Heart Disease Drug Information

After being diagnosed with heart disease, you may be prescribed a specific drug regimen by your doctor. Every person is different, so your treatment will be tailored to your needs. Find out the proper uses and side effects of your medications. Altace Oral This drug belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Calan Oral Verapamil is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), chest pain (angina) and certain types of irregular heartbeat. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. When used regularly, verapamil can decrease the number and severity of episodes of chest pain from angina. It can also control your heart rate if you have a fast/irregular heartbeat. Verapamil is called a calcium channel blocker. It works to control blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily, helping the heart work less hard to pump blood through your body. This effect, along with the relaxation of narrowed heart blood vessels, may also relieve the symptoms of angina. Verapamil also lowers a fast/irregular heartbeat, making you more comfortable and better able to participate in daily activities. Cardene Oral Nicardipine is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Nicardipine belongs to a class of medications called calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. Nicardipine is also used for certain types of chest pain (angina). It may help to increase your ability to exercise and decrease the frequency of angina attacks. This medication must be taken regularly to be effective. It should not be used to treat attacks of chest pain when they occur. Use other medications (e.g., sublingual nitroglycerin) to relieve attacks of chest pain as directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Cardizem Oral Diltiazem is used with or without other medications to treat chest pain (angina). When used regularly, diltiazem can decrease the number and severity of episodes of chest pain from angina. Diltiazem is called a calcium channel blocker. It works to decrease attacks of chest pain by relaxing blood vessels in the body and heart so blood can flow more easily, helping the heart work less hard to pump blood. Diltiazem may also decrease heart rate. Coreg Oral This medication is an alpha- and beta-blocker used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It is also used after an acute heart attack to improve survival. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Corgard Nadolol is used alone or with other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and to prevent chest pain (angina). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. In the management of chest pain, nadolol may also help to reduce the frequency of chest pain episodes and improve your ability to exercise. Imdur Oral Isosorbide mononitrate is used to prevent chest pain (angina). When used regularly, isosorbide can decrease the number and severity of attacks of chest pain from angina and improve your ability to exercise. This medication is called a nitrate. It works by relaxing blood vessels and allowing more blood to flow to the heart. Inderal Oral This medication is a beta-blocker used to treat chest pain (angina), high blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, migraine headaches, tremors, and other conditions as determined by your doctor. It is also used after an acute heart attack to improve survival. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Isordil Oral Isosorbide dinitrate is used to prevent chest pain (angina). When used regularly, isosorbide can decrease the number and severity of attacks of chest pain from angina and improve your ability to exercise. This medication is called a nitrate. It works by relaxing blood vessels and allowing more blood to flow to the heart. Lanoxin Oral Digoxin is used to treat heart failure, usually along with other medications. It is also used to treat a certain type of irregular heartbeat (chronic atrial fibrillation). Lasix Oral Furosemide is a "water pill" (diuretic) that increases the amount of urine you make, which causes your body to get rid of excess water. This drug is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Lipitor Oral Atorvastatin is an enzyme blocker (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), also known as a "statin". It is used along with a proper diet to help lower cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood. In general, this drug is prescribed after non-drug treatment options have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (e.g., diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss if overweight). Reducing cholesterol and triglycerides help prevent strokes and heart attacks. Lopressor Oral This medication is a beta-blocker used to treat chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure. It is also used after an acute heart attack to improve survival. High blood pressure reduction helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Mavik Oral This drug belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Nitroglycerin SL This medication is used to relieve episodes of chest pain (angina). This medication is called a nitrate. It works by relaxing blood vessels and allowing more blood flow to the heart. Increasing blood flow to the heart can relieve chest pain due to angina. Norvasc Oral Amlodipine is used with or without other medications to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), certain kinds of chest pain (chronic stable angina, vasospastic angina, coronary artery disease). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Relieving symptoms of angina can increase your ability to exercise and perform strenuous work. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. It may relieve the symptoms of angina by relaxing narrowed blood vessels and lowering blood pressure so that the heart muscle does not have to work as hard to pump blood through your body. Percodan Oral This medication is used to relieve moderate to moderately severe pain. It contains 2 pain relievers: oxycodone, a narcotic, and aspirin. It works by affecting certain areas of the brain (pain centers) and decreasing swelling, therefore making you more comfortable and more able to function normally. Plavix Oral Clopidogrel is used to prevent heart attacks and strokes in persons with heart disease (recent heart attack, unstable angina), recent stroke, or blood circulation disease (peripheral vascular disease). It works by blocking certain blood cells called platelets and prevents them from forming harmful blood clots. This "anti-platelet" effect helps to keep blood flowing smoothly in your body. Pravachol Oral Pravastatin is an enzyme blocker (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), also known as a "statin". It is used in adults and children (8 years of age and older), along with a proper diet, to help lower cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood. In general, this drug is prescribed after non-drug treatment options have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (e.g., diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss if overweight). Reducing cholesterol and triglycerides help prevent strokes and heart attacks. Procardia Oral This medication is used for certain types of chest pain (angina). It may help to increase exercise tolerance and decrease the frequency of angina attacks. Nifedipine belongs to a class of medications known as calcium channel blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels so blood can flow more easily. This medication must be taken regularly to be effective. It should not be used to treat attacks of chest pain when they occur. Use other medications (e.g., sublingual nitroglycerin) to relieve attacks of chest pain as directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for details. Tenormin Oral This medication is a beta-blocker used to treat chest pain (angina) and high blood pressure. It is also used after an acute heart attack to improve survival. High blood pressure reduction helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Zestril Oral This drug belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and in children 6 years of age and older. It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. High blood pressure reduction helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems. Zocor Oral Simvastatin is an enzyme blocker (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor), also known as a "statin". It is used along with a proper diet to help lower cholesterol and fats (triglycerides) in the blood. In general, this drug is prescribed after non-drug treatment options have not been fully successful at lowering cholesterol (e.g., diet change, increase in exercise, weight loss if overweight). Reducing cholesterol and triglycerides help prevent strokes and heart attacks.