Drugs

Common Drugs Available for Patients With Cardiac Problems

This is intended as a general information guide. This list is not exhaustive and reflects only a small proportion of all the possible medications available. This list is not prescriptive and does not cover all possible uses and side effects of the drugs. Any questions about medication should be directed to your doctor.

Drug Groups:
ACE Inhibitor, Angiotensin II Antagonists, Anti Arrhythmic Drugs, Anticoagulants, Antiplatelet drugs, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Cholesterol (lipd) - lowering drugs, Diuretics

ACE inhibitor - ACE stands for ‘angiotensin converting enzyme’. Angiotensin II is a chemical that causes blood vessels to contract and become narrow. The chemical angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I which is converted by the ACE enzyme. The ACE inhibitor reduces the activity of the ACE enzyme and therefore reduces the presence of angiotensin II in the system.

Drug Names	Common Uses
ramipril lisinopril, perindopril captopril benazepril enalapril ramipril quinapril trandolapril	Blood pressure control Hypertension Heart Failure Protection of kidneys in hypertensive/diabetic patients.
Common side effects : Dizziness or lightheadedness, dry cough, nausea, headaches

Angiotensin II antagonists - Work the same way as ACE inhibitor but does not cause the dry cough side effect of the ACE inhibitor.

Drug Names	Common Uses
losartan valsartan irbesartan candesartan	Hypertension Heart failure
Common side effects : dizziness, lightheadedness, diarrhoea, dry cough, headaches

Anti-arrhythmic drugs - Drugs to control the rhythm of the heart.

Drug Names	Common Uses
Amiodarone	Treatment of arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) - atrial fibrillation/flutter and ventricular fibrillation
Flecainide	tachycardia, arrhythmias associated with Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome, atrial fibrillation
Digoxin	Heat failure, supraventricular arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation)
Common side effects : Constipation, bitter/metallic taste, decreased appetite

Anticoagulants - To stop the formation of clots (thrombus). Clots are made up of platelets and red cells clumped together, and a protein called fibrin. Anticoagulants prevent fibrin from forming and hence prevent clots. Anti-coagulants are less effective in arterial ciruclation.

Drug Names	Common Uses
Heparin	Fast acting but works for a short time. Used in general surgery. Treatment of : deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, management of myocardial infarction, angina. Used where blood is moved out and into the body eg. heart bypass, haemodialysis.
Warfarin (other types : acenocoumarol, phenindione)	Used long term in patients fitted with mechanical heart valve to prevent blood clot forming on the valve. Also can be used for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, patients with atrial fibrillation at risk of embolism.
Common side effects : Bleeding gums, nose bleeds, easy bruising

Antiplatelet Drugs Prevent clots by reducing the ability of the platelets to stick together causing clots.

Drug Names	Common Uses
Abciximab (Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors)	Prevention of cardiac complications in patients undergoing angioplasty. Unstable angina
Eptifibatide (Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors)	Unstable Angina & Myocardial Infarction. PCI patients with diabetes
Tirofiban (Glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitors)	Unstable angina: prevention of MI (myocardial infarction)
Aspirin	Prevention of cerebrovascular disease or MI (myocardial infarction)
Clopidogrel	Prevention of buildup of deposits of plaque in the walls of arteries. Also used for treatment in strokes, heart attacks, unstable angina and acute coronary syndrome. Suitable for people who are intolerant of aspirin. Used as part of angioplasty treatment.
Common side effects : Upset stomach or pain, diarrhoea, rash, heartburn, nausea, chest pain, back pain, vomiting

Beta Blockers - Beta-blockers block the action of adrenaline – a hormone which causes the heart to beat faster. By blocking adrenaline the heart is prevented from beating too quickly particularly when the sufferer is excercising or under stress.

Drug Family	Other Names	Common Uses
Oxprenolol	Trasidrex, Slow-Trasicor, Tasicor	Hypertension, Angina, arhythmias,anxiety
Pindolol	Visken, Viskaldix	Hypertension, Angina
Acebutonol	Sectral Secardrex	Hypertension, Angina, arrhythmias
Celiprolol	Celectol Celiprolol	Hypertension
Atenolol	Atenolol Tenormin, Cotenidone (+diruetic) Kalten (+diruetic), Tenoret 50 (+diruetic) Tenoretic (+diruetic), Beta-Adalat (+ calcium channel blocker), Tenif (+ calcium channel blocker)	Hypertension, Angina
Celiprolol	Celiprolol Celectol	Mild hypertension
Nadolol	Corgard	Hypertension, arrhythmias, migrane
Sotalol	Sotalol, Beta-Cardone, Sotacor	arrhythmias
Labetalol	Lebetalol Hydrochloride, Trandate	hypertension, (+ angina), (+MI)
Carvedilol	Carvedilol, Eucardic	hypertension,angina, heart failure
Nebivolol	Nebilet	hypertension
Bisoloprolol	Bisoloprolol Fumarate, Cardicor, Emcor, Monocor	hypertension & angina
Metroprolol	Metroprolol Tartrate, Betaloc, Lopresor, Betaloc SA , Lopresor SR, Co-Betaloc, Co-Betaloc SA	hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, migrane, hyperthyoidism
Propranolol	Propranolol, Inderal, Half-inderal LA, Inderal-LA	hypertension, angina, arrhythmias, anxiety, palpitations, MI treatment, migrane
Timolol	Betim, Moducren (+ directic), Prestim (+ directic),	glaucoma, hypertension, angina, migrane, MI treatment
Esmolol	Brevibloc	short term treatment of arrhythmias in surgery - atrial fibrillation/flutter, tachycardia
Common side effects : Dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a sitting/lying position

Calcium Channel Blockers - The cells of the heart muscle need calcium to work properly. These types of drugs reduce the amount of calcium entering the heart and in particular the arteries. The reduction in calcium causes the arteries to relax and hence widen, improving the blood flow and reducing the effort of the heart.

Drug Family	Other Names	Common Uses
Amlodipine Besilate	Istin	hypertension, angina
Diltiazem Hydrochloride	Diltiazem, Tildiem, Adizem-SR, Adizem-XL, Angitil SR, Angitil XL , Calcicard CR , Dilcardia SR , Dilzem SR , Dilzem XL , Slozem, Tildiem LA , Tildiem Retard , Viazem XL , Zemtard	hypertension, angina
Felodipine	Felodipine, Plendil,	hypertension, angina
Isradipine	Prescal	hypertension
Lacidipine	Motens	hypertension
Lercanidipine	Zanidip	mild/moderate hypertension
Nicardipine	Nicardipine, Cardene, Cardene SR	angina, mild/moderate hypertension
Nifedipine	Nifedipine, Adalat, Adalat LA , Adalat Retard, Adipine MR , Cardilate MR , Coracten SR , Coracten XL, Fortipine LA 40 , Hypolar Retard 20 , Nifedipress MR , Nifopress Retard , Slofedipine, Slofedipine XL , Tensipine	angina, hypertension
Nimodipine	Nimotop	prevention and treatment of neurological problems that result from bleeding in the brain
Nisoldipine	Syscor MR	angina, mild/moderate hypertension
Verapamil Hydrochloride	Verapamil, Cordilox, Securon, Half Securon SR, Securon SR , Univer, Verapress MR , Vertab SR 240	angina, hypertension
Common side effects : Mild headaches, lightheadedness, dizziness

Cholesterol (lipd) - lowering drugs - Lipids are fatty substances in the blood. LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol are such substances. Drugs to control lipids reduce the progession of aterial disease (the build up of deposits of plaque on the walls of the arteries)

Drug Family	Other Names	Common Uses
Anion-exchange resins	Colestyramine - Questran, Questran Light Colestipol Hydrochloride- Colestid	combat high cholesterol where patients have not responded to diet, prevention of coronary heart disease
Ezetimibe	Ezetrol	combat high cholesterol
Fibrates	Bezafibrate - Bezalip, Bezalip Mono Ciprofibrate - Modalim Fenofibrate, Lipantil, Supralip Gemfibrozil, Lopid	combat high level of both blood cholesterol and triglycerides.
Statins	Atorvastatin - Lipitor Fluvastatin - Lescol, Lescol XL Pravastatin - Lipostat Rosuvastatin - Crestor Simvastatin - Zocor	combat high cholesterol
Nicotinic acid group	Acipimox - Olbetam Nicontinic Acid - Niaspan
Fish Oils	Omega 3 - Acid Ethyl Esters -Omacor Omega 3 - Marine Triglycerides - Maxepa
Common side effects : Headaches, upset stomach, diarrhoea or constipation.

Diuretics - Encourage the body to rid itself of fluids such as water and salt by increasing their output (through urine)

Drug Family	Drugs	Common Uses
Thiazides & related diuretics	Bendroflumethiazide	mild-moderate heart failure, hypertension
	Chlortalidone - Hydrogon	oedema, hypertension, mild moderate heart failure.
	Cyclopenthiazide - Navidrex	oedema, hypertension
	Indapamide - Natrillix, Natrillix SR	hypertension
	Metolazone - Metenix 5	oedema, hypertension
	Xipamide - Dirurexan	oedema, hypertension
Loop Diuretics	Furosemide - Lasix	oedema
	Bumetanide - Burinex	oedema
	Torasemide - Torem	oedema, hypertension
Potassium sparing diuretics	Amiloride Hydrochloride - Amilordide	oedema
Potassium sparing diuretics	Triamterene - Dytac	oedema
Potassium sparing diuretics and other diuretics (combination drugs)	Amiloride with thiazides - Coamilozide, Navispare Amiloride with loop diuretic - Co-amilofruse, Burinex - A Triamterene with thiazides - Co-triamterzide, Dyazide, Dytide, Kalspare Triamterene with loop diuretic - Frusene Co-flumactone Lasilactone
Common side effects : Dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a sitting/lying position