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ANTICOAGULANTS (Also known as blood thinners) Commonly prescribed include: Dalteparin (Fragmin) Danaparoid (Orgaran) Enoxaparin (Lovenox) Heparin (various) Tinzaparin (Innohep) Warfarin (Coumadin) |
Decreases the clotting ability of the blood. They do not actually thin the blood. They do not dissolve existing blood clots. Used to treat certain blood vessel, heart & lung conditions. |
Helps to prevent harmful clots from forming in the blood vessels. May prevent the clots from becoming larger & causing more serious problems. Often prescribed to prevent first or recurrent stroke. | |
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ANTIPLATELET AGENTS Commonly prescribed include: Aspirin Ticlopidine Clopidogrel 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) & other forms of cardiovascular disease. Usually prescribed preventively, when plaque buildup is evident but there is not yet a large obstruction in the artery. | |
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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) Trandolapril (Mavik) |
Expands blood vessels & decreases resistance by lowering levels of angiotensin II. Allows blood to flow more easily & makes the heart's work easier or more efficient. |
Used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure & heart failure. | |
| ANGIOTENSIN II RECEPTOR BLOCKERS (or inhibitors) (Also known as ARBs, Angiotensin-2 Receptor Antagonists & AT-2) Commonly prescribed include: Candesartan (Atacand) Eprosartan (Teveten) Irbesartan (Avapro) Losartan (Cozaar) Telmisartan (Micardis) 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 & blood vessels. This keeps blood pressure from rising. |
Used to treat or improve symptons of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure & 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) Timolol (Blocadren) |
Decreases the heart rate & Cardiac output, which lowers blood pressure & makes the heart beat more slowly & with less force. |
Used to lower blood pressure. Used with therapy for cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms) & in treating chest pain (angina). Used to prevent future heart attacks in patients who have had a heart attack. |
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| 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 (Sutar) Verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan) |
Interrupts the movement of calcium into the cells of the heart & blood vessels. May decrease the heart's pumping strength & relax blood vessels. |
Used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina) caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle & some arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). | |
| DIURETICS (Also known as water pills) Commonly prescribed include: Amiloride (Midamor) Bumetanide (Bumex) Chlorothiazine (Diuril) Chlorthalidone (Hygroton) Furosemide (Lasix) Hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril) Indapamide (Lozol) Spironolactone (Aldactone) |
Causes the body to rid itself of excess fluids & sodium thru urination. Helps to relieve the heart's workload. Helps to relieve the buildup of fluid in the lungs & other parts of the body, such as ankles & legs. Different diuretics remove fluid at varied rates & thru 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 Minoxidil |
Relaxes blood vessels & increases the supply of blood & oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload. Prescribed to patients who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors (another type of medicine that relaxes the blood vessels). Can come in pills to be swallowed, chewable tablets & as a topical application (cream). | Used to ease chest pain (angina). | |
| DIGITALIS PREPARATIONS (Also known as Digoxin & Digitoxin) Commonly prescribed include: Lanoxin |
Increases the force of the heart's contractions, which can be beneficial in heart failure & for irregular heart beats. |
Used to relieve heart failure symtoms, especially when the patient isn't responding to ACE inhibitors & diuretics. Also slows certain types of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmias), especially atrial fibrillation. | |
| STATINS Common types of cholesterol- lowering drugs include statins, resins & nicotinic acid (niacin), gemfibrozil & 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 & some interrupt the formation of cholesterol from circulating in the blood. |
Used to lower LDL(lousy) cholesterol, raise HDL (healthy) cholesterol & lower triglyceride levels. |
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