medications of the heart

ACE inhibitor drugs

• Produce vasodilation and decrease blood pressure. (Renin is responsible for increasing blood pressure; angiotensin converting enzyme converts to renin in the kidney, so ACE inhibitor drugs lower BP)

• benazepril; Lotensin

• catopril; Capoten

antiarrhythmic

• Reduces or prevents cardiac arrhythmias.

• flecainide; Tambocor

• ibutilide; Covert

Anticoagulant

• Prevent blood clot formation.

• heparin & warfarin; Coudamin

antilipidemic (Also called statins)

• Reduces amount cholesterol and lipids in the bloodstream; treats hyperlipidemia. (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor)

• atorvastatin; Lipitor

• simvastatin; Zocor

antiplatelet agents

• Inhibits the ability of platelets to clump together as part of a blood clot.

• clopidogrel; Plavix

• aspirin & ticlopidine; Ticlid

beta-blocker drugs

• Treats hypertension, angina pectoris by lowering the heart rate.

• metoprolol; Lopressor

• propranolol; Inderal

calcium channel blocker drugs

• Treats hypertension, angina pectoris, and congestive heart failure by causing the heart to beat less forcefully and less often.

• diltiazem; Cardizem

• nifedipine; Procardia

cardiotonic

• Increases the force of cardiac muscle contraction; treats congestive heart failure.

• digoxin; Lanoxin

diuretic

• Increases urine production by the kidneys, which works to reduce plasma and therefore blood volume; resulting in lower blood pressure.

• Furosemide; Lasix

thrombolytic

• Dissolves existing blood clots.

• tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA), & alteplase; Activase

vasoconstrictor

• Contracts smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels; raises blood pressure.

• metaraminol; Aramine

vasodilator

• Relaxes the smooth muscle in the walls of arteries, thereby increasing the diameter of the blood vessel. Used for two main purposes: increasing circulation to an ischemic area; reducing blood pressure.

• nitroglycerine; Nitro-Dur

• isoxsuprine; Vasodilan