Types of Heart Medications

If you've had a heart attack, you will likely need to take some medications for the rest of your life.

There are many types and combinations of drugs used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD). Your health care team will decide the best treatment plan for you.

Paying for medication

If you’re having trouble paying for your medication, there are a few things you can do to get help.

• Ask if there is a medication that costs less.
• Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or other health care professional about your situation. They may know about programs that can help you get your medication for free or at a lower cost.
• Check if the company that makes your medication offers patient assistance programs. Many drug companies have programs that provide medications if you are facing financial problems or are uninsured.
• Look into government programs such as Medicaid or Medicare. They can help cover the cost of medications for eligible people.
• You can use the American Heart Association’s FindHelp, which can connect you to resources in your community. 

Types of Heart Medications

The following gives a quick look at many types of heart medications.

*Some of the major types of commonly prescribed heart medications are listed in this section. For your information and reference, we have included generic names. However, the AHA is not recommending or endorsing any specific products. If your medication isn’t on this list, remember that your health care team and pharmacist are your best sources of information. It’s important to discuss the drugs you take with them and understand their desired effects and possible side effects. Never stop taking a medication and never change your dose or frequency without first consulting the prescribing health care professional.

• Anticoagulants
• Antiplatelet agents and dual antiplatelet therapy
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers
• Beta blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Cholesterol-lowering medications
• Diuretics
• Vasodilators

Anticoagulants

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Apixaban 
• Dabigatran
• Edoxaban
• Heparin
• Rivaroxaban
• Warfarin

What the medication does

Sometimes called blood thinners, although they do not actually thin the blood. Decreases the clotting ability of the blood. They are used to treat certain blood vessel, heart and lung conditions.

Reason for medication

• Helps to prevent blood clots from forming in the blood vessels.
• May prevent the clots from becoming larger and causing more serious problems.
• Often prescribed to prevent first or recurrent stroke or heart attack.

Antiplatelet agents and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT)

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Aspirin
• Clopidogrel
• Dipyridamole
• Prasugrel
• Ticagrelor

What the medication does

Keeps blood clots from forming by preventing blood platelets from sticking together.

Reason for medication

• Helps stop clotting in people who have had a heart attack, unstable angina, ischemic strokes, TIA (transient ischemic attacks) and other forms of cardiovascular disease.
• Can be used preventively when plaque buildup is evident but there is not yet a major blockage in the artery.
• Can stop clots from forming inside stents or after coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG).
• Certain people will be prescribed aspirin and another antiplatelet drug. This is known as dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). 

Dual antiplatelet therapy

Some people are treated with two types of antiplatelet agents at the same time to prevent blood clotting. It can be used for people who have:

• Heart attacks
• Stents placed in their coronary arteries
• Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG)
• Stroke and transient ischemic attacks
• Angioplasty

One antiplatelet agent is aspirin. Many people with coronary artery disease are treated with aspirin for the rest of their lives. A second antiplatelet agent, called a P2Y12 inhibitor, is usually prescribed for months or years in addition to the aspirin therapy.

The type of medication and length of treatment will vary based on your condition and other risk factors. Talk to your health care professional about the risks and benefits of DAPT.

• If you had a heart attack, it is recommended that you be on DAPT for at least a year. If you don’t have a high bleeding risk, taking it longer may lower your risk of a future heart attack.
• If you received a “bare metal” stent and you are a high bleeding risk, your health care professional may give you a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor for a shorter period to decrease the chances of bleeding. If you are at a lower risk of bleeding, you may have been treated with a drug-eluting stent, and you may be on DAPT for 6-12 months or longer. If you don’t have a high bleeding risk, a longer duration may lower your risk of future heart attack and clotting of the stent. It’s important to take the medication as prescribed. Stopping it on your own can increase risk of clots forming inside the stent, particularly in the first few months.
• If you had CABG, you may be treated with a P2Y₁₂ inhibitor for a year after the surgery.

If you have questions about your treatment, talk to your primary health care professional.

Print a patient information sheet on DAPT (PDF).

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Benazepril
• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Fosinopril
• Lisinopril
• Moexipril
• Perindopril
• Quinapril
• Ramipril
• Trandolapril 

What the medication does

• Relax and widen blood vessels
• Lower blood pressure
• Make it easier for the heart to pump blood

Reason for medication

• Used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure and heart failure.
• They also provide health benefits to people who have had a heart attack.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (or inhibitors)

(Also known as ARBs)

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Azilsartan
• Candesartan
• Eprosartan
• Irbesartan
• Losartan
• Olmesartan 
• Telmisartan 
• Valsartan 

What the medication does

• Relax and widen blood vessels
• Lower blood pressure
• Make it easier for the heart to pump blood

Reason for medication

• Used to treat or improve symptoms of cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure, heart failure and chronic kidney disease.

Beta blockers

(Also known as Beta-adrenergic blocking agents)

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Acebutolol
• Atenolol
• Betaxolol
• Bisoprolol
• Metoprolol
• Nadolol
• Propranolol
• Sotalol

What the medication does

• May lower blood pressure
• Slow the heart rate (how fast the heart beats)
• Make it easier for the heart to pump blood

Reason for medication

• Used to treat some types of heart attacks, high blood pressure, chest pain (angina) caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle and some arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).
• Used to help prevent future heart attacks in people who have had a heart attack.

Combined alpha and beta-blockers

Combined alpha and beta-blockers are used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure.

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Carvedilol
• Labetalol

A possible side effect of combined alpha and beta-blockers:

• May cause a drop in blood pressure when you stand up.

Calcium channel blockers

(Also known as calcium antagonists or calcium blockers)

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Amlodipine
• Diltiazem
• Felodipine
• Nifedipine
• Nimodipine
• Nisoldipine
• Verapamil

What the medication does

May decrease the heart’s pumping strength and relax blood vessels.

Reason for medication

• Used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain (angina) caused by reduced blood supply to the heart muscle and some abnormal heart rhythms.

Cholesterol-lowering medications

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Statins: Atorvastatin, Fluvastatin, Lovastatin, Pitavastatin, Pravastatin, Rosuvastatin, Simvastatin
• Nicotinic acids: Niacin
• Cholesterol absorption inhibitor: Ezetimibe
• Combination statin and cholesterol absorption inhibitors: Ezetimibe/Simvastatin
• Bile acid sequestrants: Cholestyramine, Colesevelam, Colestipol
• PCSK9 inhibitors: Alirocumab, Evolcumab

What the medication does

Various medications can lower blood cholesterol levels. But statins are the best first course of action. When statins don’t work, or if a person has serious side effects from statin therapy, other drugs may be used.

Watch an animation of how statins work.

Cholesterol-lowering medications work in the body in different ways. Some affect the liver, some work in the intestines and some interrupt the formation of cholesterol from circulating in the blood.

Reason for medication

Used to lower LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

*Some cholesterol-lowering medications may interact with grapefruit, grapefruit juice, pomegranate and pomegranate juice. Please talk to your health care professional about any potential risks. 

Diuretics

(Also known as water pills)

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Acetazolamide
• Amiloride
• Bumetanide
• Chlorothiazide
• Chlorthalidone
• Furosemide
• Hydro-chlorothiazide
• Indapamide 
• Metolazone
• Spironolactone
• Torsemide

What the medication does

Causes the body to rid itself of excess fluids and sodium through urination. Helps to reduce the heart's workload. Also decreases the buildup of fluid in the lungs and other parts of the body, such as the ankles and legs. Different diuretics remove fluid at varied rates and through different methods.

Reason for medication

• Used to help lower blood pressure.
• Reduce swelling (edema) from excess buildup of fluid in the body.

Vasodilators

Some commonly prescribed include:

• Isosorbide dinitrate
• Isosorbide mononitrate
• Hydralazine
• Nitroglycerin
• Minoxidil

What the medication does

Widens the blood vessels so the blood flows more easily. Reduces the heart’s workload and decreases blood pressure.

A type of vasodilators called nitrates increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart while reducing its workload. This can ease chest pain (angina). Nitroglycerin is available as a pill to be swallowed or absorbed under the tongue, a spray and as a topical cream.

Reasons for medication include

• Used to ease chest pain (angina)
• Used to treat heart attack
• Used to treat high blood pressure
• Treats high blood pressure caused by pregnancy