HEART MEDICATIONS
Chemical
Name
Alternate Name
(Company)
Action
Uses
Side Effects
When to Call
Your Doctor
Precautions
NITRATES
Nitropaste
Nitropatch
Nitroglycerin
Isosorbide
Dinitrate
Isosorbide
Mononitrate
Nitroglycerin
Sublingual
Tablets
Nitroglycerin
Sublingual
Spray
ASPIRIN
Acetylsalicylic
Acid
ASA
Nitrol
Transderm Nitro
Nitro-Dur
Nitrong SR
Isordil
Apo-ISDN
Opens blood
vessels to
increase
amount of
blood flow
to heart
• Chest pain
prevention
• Heart failure
Imdur
Nitrostat
Nitrolingual
Spray
Arthrisin
Entrophen
Novasen
Opens blood
vessels to
increase amount
of blood flow
to heart
• Chest pain
treatment
• Prevents
• Prevention of heart
platelets from
attacks and strokes
sticking together • Pain killer, fever,
anti-inflammatory
• Headache
• Fainting spells
®
(Tylenol or
Acetominophen
• Low blood
can give relief)
pressure
• Dizziness (avoid
fast movements
especially from
lying down to
sitting, or standing
• Low blood pressure
• Flushing
You may become tolerant
to this medication. To
avoid this a 12-hour
break from the drug is
recommended each day
when you are least
likely to have chest pain
• same as above
• Carry tablets/spray with
you at all times
• If you are finding
you need to use
in larger quantities
or more often
• If chest pain is not
relieved with 3
tablets/sprays over
15 minutes, go to
the closest
EMERGENCY
• Tablets will expire in
3 months once opened
and exposed to air, so
it’s a good idea to
label the bottle on the
day you open it
• Stomach upset
• Stomach ulcers
• Use only under physician’s
(take with food;
(very severe pains,
advice if you have asthma
use enteric coated vomit, black stools;
of nasal polyps
preparations)
occurs very rarely
with doses between • May increase your
80mg and 325mg
chances of bleeding if
• Ringing in ears. This used together with
occurs at doses
warfarin (Coumadin®)
much higher than
or other blood thinners.
80mg - 325mg daily
• Breathing difficulties
Chemical
Name
Alternate Name
(Company)
Action
Uses
Side Effects
When to Call
Your Doctor
Precautions
BLOOD THINNERS
Warfarin
Coumadin
Prevents blood
clots
• Irregular heart beat
• Valve surgeries
• Stroke prevention
• Blood clot
prevention after
heart attacks
• Clot in leg or lung
• Bleeding (black stools,
pink urine, coffee
ground vomit,
bruising, bleeding
gums, etc.)
• If have black stools.
coffee ground vomit,
or extremely severe
prolongued
headache
• May also want to
consult a physician
if other signs of
bleeding are
pesistent or severe
• Double check before
starting new medications
• Avoid drastic changes
in diet without consulting
a physician
• Blood will need to be
checked regularly
• If you forget a dose, it’s
BEST NOT TO DOUBLE
DOSE the next dose
• For more details, refer to
Warfarin pamphlet from
your nurse or pharmacist
Slows heart rate.
Decreases
the amount of
oxygen needed
by your heart
• Chest pain
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heart beats
• To reduce chances
or having a heart
attack
• Dizziness
• Low heart rate
• Fatigue, lack of energy
• Sleep disturbances
(eg. nightmares)
• Sexual (please discuss
any concerns with
your physician)
• Very low heart rate
(your doctor will give
you guidelines, but
usually less than 60
beats/minute)
• Continuing or
increasing chest pain
(may need higher dose)
• If other side effects
become very serious
or bothersome
• Worsen congestive heart
failure (some people may
benefit from low doses)
• Patients with asthma should
use this medication under
medical supervision as it can
cause some people to have
more breathing difficulties
• Diabetics (especially if insulin
dependent, ask your doctor
for advice)
• Opens up blood
vessels to
increase blood
flow to heart
• Also some may
slow heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Chest pain
• Irregular heart beat
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness (avoid
sudden changes in
position)
• Ankle swelling (more
often with nifedipine)
• Slow heart rate (more
often with verapamil)
• Constipation
• Fainting spells
• Patients with congestive
• Slow heart rate (your
heart failure should use
doctor will give you
these medications only under
guidelines, but usually
advice of a physician
less than 60 beats/min)
• Ankle swelling which
is much worse
than usual
BETA BLOCKERS
Acebutolol
Atenolol
Labetolol
Metoprolol
Nadolol
Pindolol
Sotolol
Timolol
Monitan
Sectral
Tenormin
Trandate
Betaloc
Loressor
Apo-Metoprol
Novo-Metoprol
Corgard
Viskin
Apo-Pindol
Novo-Pindol
Sotacor
Blocadren
Apo-Timol
CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS
Nifedipine
Diltiazem
Verapamil
Amlodipine
Felodipine
Adalat
Cardizem
Isoptin
Norvasc
Plendil
Renidil
Chemical
Name
Alternate Name
(Company)
Action
Uses
Side Effects
When to Call
Your Doctor
Precautions
ANTIGOTESTIN CONVERTING ENZYME INHIBITORS (ACEI)
Captopril
Enalapril
Lisinopril
Cilazapril
Fosinopril
Quinapril
Ramipril
Perindopril
Capoten
Apo-Capto
Novo-Captopril
Vasotec
Prinivil,
Zestril
Inhibace
Monopril
Accupril
Altace
Coversyl
• Opens up blood
vessels leaving
and returning
to the heart
• Causes salt and
water loss to
lower blood
pressure
• May prevent
damage to the
heart muscle after
a heart attack or
prevent further
damage to an
already weakened
heart
Lanoxin
Novo-digoxin
• Strengthens the
pumping of the
heart
• Slows heart rate
• High blood pressure
• Congestive heart
failure
• After a large heart
attack
• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness (get up from
a lying position very
slowly)
• Dry cough (may
improve with change
in ACEI or may have
to stop drug)
• Increased potassium
• Taste changes
• Very low blood
pressure causing
serious dizziness or
fainting spells
• Rash
• Breathing difficulties
• If the cough is very
persistent or very
bothersome
• Not to be used if have
certain types of kidney
problems (check with doctor)
• Use potassium supplements
cautiously (eg. salt substitutes)
• Slows heart rate
• Stomach upset
• Dose may have to be
(nausea, vomiting)
lowered if your kidneys
• Visual disturbances
are not working well
(colour changes,
• Check when starting any
halos around lights)
new medication for
• Confusion, dizziness
possible drug conflicts
• Very slow or irregular • Your physician may wish
heart beats
to check levels of the drug
• Heart palpitations
on a regular basis
(eg. yearly)
DIGOXIN
Digoxin
• Congestive heart
failure
• Irregular heart beat
Chemical
Name
Alternate Name
(Company)
Action
Uses
Side Effects
When to Call
Your Doctor
Precautions
CHOLESTEROL LOWERING AGENTS
Lovastatin
Pravastatin
Simvastatin
Fluvastatin
Atorvastatin
Gemfibrozil
Fenofibrate
Mevacor
Pravachol
Zocor
Lescol
Lipitor
Lopid
Apo-Gemfibrozil
Novo-Gemfibrozil
Lipidil Supra
Lipidil Micro
Cholestyramine
Questran
PMS Cholestyramine
Novo-Cholamine
• The drugs with
• Lower cholesterol
statin in the
when diet and
name lower bad
exercise alone
(LDL) cholesterol
is not enough
& increase good
(HDL) cholesterol
by preventing
the liver from
producing
cholesterol
• Gemfibrozil
and fenofibrate
generally increase
the breakdown
of cholesterol
already in the body
• Cholestyramine
prevents the body
from absorbing
cholesterol from
foods
• Nausea
• Flatus/Gas
• Constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Bloating
• “Statins”
sometimes cause
muscle aches
• Severe muscle aches
• Very severe stomach
problems
• “Statin” agents are
best taken in the
evening (with supper
or at bedtime)
ANTIARRHYTHMICS (Heart Rhythm Regulators)
Amiodarone
Disopyramide
Procainamide
Propafenone
Quinidine
Sotalol
Cordarone
Rhythmodan
Rythmodan LA
Pronestyl
Pronestyl-SR
Procan SR
Apo-Procainamide
Rhythmol
Quinidex
Apo-quinidine
Biquin Durules
Sotacor, Betapace
• Corrects & prevents • Corrects & prevents • May vary depending
heart electrical
heart electrical
on the type of agent
problems of the heart problems of the heart • Please contact a
in various ways
• Sotalol is a rhythm
pharmacist for more
depending on the
regulator as well
information on each
drug you are taking as a beta-blocker,
particular agent
so please also
refer to information
section on
beta-blockers
• Contact physician
• Sun care
immediately if you
precautions
experience palpitations are important if
• Fainting spells
you are taking
• If using amiodarone,
amiodarone as it
contact your doctor
may make you
if you experience
more likely to
a new or increased
get sunburns
shortness of breath,
persistent new cough,
or a new or
unexplainable fever
Chemical
Name
Alternate Name
(Company)
Action
Uses
Side Effects
When to Call
Your Doctor
Precautions
DIURETICS (Water Pills)
Postassium Sparing
Spironolactone
Triamterene
Amiloride
Trimaterene/
Hydrochloro-thiazide
Amiloride/
Hydrochloro-thiazide
Spironolactone/
Hydro-chlorothiazide
Aldactone,
Novo-spiroton
Dyrenium
Midamor
Dyazide
• Promotes body to
get rid of water
through the kidneys
• High blood pressure
• Congestive heart
failure
• Excess fluid
accumulation
• Can be used with a
non-potassium
sparing water pill to
prevent excess
potassium loss
• Low blood
pressure
• High potassium
• Dehydration (very little
or no urine, dry mouth
or eyes, lack of
springiness in skin)
• Very low blood
pressure or dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Coughing
• Rapid increases or
decreases in your
weight from you usual
range (eg. 2 pounds
in 1 day)
• It is best to take
water pills in the
morning. Take
them no later
than 5 pm.
• Some salt
substitutes
contain a lot of
potassium, use
with caution
• You may want to
weigh yourself
regularly.
• Promotes body to
get rid of water
through the kidneys
• High blood pressure
• Congestive heart
failure
• Excess fluid
accumulation
• Low blood
pressure
• Electolyte
imbalances
(low potassium,
low magnesium
low sodium)
• Dehydration (very little
or no urine, dry mouth
or eyes, lack of
springiness in skin)
• Very low blood
pressure or dizziness
• Hearing problems
(only with high doses
of furosemide)
• Coughing
• Rapid changes in
weight
• It is best to take
water pills in the
morning. Take
them no later
than 5 pm.
• You may need
potassium
tablets to correct
for loss
• You may want to
weigh yourself
regularly
Moduret
Aldactazide
Novo-Spirozine
Non-Potassium Sparing
Furosemide
Hydrochlorothiazide
(HCTZ)
Indapamide
Metolazone
Lasix, Uritol,
Apo-furosemide
Apo-Hydro,
Hydro-Diuril
Lozide
Zaroxolyn