Common Cardiac Medications Pharmacology Cheat Sheet
Only your healthcare providers can tell you the exact purpose of your specific prescriptions. However, it’s likely that your medications fall into the categories described in the table below. Use this table as a reference to help you learn more about the Cardiac medication you’re taking.
• ACE inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors) OR ARBs (angiotensin II receptor antagonists)
These medications block stress hormones and relieve stress on the heart’s pumping action. They improve symptoms and reduce hospitalizations for patients with heart failure.
• Antiarrhythmics (heart rhythm medications)
These control irregular heartbeats — and maintain a normal heart rate and rhythm.
• Anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors (“blood thinners”)
These cause your blood to take longer to clot, which can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks that can occur when blood clots get stuck in small blood vessels.
• Antihypertensives (blood pressure medication)
These are commonly used to treat high blood pressure by relaxing and widening blood vessels.
• Beta blockers
These medications are often prescribed to treat angina, high blood pressure, and irregular heart rhythms. They:
• Block stress hormones and relieve stress on the heart’s pumping action
• Relax the blood vessels so blood can move more easily
• Improve the heart’s function
• Reduce symptoms and lessen the chance of future hospitalizations
• Calcium channel blockers
These are commonly used to treat high blood pressure, coronary artery spasms, and angina. They
restrict the normal flow of calcium into the cells of the heart and blood vessels, which discourages smaller vessels from narrowing and going into spasm, and also reduces the heart’s workload and need for oxygen.
• Diuretics (“water pills”)
These help rid your body of excess fluid and salt. They are often prescribed for high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.
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