Common Cardiac Medications

There are many medications your cardiologist may consider in caring for your condition. The list below and on the following pages contains the most common categories of cardiac medications routinely used to care for heart patients. Visit with your doctor, cardiologist or pharmacist if you have questions related to your medications.

Medication Category:	Purpose:
ACE Inhibitors Aceon, Accupril, Altace, Captoten, Lotensin, Mavik, Monopril, Prinivil, Univasc, Vasotec, Zestril Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers Atacard, Avapro, Cozaar, Diovan, Micardis, Teveten	Used to reduce high blood pressure. Helps to increase the "pumping strength" of the heart muscle.
Digitalis Medications Lanoxin (Digoxin)	Helps to improve the strength and efficiency of the heart. Also helps to slow a heart that is beating too fast and regulate an irregular heart  rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation.
Beta Blockers Betapace, Coreg, Corgard, Inderal, Lopressor, Normaodyne, Sectral, Tenormin, Toprol XL, Trandate, Visken, Zebeta	May be prescribed for several reasons: To slow a rapid heart beat To prevent and treat the rapid, abnormal heartbeats that may occur after cardiac surgery To treat angina (it slows the heart rate, reducing the need for oxygen). These medications may lower blood pressure slightly
Calcium Channel Blockers Adalot, Calan, Cardene, Cardizem, Cartia XT, Covera, Dilacor, Diltia XT, Dynacirc, Isoptin, Sular, Tiazac, Vascor, Verelan, Norvasc, Procardia, Plendil	Helps to get rid of extra fluid that may accumulate after surgery or as a result of a heart condition. Also used to help reduce high blood pressure.
Diuretics Aldactone, Bumex, Demadex, Hydrochlorothiazide, Lasix, Maxide, Dyazide	Helps to get rid of extra fluid that may accumulate after surgery or as a result of a heart condition. Also used to help reduce high blood pressure.
Potassium K-Dur, K-Tabs, Micro-K	Helps to control heart rhythm. Potassium supplements may be recommended if a patient takes diuretics, which can cause the body to lose potassium.
Nitrates Indur, Ismo, Monoket, Nitrobid, Isordil, Nitrostat (under the tongue), Nitroquick (under the tongue), Ntorolingual spray, Nitrodur (patch), Transderm Nitro (patch)	Helps prevent or relieve angina (chest pain) attacks by expanding blood vessels and reducing the workload of the heart.
Anticoagulants (Blood Thinners) Coumadin (Warfarin)	Used to decrease the ability of the blood to form clots. Often prescribed for patience who have had valve replacement surgery or have an irregular heartbeat.