What are the Most Common Heart Medications?
Seven types of drugs for treating heart disease
Seven types of drugs for treating heart disease
If you recently had a heart attack or been diagnosed with a heart disease, you may have been prescribed some medications. It’s important to understand what these medications do, how to take them correctly and recognize any possible side effects.
Remember your doctor and pharmacist are the best people to ask about your medications.
“The sheer variety of heart medications available can be overwhelming, especially if you have not had to take any previously,” says Todd Hitchcock, MD, a cardiologist at Scripps Clinic Carmel Valley. “It can be helpful and reassuring to understand why you need certain medications and how they work.”
Doctors prescribe heart medications to treat various heart conditions. They can help manage symptoms and lower the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and strokes. Heart patients receive medication based on their diagnosis, other health conditions, age and lifestyle.
“Always make sure you know how to take your medications correctly and understand all of the risks, benefits and possible side effects,” notes Dr. Hitchcock. “Be sure to ask your doctor whether you should avoid any foods, other prescriptions, or over-the-counter drugs or supplements that may cause adverse interactions.”
Seven common heart medications
1. Anticoagulants to prevent blood clots
Blood clots can block blood flow in arteries or veins, potentially leading to serious conditions such as heart attacks or strokes. Anticoagulants and antiplatelets, also known as blood thinners, are medications that help reduce the risk of clot formation.
These drugs are used to prevent and treat clot-related conditions. They are commonly prescribed for people with irregular heartbeats, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or artificial heart valves.
Anticoagulants stop blood from clotting in different ways. Common examples include warfarin (Coumadin), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa) and apixaban (Eliquis).
2. Antiplatelets (aspirin) to prevent blood clots
Antiplatelet drugs help prevent blood clots by stopping platelets – cells in the blood that help with clotting – from sticking together. Platelets are essential for healing wounds, but when they clump in arteries, they can cause strokes or heart attacks.
Doctors may prescribe daily low-dose aspirin for patients who have already had a heart attack, stent, stroke or valve replacement to help prevent another cardiovascular event.
Not everyone benefits from daily aspirin. It is not typically recommended for primary prevention (before any heart disease) in low-risk individuals due to bleeding risks. Always talk to your doctor before taking aspirin daily. Risks and benefits differ for each person.
Sometimes, doctors may prescribe another antiplatelet medication in addition to aspirin. This is called dual antiplatelet therapy. Your doctor will tell you how long to take the additional antiplatelet medication. In most cases, it is temporary. Common forms of these drugs include clopidogrel (Plavix), ticagrelor (Brilinta) and prasugrel (Effient).
3. ACE inhibitors or ARBs for high blood pressure and other conditions
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are medications that help relax and widen blood vessels. This helps improve the flow of blood, reduces the workload on the heart and lowers blood pressure.
These drugs are commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. They help decrease the risk of heart attack or stroke in people with heart disease. When given after a heart attack, they help prevent heart damage and future heart attacks.
4. Antiarrhythmics to treat arrythmias
Antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, also known as arrhythmias. These drugs can be used alone or with procedures like ablation or pacemaker implantation, depending on the type of arrhythmia.
Arrhythmias can cause the heart to beat too fast, too slow or irregularly. The most common type is atrial fibrillation (AFib), in which the heart beats irregularly and often rapidly.
Antiarrhythmic drugs help regulate the heart’s electrical activity, allowing the heart to beat in a more normal rhythm. Your doctor will choose the best treatment based on the specific type of arrhythmia and your overall health.
5. Beta blockers to help your heart work better
Beta blockers help the heart work more efficiently by blocking the effects of stress hormones, such as adrenaline. This slows the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and reduces the heart's workload.
They are commonly prescribed after a heart attack, for heart failure, high blood pressure, chest pain (angina) and some abnormal heart rhythms.
Common beta blockers include carvedilol (Coreg), nebivolol (Bystolic) and metoprolol (Toprol).
6. Calcium channel blockers for high blood pressure and other conditions
Calcium channel blockers help lower blood pressure and treat other heart-related conditions by preventing calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. This causes blood vessels to relax and widen, reducing blood pressure and easing the heart’s workload.
These medications are often prescribed for people who cannot tolerate beta blockers. Common calcium channel blockers include verapamil (Verelan) and diltiazem (Cardizem).
7. Cholesterol lowering medications (statins)
High levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) can lead to plaque build-up in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke. Statins are medications that lower LDL cholesterol. They can also lower triglyceride levels, another type of fat in the blood.
Statins work by blocking an enzyme in the liver that’s needed to produce cholesterol. They also reduce inflammation in artery walls. Common statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor).
Patients who cannot take statins or have side effects may receive other drugs to lower cholesterol levels.
Managing medications
Remember to take your heart medicine as directed and refill your prescription before it runs out. If you are helping someone with a heart condition, it’s crucial to help them stay on top of their medication.
Here are some tips to help you manage your medications:
- Follow the instructions for taking your medication.
- Keep your medications organized.
- Take your medicine even if you don’t feel any symptoms.
- Keep taking medicine even if you start feeling better.
- Inform your doctor or pharmacist about all the medications you are taking.
- Let your doctor or pharmacist know about any supplements or over-the-counter drugs you are using.
- Be cautious of any interactions with food.
- Watch out for any potential side effects.
If you have questions about your medications, ask your doctor or pharmacist for information instead of relying on other sources.
“Unfortunately, there is a lot of inaccurate information and misunderstanding regarding medications on the internet,” says Dr. Hitchcock. “Your clinician can be a trusted resource of information and discuss the intended indications and benefits of your treatment plan, which should always include living as healthy a lifestyle as possible.”
Heart medications: Just one part of treatment plan
Your treatment plan for heart health includes more than just medication. It also involves a healthy lifestyle. This means eating a heart-healthy diet, not smoking and staying physically active.