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Heart Attacks

Heart Attack

Warning Signs

Surviving a Heart

Attack

Testing for a Heart

Attack

Reducing Heart

Attack Risk

Heart Disease

and Medications

Frequently Asked

Questions

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Heart Disease And Medications

Sometimes, medications may be needed to help prevent or control

coronary heart disease (CHD) and so reduce the risk of a first or repeat

heart attack. But, if medications are needed, lifestyle changes still must be

undertaken.

If prescribed, take medications as directed by your health care provider.

Drugs used to treat CHD include:

Aspirin – Aspirin helps to lower the risk of a heart attack for

those who have already had one. It also helps to keep arteries

open in those who have had a previous heart bypass or other

artery-opening procedure such as coronary angioplasty. (More

on aspirin and heart attack)

Because of its risks, aspirin is not approved by the Food and

Drug Administration for preventing heart attacks in healthy

individuals. It may be harmful for some persons, especially

those with no risk of heart disease. Patients must be assessed

carefully to make sure the benefits of taking aspirin outweigh

the risks. Talk to your doctor about whether taking aspirin is

right for you. (For details on the use of aspirin to prevent heart

attacks, please visit the FDA Web site.)

Digitalis – makes the heart contract harder and is used when the

heart's pumping function has been weakened; it also slows

some fast heart rhythms.

ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor – stops the

production of a chemical that makes blood vessels narrow and

is used to help control high blood pressure and for damaged

heart muscle. It may be prescribed after a heart attack to help

the heart pump blood better. It is also used for persons with

heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump

enough blood to supply the body's needs.

Beta blocker – slows the heart and makes it beat with less

contracting force, so blood pressure drops and the heart works

less hard. It is used for high blood pressure, chest pain, and to

prevent a repeat heart attack.

Nitrates (including nitroglycerine) – relaxes blood vessels and

stops chest pain. 

Calcium channel blocker – relaxes blood vessels and is used
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for high blood pressure and chest pain.

Diuretic – decreases fluid in the body and is used for high

blood pressure. Diuretics are sometimes referred to as "water

pills."

Blood cholesterol-lowering agents – decrease LDL cholesterol

levels in the blood.

Thrombolytic agents–also called "clot busting drugs," they are

given during a heart attack to break up a blood clot in a

coronary artery in order to restore blood flow. (More on these

and heart attack)

Drugs can cause side effects. If side effects occur, report them to your

doctor. Often, a change in the dose or type of a medication, or the use of a

combination of drugs can stop the side effect.

To learn more about medications for CHD and its risk factors:

High blood pressure medications.

Drug section of "Your Guide to Lowering High Blood

Pressure" Web page

High blood cholesterol medications.

Drug section of "Live Healthier, Live Longer" Web page

Medications Databases

MedlinePlus drug data base—a National Library of

Medicine Web site that let's you search for drug information.

(This link opens a second browser window. Simply close

that window to return to this page.)

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