HealthInfo Waitaha Canterbury
Medicines for your heart
The Heart Foundation's page on heart medications has information about the groups of medicines that are commonly used for heart problems. It explains what they do, how they work, side effects and things to look out for. It has information about statins, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, antiplatelets, antithrombotic anticoagulants and nitrates.
You can find more information about statins, which help to lower high cholesterol and reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke on Cholesterol-lowering medicines.
You can find more information about blood thinning medications on Blood-thinning medicines. This page includes videos showing how blood thinners work.
Information sheets
These information sheets cover many of the drugs used for heart problems.
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): candesartan, cilazapril, enalapril, losartan, quinapril
Anti-arrhythmics: amiodarone, flecainide, propafenone
Anticoagulants: dabigatran, warfarin
Antiplatelets: aspirin, clopidogrel, ticagrelor
Beta Blockers: atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, sotalol
Calcium channel blockers: amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, verapamil
Diuretics: bendroflumethiazide, furosemide
Nitrates: glyceryl trinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate
Other: digoxin, perhexiline
Important
If you take an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) (for example, cilazapril, enalapril, quinapril, losartan or candesartan) and a diuretic (for example, furosemide or bendroflumethiazide), taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (for example ibuprofen or aspirin) in high doses could harm your kidneys.
The term for this is "triple whammy". Read NSAIDs and blood pressure medicines for more details.
Check with your general practice team or pharmacist if you are not sure whether you are taking an ACE inhibitor or ARB and a diuretic.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed December 2021.
Review key: HIHDR-25619
