medications of the cardiovascular system

ACE Inhibitor: 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)

Antiarrhythmic: Reduces or prevents cardiac arrhythmias.

Anticoagulant: Prevent blood clot formation.

Antilipidemic (Also called statins): Reduces amount cholesterol and lipids in the bloodstream; treats hyperlipidemia. (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor)

Antiplatelet Agents: Inhibits the ability of platelets to clump together as part of a blood clot.

Beta-Blocker drugs: Treats hypertension, angina pectoris by lowering the heart rate.

Calcium Channel Blocker drugs: Treats hypertension, angina pectoris, and congestive heart failure by causing the heart to beat less forcefully and less often.

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

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

Thrombolytic: Dissolves existing blood clots.

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

Vasodilator: Relaxes the smooth muscle in the walls of arteries, thereby increasing the diameter of the blood vessel; used for increasing circulation to an ischemic area and reducing blood pressure.

ACE Inhibitor:

benazepril; Lotensin

captopril; Capoten

Antiarrhythmic:

flecainide; Tambocor

ibutilide; Covert

Anticoagulant:

heparin & warfarin; Coumadin

Antilipidemic:

atorvastatin; Lipitor

simvastatin; Zocor

Antiplatelet Agents:

clopidogrel; Plavix

aspirin & ticlopidine; Ticlid

Beta-Blocker Drugs:

metoprolol; Lopressor

propranolol; Inderal

Calcium Channel Blocker Drugs:

diltiazem; Cardizem

nifedipine; Procardia

Cardiotonic:

digoxin; Lanoxin

Diuretic:

furosemide; Lasix

Thrombolytic:

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

Vasoconstrictor:

metaraminol; Aramine

Vasodilator:

nitroglycerine; Nitro-Dur

isoxsuprine; Vasodilan