Medicines for Heart Disease

March 21, 2017

Medicines for Heart Disease

You will likely take several types of medicine for your heart disease. Some of the medicines reduce the chance of heart attack and stroke. Others control blood pressure and cholesterol. You may also take medicines for other heart problems, such as heart failure or irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). And other health conditions such as diabetes likely also need medicines. Keeping track of your medicines and knowing what each does can get confusing.

Medicines for heart disease

Many people with heart disease take the 4 medicines shown in this chart. Other common medicines are listed later. Your doctor or cardiac rehab team can help you look at the types of medicines that have been prescribed for you.

Type of medicine	What it does
Statin	Lowers the amount of LDL ("bad') cholesterol and other fats in the blood. This lowers the chance of clogged arteries. May make your levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol better.
ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)t	Lowers blood pressure and eases strain on the heart. This makes it easier for the heart to pump and improves blood flow.
Aspirin	Helps prevent blood clots. Clots could block an artery. May reduce your risk for a heart attack.
Beta-blocker	Lowers blood pressure and slows heart rate. May strengthen the heart's pumping action over time.

Type of medicine

What it does

Statin

Lowers the amount of LDL ("bad') cholesterol and other fats in the blood. This lowers the chance of clogged arteries.

May make your levels of HDL ("good") cholesterol better.

ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)t

Lowers blood pressure and eases strain on the heart. This makes it easier for the heart to pump and improves blood flow.

Aspirin

Helps prevent blood clots. Clots could block an artery.

May reduce your risk for a heart attack.

Beta-blocker

Lowers blood pressure and slows heart rate.

May strengthen the heart's pumping action over time.

Other medicines you may take

Type of medicine	What it does
Antiarrhythmic	Helps slow down and regulate a fast or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
Anticoagulant	Helps reduce the risk that a blood clot will form and block the artery.
Antihypertensive	Helps lower blood pressure.
Calcium channel blocker	Helps blood flow more easily through the arteries by widening (dilating) them.
Digoxin	Slows heart rate and helps the heart pump more with each beat.
Diuretic	Helps your body get rid of extra water. This is important if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.
Nitrate (nitroglycerine)	Helps prevent and treat angina.
Vasodilator	Helps blood flow more easily through the arteries.

Type of medicine

What it does

Antiarrhythmic

Helps slow down and regulate a fast or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)

Anticoagulant

Helps reduce the risk that a blood clot will form and block the artery.

Antihypertensive

Helps lower blood pressure.

Calcium channel blocker

Helps blood flow more easily through the arteries by widening (dilating) them.

Digoxin

Slows heart rate and helps the heart pump more with each beat.

Diuretic

Helps your body get rid of extra water. This is important if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.

Nitrate (nitroglycerine)

Helps prevent and treat angina.

Vasodilator

Helps blood flow more easily through the arteries.

Updated:

March 21, 2017

Sources:

Overview of primary prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke. UpToDate.

Reviewed By:

Fetterman, Anne, RN, BSN,Gandelman, Glenn, MD, MPH