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Medications for heart disease and how they work |
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Medication categories and names |
Effects |
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Angiotension Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors:
Captopril (Capoten®) Enalopril (Vasotec®) Fosinopril (Monopril®) Lisinopril (Zestril®, Prinivil®) Quinapril (Accupril®) Ramipril (Altace®) |
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open blood vessels for better blood flow
lower blood pressure, which makes it easier for the heart to pump |
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Angiotension Receptor Blockers (ARBs):
Candesartan (Atacand®) Irbesartan (Avapro®) Losartan (Cozaar®) Valsartan (Diovan®) |
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make the heart pump more effectively
slows and regulates heartbeat | |
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Antiarrhythmics:
Amiodarone (Cordarone®,Pacerone®)
Procainamide (Procanbid®, Pronestyl®)
Sotolol (Betapace®, Betapace AF®) |
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regulate heart rate and rhythm | |
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Anticoagulants:
Aspirin Clopidogrel (Plavix®) Enoxaprin (Lovenox®) Warfarin (Coumadin®) |
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prevent blood clots from forming
some help the heart beat more slowly andregularly | |
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Beta Blockers:
Atenolol (Tenormin®) Carvedilol (Coreg®) Metoprolol (Lopressor®, Toprol XL®) |
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lower blood pressure
decrease the heart's workload | |
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Calcium Channel Blockers:
Amlodipine (Norvasc®) Diltiazem (Dilacor®, Cardizem®) Felodipine (Plendil®) Nifedipine (Adalat®, Procardia®) Verapamil (Isoptin®, Calan®) |
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make the heart pump more effectively
slows and regulates heartbeat | |
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Digitalis:
Digoxin (Lanoxin®) |
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Diuretics:
Bumetinide (Bumex®) Furosemide (Lasix®) Hydrocholorothiazide, HCTZ (Oretic®) |
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help the body get rid of extra fluid | |
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Lipid-lowering Medication:
Atorvastatin (Lipitor®) Ezetimibe (Zetia®) Fenofibrate (TriCor®) Gemfibrozil (Lopid®) Pravastatin (Pravachol®) Rosuvastatin (Crestor®) Simvastatin (Zocor®) |
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lower fat (cholesterol and triglyceride) levels in the blood | |
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Nitrates and Nitrites:
Imdur® Nitrobid® Nitrodur® Nitrostat® |
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relax and widen blood vessels to prevent and relieve angina
replaces potassium that is lost when you take diurectics | |
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Potassium
K-Dur® Klor-Con® K'lor® Micro-K® |
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relax and widen blood vessels to prevent and relieve angina
replaces potassium that is lost when you take diurectics | |