to keep track of your medications
throughout the day.
- Put a sticker or some
other type of reminder note on your medicine cabinet or refrigerator.
Quick Tips for Medication Use
- Understand your
medication.
- Make an instruction
sheet that you or a friend or family member can use. Tape a sample of each
pill you take on a sheet of paper and writing down all the
information about each pill, including dosage, schedule and the doctor's
information.
- Ask your pharmacist for
suggestions to help you simplify your routine, such as a color-coding
system, timer caps for pill bottles or special pill containers.
- Let your doctor know if
you feel your medication schedule is too complicated. They should work
with you to ensure that your medications are manageable.
- If you're going to be
away from home, make sure you carry enough of your medication to cover
your time away. If you think you might run out, ask your doctor for a
refill prescription.
- If you need help
understanding what your physician or pharmacist is telling you, ask a
friend or family member to go with you.
- If you don't think your
medication is working or making a difference, talk to your doctor before
changing the dose or frequency of a prescription.
Your doctor and pharmacist
are your best sources of information about your medications. Don't hesitate to
ask questions or to go to them with any concerns.
List of Medications
TriWest Healthcare
Alliance does not endorse or recommend any particular medication or treatment
program. Please refer to your doctor or health care provider for your treatment
options and recommendations.
Anti-anginal Drugs
Angina pectoris is chest
pain that occurs after exertion when the heart needs more oxygenated blood.
Drugs prescribed to prevent the pain include:
- Bepridil (Vascor)
- Beta blockers
- Diltiazen (Cardizem)
- Nicardipine (Cardene)
- Nifedipine (Adalat,
Procardia)
- Nitrates
Antiarrhythmic Drugs
Abnormal heart rhythms
(too fast or too slow) cause the heart to pump less effectively. Drugs used to
treat the abnormal heart rhythm include:
Class I — Sodium
channel blockers
- Disopyramide (Norpace)
- Flecainide (Tambocor)
- Lidocaine (Xylocaine)
- Mexiletine (Mexitel)
- Moricizine (Ethmozine)
- Procainamide (Procan,
Procanabid, Pronestyl)
- Propafenone (Rythmol)
- Quinidine (Various)
- Tocainide (Tonocard)
Class II — Beta
blockers
- Acebutolol (Sectral)
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Betaxolol (Kerlone)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
- Carvedilol (Coreg)
- Esmolol
- Metoprolol (Toprol,
Lopressor)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
- Sotolol (Betapace)
- Timolol (Blocadren)
Class III —
Potassium channel blockers
- Amiodarone (Cordarone,
Pacerone)
- Azimilide (Stedicor)
- Bepridil
- Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
- Ibutalide (Corvert)
- Sotalol (Betapace)
- Tedisamil
Class IV — Calcium
channel blockers
- Diltiazem (Cardizem,
Tiazac)
- Verapamil (Calan,
Covera, Isoptin)
Miscellaneous
- Adenosine (Adenocard)
- Digoxin (Lanoxin)
Anticoagulant Drugs
Blood clots can stop the
blood flow to the brain and result in a stroke. Anticoagulant drugs are
prescribed to prevent new clots from forming to prevent stroke. They include:
- Dalteparin (Fragmin)
- Danaparoid (Orgaran)
- Enoxaparin (Lovenox)
- Heparin (various)
- Tinzaparin (Innohep)
- Warfarin (Coumadin)
Antiplatelet Agents
- Abciximab (ReoPro) inj
- Aspirin and dipyridamole
(Aggrenox)
- Aspirin, enteric coated
(Ecotrin, Halfprin)
- Cilostazol (Pletal)
- Clopidogrel (Plavix)
- Dipyridamole
(Persantine)
- Eptifibatide
(Integrelin) Inj
- Ticlodipine (Ticlid)
- Tirofiban (Aggrastat)
inj
Blood Pressure-lowering Drugs
Blood pressure-lowering
drugs can help control your blood pressure if diet and regular physical
activity together have not been successful.
Diuretics lower your blood
pressure by ridding the body of excess sodium and fluids through urination.
These include:
- Amiloride (Midamor)
- Bumetanide (Bumex)
- Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
- Chlorthalidone
(Hygroton)
- Furosemide (Lasix)
- Hydrochlorothiazide
(Esidrix, Hydrodiuril)
- Indapamide (Lozol)
- Spironolactone
(Aldactone)
Angiotensin-converting enzyme
(ACE) Inhibitors expand the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily
and the heart to pump more efficiently. ACE inhibitors are prescribed to treat
some symptoms of heart failure and to lower blood pressure. They include:
- Benazepril (Lotensin)
- Captopril (Capoten)
- Enalapril (Vasotec)
- Fosinopril (Monopril)
- Lisinopril (Prinivil,
Zestril)
- Moexipril (Univasc)
- Perindopril (Aceon)
- Quinapril (Accupril)
- Ramipril (Altace)
- Trandolapril (Mavik)
Angiotensin-2 receptor antagonists
act similar to ACE inhibitors, but may be more easily tolerated because they
produce less cough. Angiotensin II receptor blockers prevent angiotensin II
chemicals from having any effect on the heart and blood vessels, keeping your
blood pressure from rising. Common products include:
- Candesartan
(Atacand)
- Eprosartan
(Teveten)
- Irbesartan
(Avapro)
- Losartan
(Cozaar)
- Telmisartan
(Micardis)
- Valsartan
(Diovan)
Beta blockersdecrease
the heart rate, lowering blood pressure. They can also be used as therapy for
abnormal heart rhythms and for treating angina. These include:
- Acebutolol (Sectral)
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Betaxolol (Kerlone)
- Bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide
(Ziac)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
- Carteolol (Cartrol)
- Metoprolol (Lopressor,
Toprol XL)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
- Sotalol (Betapace)
- Timolol (Blocadren)
Calcium channel blockers,
also called "calcium antagonists," interrupt the movement of calcium into the
heart and blood vessel cells. They are used to treat high blood pressure, chest
pain and abnormal heart rhythms. They include:
- Amlodipine (Norvasc,
Lotrel)
- Bepridil (Vascor)
- Diltiazem (Cardizem,
Tiazac)
- Felodipine (Plendil)
- Nifedipine (Adalat,
Procardia)
- Nimodipine (Nimotop)
- Nisoldipine (Sular)
- Verapamil (Calan,
Isoptin, Verelan)
Some medications may be
used in combination to more effectively treat one symptom or to treat multiple
symptoms. You should not combine or change any medications without consulting
your doctor. The
American Heart Association has additional information on medications.
