ACE Inhibitors
Benazepril (Lotensin); Captopril (Capoten); Enalapril (Vasotec); Lisinopril (Prinivil/Zestril);Fosinopril (Monopril)
ACE inhibitors are taken by mouth to treat high blood pressure and slow disease progression of congestive heart failure.
Used for: Chronic hypertension, congestive heart failure, and kidney protection in diabetics.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Cough, diarrhea, headache, loss of taste, nausea, unusual tiredness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Difficult breathing (sudden); fever and chills or sore throat; swelling of face, mouth, hands, or feet; dizziness; fainting; skin rash; chest pain.
*This drug may cause potassium to accumulate in excess quantities in your body. Signs of too much potassium include: confusion, irregular heartbeat, tingling in hands, feet or lips, weakness or heaviness of the legs.
Notes: Check with your doctor if you have severe or continuing vomiting or diarrhea. This may cause you to lose too much water and lead to low blood pressure. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur after the first dose, especially if you have been taking a diuretic (water pill). This medication will not cure your high blood pressure, but will help control it.
Angiotensin-II Receptor Blockers (ARB)
Losartan (Cozaar); Irbesartan;(Avapro)Valsartan (Diovan);Candasartan (Atacand)
Angiotensin-II receptor blockers are taken by mouth to treat high blood pressure.
Used for: Chronic hypertension, congestive heart failure
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Headache, diarrhea, loss of taste, nausea, unusual tiredness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Difficult breathing (sudden); fever and chills or sore throat; swelling of face, mouth, hands, or feet; dizziness; fainting; skin rash; chest pain.
*This drug may cause potassium to accumulate in excess quantities in your body. Signs of too much potassium include: confusion, irregular heartbeat, tingling in hands, feet or lips, weakness or heaviness of the legs.
Notes: Check with your doctor if you have severe or continuing vomiting or diarrhea. This may cause you to lose too much water and lead to low blood pressure. Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting may occur after the first dose, especially if you have been taking a diuretic (water pill). This medication will not cure your high blood pressure, but will help control it.
HmgCoA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins)
Lovastatin (Mevacor); Pravastatin (Pravachol); Simvastatin (Zocor);
Fluvastatin (Lescol); Atorvastatin (Lipitor); Rosuvstatin(Crestor)
These drugs help slow the progression of coronary atherosclerosis by decreasing cholesterol and stabilizing harmful plaque.
Used for: Lowering total and LDL cholesterol, increasing HDL (good) cholesterol, and preventing heart attacks.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Dizziness, headache, muscle weakness, insomnia, blurred vision, heartburn, liver dysfunction, pancreatitis, rashes, nausea.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Prolonged muscle pain and weakness.
*Your doctor may want to check liver function tests (LFTs) periodically while on this medication.
Notes: Take medication exactly as prescribed, do not skip doses or double up on missed doses. Medication helps control but does not cure elevated cholesterol levels. Taking with food may decrease stomach problems such as nausea. Medication works best when taken in the evening.
Fibrates
Gemfibrozil (Lopid); Fenofibrate (Tricor)
These medications are used to lower cholesterol specifically triglycerides.
Used for: Lowering total and LDL cholesterol, increasing HDL (good cholesterol), and preventing heart attacks.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Upset stomach, runny nose, sore throat, headache, nausea, and diarrhea.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Prolonged muscle pain and weakness, dark-colored urine or pale stools, sudden and sever stomach pain, yellowing of the skin, a red skin rash, chest pain, trouble breathing.
Notes: Take medication exactly as prescribed, do not skip doses or double up on missed doses. Medication helps control but does not cure elevated cholesterol levels. Medication is best tolerated with a meal or 30 minutes before or after a meal. Medication should be avoided in pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
Bile Acid Sequestrants
Colesevelam (Welchol); Colestipol (Colestid); Cholestyramine Resin (Questran)
These drugs help to lower cholesterol.
Used for: Lowering total cholesterol by binding to cholesterol in the gastrointestinal tract (GI) and preventing heart attacks.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Constipation, fatigue, upset stomach, prolonged muscle pain and weakness.
Notes: Take medication exactly as prescribed, do not skip doses or double up on missed doses. Medication helps control but does not cure elevated cholesterol levels. Medications should be taken with a meal and plenty of fluids. You should avoid taking other medications up to 3 hours before or after this medication. Powders need to be thoroughly mixed in 6 ounces of a non-carbonated beverage.
Zetia
( Ezetimbe)
This drug helps to lower cholesterol in patients unable to meet LDL goals on statin therapy or unable to tolerate statins.
Used for: Lowering total and LDL cholesterol, and preventing heart attacks. Often used in addition to statin therapy or for patients unable to tolerate statins.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Dizziness, headache, diarrhea, stomach pain, stuffy or runny nose, sneezing, coughing, fatigue.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Chest pain, prolonged muscle pain and weakness.
*Your doctor may want to check liver function test (LFT's) periodically if you are taking this medication with a statin.
Notes: Take medication exactly as prescribed, do not skip doses or double up on missed doses. Medication helps control but does not cure elevated cholesterol levels. Medication may be taken with out regards to food but should be taken at the same time every day. Medication should be avoided in pregnancy or while breast feeding.
Beta Blockers
Metoprolol (Lopressor); Atenolol (Tenormin); Carvedilol (Coreg); Propranolol (Inderal); Nadolol (Corgard); Pindolol (Visken); Timolol (Blocadren)
This medication is used in the treatment of high blood pressure, relief of angina pectoris (chest pain), and prevention of repeat heart attacks in patients recovering from an initial heart attack.
Used for: Hypertension, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms and heart failure.
Side effects: these symptoms may occur: Cold hands and feet, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry eyes, mouth or skin, nausea, numbness or tingling of fingers or toes, unusual tiredness or weakness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Dizziness, lightheadedness, unusually slow pulse (<50 beats per minute), breathing difficulty, mental confusion, depression, reduced alertness, fever, sore throat, skin rash.
*If you have asthma or COPD, make sure your doctor is aware so they can prescribe the appropriate beta blocker with your disease.
Notes: Do not stop taking this medication without checking with your doctor first. He/she may want to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping the medication. Abrupt discontinuation can be harmful. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do other jobs that require you to be alert.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Diltiazem (Cardizem);
This medication is used to relieve and control angina (chest pain) and to treat high blood pressure. They are effective in dilating coronary arteries and preventing artery spasms.
Used for: Chest pain caused by coronary artery spasms or exertion, abnormal heart rhythms, hypertension.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Dizziness, lightheadedness, flushing and the feeling of warmth, headache, nausea, unusual tiredness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: breathing difficulty, coughing, irregular or slow heartbeat, skin rash, swelling of ankles, feet or lower legs, tender or swollen gums, chest pain, fainting.
Notes: Stopping this drug suddenly may bring on attacks of chest pain. Consult your physician or pharmacist before consuming alcohol.
Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Used for: Chest pain caused by coronary artery spasms or exertion, high blood pressure.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Dizziness, lightheadedness, flushing and the feeling of warmth, headache, nausea, unusual tiredness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: breathing difficulty, coughing, irregular or slow heartbeat, skin rash, swelling of ankles, feet or lower legs, tender or swollen gums, chest pain, fainting.
Notes: Stopping this drug suddenly may bring on attacks of chest pain. Consult your physician or pharmacist before consuming alcohol.
Oral Nitrates
Isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil); Isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur); Nitroglycerin
These drugs improve the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. They are termed anti-anginal because they relax smooth muscle of blood vessels causing them to dilate.
Used for: Acute chest pain (sublingual nitroglycerin), prevention of chest pain.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, flushing of the face and neck, headache, nausea and vomiting, rapid heartbeat, restlessness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Skin rash.
Notes: Do not stop using this medication suddenly. Consult your pharmacist or physician before consuming alcohol. You may get a headache for a short time at first or with high doses. If you are not sure if chest pain is heart related, taking a dose of this medicine will not harm you. Sit down before taking it as it may make you lightheaded by lowering your blood pressure. If your chest pain is not relieved by three sublingual nitroglycerin tablets taken five minutes apart, call an ambulance to take you to the hospital.
Anti-arrhythmics
Amiodarone (Cordarone)
This medication is used to treat several kinds of heart rhythm abnormalities including fast atrial or ventricular rates.
Used for: Abnormal heart rhythms.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Headache, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, bitter or metallic taste, impotence, flushing, dizziness, photosensitivity.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Cough, fever, shortness of breath, fast or irregular heartbeat, lightheadedness, fainting, trembling hands, numbness or tingling in fingers or toes, low blood pressure, nervousness, intolerance to hot or cold temperatures, sweating, weight gain/loss, blurred vision or seeing blue-green halos on objects, blue-gray skin discoloration.
Notes: Physicians will attempt to use lowest doses possible because the drug will remain in the body for months after discontinuation. Skin sensitivity to sunlight is a common effect and appropriate precautions should be taken.
Dofetilide (Tikosyn)
Used for: Abnormal heart rhythms.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Headache, dizziness, chest pain, nausea, diarrhea, shortness of breath, respiratory infection.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: irregular heartbeats, fainting, lightheadedness.
Notes: This drug can cause electrical conduction disturbances within the heart. Initially it is closely monitored with an EKG. Pharmacies must be registered and trained specially to dispense this medication. Physicians must be specially registered and trained to prescribe this medication.
Diuretics
Furosemide (Lasix); Bumetanide (Bumex); Chlorothiazide (Diuril); Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril); Chlorthalidone; Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
These drugs are used to treat high blood pressure and remove excess fluid that causes congestion that worsens heart failure. They reduce the amount of water in the body by increasing urination.
Used for: Edema (swelling), hypertension.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Dizziness and lightheadedness when standing up, increases sensitivity of skin to sunlight, diarrhea, loss of appetite.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Flank or stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, yellowing of eyes or skin.
Notes: This drug could cause you to lose potassium from your body. You may want to eat or drink foods high in potassium, or take a potassium supplement. Discuss diet changes with your doctor. Signs of too much potassium loss: Dry mouth, increased thirst, irregular heartbeats, mood changes, muscle cramps, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness or weakness, weak pulse.
Adrenocorticoids
Cortisone; Dexamethasone; Hydrocortisone; Prednisone; Triamcinolone
Adrenocorticoids are produced naturally by the body and are necessary to maintain good health. Cortisone-like medications are used also to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body.
Used for: Organ transplants, inflammation.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Increase in appetite, indigestion, nervousness, restlessness, insomnia, weight gain.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Decreased vision, frequent urination, increased thirst, skin rash, acne, back or rib pain, fever or sore throat, bloody or black tarry stools, stomach burning or pain, puffy face, continuing infections, irregular heartbeats, mood changes, muscle cramps or weakness, seeing light-halos, swelling of feet, unusual tiredness, menstrual problems.
Notes: Tell you doctor that you are using this medicine before having any vaccination, other immunizations, or skin tests, before surgery or emergency treatment, or if you have an infection or injury. After you stop using this medication, side effects may continue for a short time.
Digoxin
(Lanoxin)
This drug improves the strength and efficiency of the heart. It controls the rate of the heartbeat which leads to better blood circulation and reduced swelling of the hands and ankles.
Used for: Congestive heart failure, abnormal heart rhythms.
Side effects: Report these symptoms to your doctor: Loss of appetite, lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, unusual tiredness or weakness, unusually slow or uneven pulse rate, blurred or yellow vision with halos, diarrhea, mental depression, drowsiness, headache, skin rash or hives.
Notes: Watch for signs of overdose. The amount of medication needed to help most people is very close to the amount that can cause an overdose. Do not switch brands of digoxin unless directed so by your physician. Do not take cough, cold, sinus preparations, diarrhea medications, laxatives, antacids, asthma remedies, or diet medications unless directed by your physician due to potential interactions.
Milrinone
(Primacor)
This is intravenous medication that improves the efficiency of the heart in people who have congestive heart failure. Used when other drugs such as digoxin, diuretics, and vasodilators don't work.
Used for: Congestive heart failure.
Side effects: Report these symptoms to your doctor: Headache, tremors, chest pain, tightness in chest, shortness of breath.
Notes: This drug is usually given by IV and under close observation of a nurse. This drug has been added to the list due to the fact of its common use in patients with congestive heart failure who do not respond to other drugs.
Aldosterone Receptor Antagonists
Spironolactone (Aldactone); Eplerenone (Inspra)
These drugs are diuretics and antihypertensive agents. Commonly used to treat high blood pressure. They decreases the water in the body by increasing the amount of urination. These drugs can decrease mortality in patients with congestive heart failure.
Used for: Edema (swelling) associated with congestive heart failure, hypertension.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Breast tenderness, enlarged breasts in men, unusual vaginal bleeding, impotence, drowsiness, dry mouth, increased thirst, lack of energy, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, headache, and diarrhea.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Fever, irregular heartbeat, numbness in hands and feet and lips, mental confusion, shortness of breath, skin rash or itching, unexplained anxiety, unusual tiredness, weakness or heaviness of the legs.
Notes: Unlike some diuretics these drugs do not cause loss of potassium so supplements are not usually necessary. Salt substitutes and low-salt milk may contain potassium so do not use them unless instructed to do so by your doctor. Take with meals to decrease stomach irritation.
Warfarin
(Coumadin)
This drug prevents blood clotting by preventing the action of vitamin K in the liver. Clots formed from heart disease may present as a stroke.
Used for: Clots in a vein or a clot that has traveled to the lung, mitral valve disease, atrial fibrillation, prosthetic heart valve, prevention of blood clots after a heart attack.
Side effects: Bleeding, skin rash, liver damage.
Notes: This may be prescribed for a blood clot or after bypass surgery or heart attack. *This drug requires close monitoring by a health care professional, dietary changes, and routine blood tests to maximize effectiveness and reduce the chance of a major bleed. There are also numerous drug interactions associated with warfarin.
Aspirin
(Bayer, Ecotrin, ECASA, Astrin)
Aspirin is a pain reliever, reduces fever and inflammation, and prevents blood clotting.
Used for: Mild pain, fever, arthritis, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA = "mini-stroke"), prevention of clots in people with heart attacks or chest pain.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Thirst, fever, dimness of vision.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Bloody or black tarry stools, stomach ulcers, asthma-like symptoms.
Notes: none
Clopidogrel
(Plavix)
This medication prevents platelets from adhering together and forming clots. Unlike aspirin, this does not have anti-inflammatory properties.
Used for: Prevents clots post stroke or post heart attack and coronary stents.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Stomach pain, joint pain, back pain, dizziness, fever or chills, headache, anxiety, diarrhea, unusual tiredness, nausea, skin rash.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Chest pain, large bruises, bleeding, cough or sore throat, irregular heartbeat, swelling of feet or legs, fainting.
Notes: This medication prevents some types of clots from forming, but does not treat pre-existing clots. Commonly taken for one to three months initially.
Hydralazine
(Apresoline)
This medication decreases blood pressure by acting directly on the smooth muscle of the arteries.
Used for: Hypertension, congestive heart failure.
Side effects: These symptoms may occur: Loss of appetite, headache, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath, lightheadedness.
Report these symptoms to your doctor: Skin rash or itching, chest pain, numbness or tingling in hands or feet, swelling of lower legs and feet, muscle pain or weakness, skin blisters, fever or sore throat.
Notes: This medication is sometimes used in combination with isosorbide to treat heart failure in patients intolerant to ACE inhibitors.
Title Page
|
|
