01127 Heart Failure Medications Overview
Document Description: This is a comprehensive list of common medications prescribed for heart failure patients.
Heart Failure Medications Overview
Taking all of your heart failure medications is very important. Each medication you take works in a different way to help you and you may require several medications for best results, your doctor will choose the best medication regimen based on your unique condition. Below is a list of some of the medications used to treat heart failure:
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Medication Class |
Example |
How Medicine Works for Heart Failure |
|
Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-inhibitor) |
□ Lisinopril (Zestril®, Prinivil®) □ Captopril (Capoten®) □ Ramipril (Altace®) |
Improves heart pumping function over time. Widens blood vessels to help the heart pump more blood to the rest of your body. Controls blood pressure and reduces risk of heart attack. Keeps stress hormones from making your heart failure worse. Help you live longer and stay out of the hospital. Beneficial even if you do not have high blood pressure.
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|
Angiotensin Receptor Blocker (ARB) |
□ Candesartan (Atacand®) |
Similar action as an ACE inhibitor. Recommended for people who do not tolerate ACE inhibitors (usually due to cough).
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ARB + Neprilysin Inhibitor |
□ Sacubitril-valsartan (Entresto®) |
This medication is used instead of an ACE inhibitor or ARB. The affects are similar, but this medication may offer additional benefits.
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Beta-blocker |
□ Carvedilol (Coreg®, Coreg CR®) □ Metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL®) □ Bisoprolol (Zebeta®) |
Improves heart pumping function over time. Controls blood pressure, reduces risk of heart attack, and keeps our heart rhythm normal. Keeps stress hormones from making your heart failure worse. Help you live longer and stay out of the hospital. Beneficial even if you do not have high blood pressure. |
|
Aldosterone Antagonist (also called a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist)
|
□ Spironolactone (Aldactone®) |
Blocks the effects of a stress hormone called aldosterone (a substance which can make your heart failure worse). Helps you live longer and stay out of the hospital.
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Medication Class |
Example |
How Medicine Works for Heart Failure |
|
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors |
□ Dapagliflozin (Farxiga®) □ Empagliflozin (Jardiance®) □ Sotagliflozin (Infepa®)
|
Helps the kidneys regulate hormones and fluid to reduce symptoms of heart failure. Helps you live longer and stay out of the hospital. Will help even if you do not have a diagnosis of diabetes. |
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Diuretics (Water pills) |
□ Furosemide (Lasix®) |
Helps your kidneys remove extra fluid, which helps your heart pump more easily, you breathe more easily, and decrease or remove swelling in your feet, legs and abdomen.
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Isosorbide Dinitrate & Hydralazine |
□ Isosorbide (Isordil®) plus |
Combination of medications widens the blood vessels to help your heart pump more blood to the rest of the body. Combination may be particularly beneficial in African American patients.
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Digoxin |
□ Digoxin (Lanoxin®, Digitek®, Digox®) |
Slows your heart rate, especially if you have atrial fibrillation with heart failure. May be used when your symptoms of heart failure continue after taking other medications.
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If (funny current) inhibitor or HCN channel inhibitor |
□ Ivabradine (Corlanor®) |
Slows your heart rate. Used if you have a normal heart rhythm but fast heart rate and still have symptoms of heart failure despite taking other medications (such as beta blocker). |