Heart Medicines

Why Are Cardiac Medicines Important?

People with heart disease often take medicines to improve and manage their health.

Your doctor will decide on the best combination of medicines for your condition and situation. Your pharmacist will then work with you to ensure that the medicines you use are the most effective.

You may need to take some of these medicines for the rest of your life.

Cardiac medicines can:

• improve the lining of your arte​​ries
• improve your cholesterol
  
• control your blood pressure
• prevent blood clots
• reduce the amount of work your heart has to do

Classes of Medicines

Medicines are divided into classes. Each class does something different to help manage your condition. Common classes of medicines are:

• Aldosterone antagonists (mineralcorticoid receptor antagonists – MRAs)
• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
• Angiotensin receptor-neprylisin inhibitors (ARNIs)
• Anti-arrhythmic medicines
• Anticoagulants
• Antiplatelets
• Beta blockers
• Calcium channel blockers
• Cholesterol medicines
• Digitalis preparations
• Diuretics
• Nitrates
• Sodium Glucose Co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) Inhibitors

Your Cardiac Medicines

The first step in managing your medicines is to know what you are taking.

With your medicines nearby, read the information on this site. We have listed:

• the class of medicine
• the benefits of taking the medicine
• what the medicine does (the action)
• side effects
• common names of the medicines
  • Brand names are listed for information only. UHN’s Cardiovascular Prevention & Rehabilitation Program is not recommending or endorsing any specific brand of medicine.

Talk to your doctor and pharmacists about your heart medicines:

• Ask your doctor if there are any risks with the heart medicines they prescribe.
• Tell your doctor about every medicine, supplement, or natural herb that you are using. Some medicines, supplements, and natural herbs cannot be taken if you are taking certain heart medicines.

Resources

1. Your local pharmacist can help you with:
   • medicine organizer packs
   • medicine delivery
   • medicine counselling
2. The MedsCheck program allows you to schedule a 20 to 30 minute one-on-one meeting with your community pharmacist to ensure that you are safely and appropriately using all types of medicine. Think of it as a comprehensive medicine review. And it´s free! Just bring your OHIP card.
   Visit the Visit the MedsCheck website (opens in new window) or Contact INFOline at 1-866-255-6701 or TTY 1-800-387-5559
3. Managing your medications (The Heart and Stroke Foundation) (opens in new window)