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Table of Common Cardiac Medications Cheat Sheet, Cheat Sheet of Cardiology

Freed-Hardeman University (FHU)Cardiology

Cardiac meds list with examples and notes

Typology: Cheat Sheet

2020/2021
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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 medication you’re taking.
Table of Common Cardiac Medications
MEDICATION CATEGORIES EXAMPLES* SIDE EFFECTS AND NOTES
ACE inhibitors
(angioten sin
converting enzyme
inhibitors)
OR
ARBs
(angioten sin I I 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.
ACE inhibitors:
benazepril
• (Lotensin)
captopril
•(Capoten)
enalapril maleate
• (Vasotec)
lisinopril
•(Prinivil, Zestril)
quinapri
•l (Accupril)
ramipril
•(Altace)
ARBs:
candesartan cilexetil
• (Atacand)
eprosartan mesylate
•(Teveten)
irbesartan
• (Avapro)
losartan
• (Cozaar)
telmisartan
• (Micardis)
valsartan
•(Diovan)
Side effect:
A dry, non-productive cough is
a common side effect of ACE
inhibitors.
Note:
Don’t use potassium supplements
or salt substitutes without first
asking your healthcare providers.
Antiarrhythmics
(heart rhythm
medications)
These control irregular
heartbeats — and maintain a
normal heart rate and rhythm.
amiodarone
• (Cordarone)
disopyramide phosphat
•e (Norpace)
dofetilide
• (Tikosyn)
flecainide
• (Tambocor)
mexiletine HCl
• (Mexitil)
procainamide
• (Procan, Pronestyl)
propafenone HCl
•(Rythmol)
propafenone HCI SR
• (Rythmol SR)
quinadine glucomate
• (Quinaglute)
sotalol
• (Betapace, see beta blockers)
tocainide HCl
• (Tonocard)
Notes:
As with any medication, take
•
antiarrhythmics exactly as ordered.
If you’re taking some of these
•
medications, you’ll need ongoing
monitoring by your healthcare
provider.
If you’re taking an extended-release
•
tablet, be sure to swallow the pill
whole — don’t break, chew, or
crush it.
*Generic drug names are listed in lowercase letters.
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pf4
pf5
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Download Table of Common Cardiac Medications Cheat Sheet and more Cheat Sheet Cardiology in PDF only on Docsity!

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 medication you’re taking.

Table of Common Cardiac Medications

MEDICATION CATEGORIES EXAMPLES* SIDE EFFECTS AND NOTES

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.

ACE inhibitors:

  • (^) benazepril(Lotensin)
  • (^) captopril(Capoten)
  • enalapril maleate(Vasotec)
  • lisinopril(Prinivil, Zestril)
  • (^) quinapril (Accupril)
  • (^) ramipril(Altace)

ARBs:

  • (^) candesartan cilexetil(Atacand)
  • eprosartan mesylate(Teveten)
  • (^) irbesartan(Avapro)
  • losartan(Cozaar)
  • (^) telmisartan(Micardis)
  • valsartan(Diovan)

Side effect:

A dry, non-productive cough is a common side effect of ACE inhibitors.

Note:

Don’t use potassium supplements or salt substitutes without first asking your healthcare providers.

Antiarrhythmics

(heart rhythm

medications)

These control irregular heartbeats — and maintain a normal heart rate and rhythm.

  • (^) amiodarone(Cordarone)
  • (^) disopyramide phosphate (Norpace)
  • (^) dofetilide(Tikosyn)
  • flecainide(Tambocor)
  • mexiletine HCl(Mexitil)
  • procainamide(Procan, Pronestyl)
  • propafenone HCl(Rythmol)
  • propafenone HCI SR(Rythmol SR)
  • quinadine glucomate(Quinaglute)
  • (^) sotalol(Betapace, see beta blockers)
  • (^) tocainide HCl(Tonocard)

Notes:

  • As with any medication, take antiarrhythmics exactly as ordered.
  • If you’re taking some of these medications, you’ll need ongoing monitoring by your healthcare provider.
  • If you’re taking an extended-release tablet, be sure to swallow the pill whole — don’t break, chew, or crush it.

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.

Anticoagulants:

  • dalteparin sodium (Fragmin)
  • (^) enoxaparin(Lovenox)
  • (^) fondaparinux(Arixtra)
  • heparin sodium
  • warfarin(Coumadin)

Platelet inhibitors:

  • aspirin
  • cilostazol(Pletal)
  • (^) clopidogril bisulfate(Plavix)
  • (^) dipyramidamole(Persantine)
  • prasugrel(Effient)
  • ticlopidine(Ticlid)

Side effect:

Call your healthcare provider if you notice bleeding from your gums, or blood in your urine or stools.

Notes:

  • Make sure your provider knows about all other medication you’re using. Many substances — including over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements — should not be used while you’re taking some blood thinners.
  • If you’re taking some of these medications, you’ll need ongoing monitoring by your healthcare provider.
  • If you miss a dose, do NOT take extra the next time to “catch up.”
  • Be consistent with your diet, especially foods rich in vitamin K (see chapter 8).
  • Keep regular appointments to have your blood tested to make sure it’s clotting at the right level. Depending on the type of test, it’s called a PT (or PT/INR) or a PTT test.

Antihypertensives

(blood pressure medication)

These are commonly used to treat high blood pressure by relaxing and widening blood vessels.

  • (^) clonidine HCl(Catapres, Dixarit)
  • (^) doxazosin mesylate(Cardura)
  • hydralazine HCI
  • methyldopa(Aldomet)
  • minoxidil
  • phenoxybenzamine HCl (Dibenzyline)
  • phentolamine mesylate (Regitine)
  • (^) prazosin HCl(Minipress)
  • terazosin HCl(Hytrin)

Note:

As with any drug, don’t stop using blood pressure medication without first asking your healthcare provider.

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 - (^) acebutolol HCl (Sectral) - atenolol(Tenormin) - (^) betaxolol(Kerlone) - (^) bisoprolol(Zebeta) - carvedilol(Coreg) - labetalol HCl(Normodyne, Trandate) - (^) metoprolol succinate(Toprol XL) - (^) metoprolol tartrate(Lopressor) - nadolol(Corgard) - nebivolol(Bystolic) - (^) pindolol(Visken) - propranolol HCl(Inderal) - sotalol(Betapace) - (^) timolol maleate(Blocadren)

Side effects:

  • In some people, beta blockers can cause drowsiness.
  • Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these side effects:
    • Chest pain (may be related to your disease and not a side effect)
    • Fainting or severe dizziness
    • Slow, fast, or irregular heartbeat
    • Swelling of your feet or ankles
    • Unusual bleeding or bruising
    • Unusual weight gain
    • Wheezing or trouble b reathing

Lipid medications

(blood cholesterol

lowering agents,

antihyperlipidemics)

The medications in this category work in different ways. Depending on which one you’re taking, lipid medications can lower your levels of cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides — as well as treat abnormally low levels of HDL cholesterol.

Statins

  • atorvastatin calcium(Lipitor)
  • fluvastatin sodium(Lescol)
  • lovastatin(Mevacor)
  • pravastatin sodium(Pravachol)
  • rosuvastatin(Crestor)
  • simvastatin(Zocor)

Fibrates

  • (^) fenofibrate (Tricor)
  • (^) gemfibrozil (Lopid)

Bile acid sequestrants

  • colesevelam HCl(Welchol)
  • cholestyramine(Questran)
  • colestipol HCl(Colestid)

Other lipid medications

  • niacin(Niaspan, Nicolar)

Side effect: Call your healthcare provider

right away if you have any unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or cramps.

Notes:

  • The cornerstone of treating high blood cholesterol is a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Drug therapy only works when you also follow dietary guidelines.
  • With many lipid medications, you can’t eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice. Ask your healthcare provider.
  • Take your statin medication with your evening meal or at bedtime.
  • If you take fenofibrate (Tricor) AND also take cholestyramine (Questran), colestipol (Colestid), or colesevelam HCl (Welchol) — take your dose of fenofibrate at least 1 hour before, or 4 to 6 hours after, these other medicines.

Nitrates and other

antianginals

These are commonly used to prevent, reduce, or relieve angina pain. They work by relaxing blood vessels and increasing the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart — while reducing the blood pressure that your heart has to pump against.

Nitrates (nitroglycerin)

  • (^) oral nitroglycerin (Dilatrate-SR, Imdur, ISMO, Isordil, Monoket)
  • nitroglycerin ointment (Nitro-Bid Ointment, Nitrol)
  • nitroglycerin skin patches (Deponit, Minitran, Nitro-Dur, Transderm-Nitro)
  • nitroglycerin sublingual tablets (Isordil, Nitrostat, Nitrogard, Sorbitrate)
  • other nitroglycerin tablets, capsules, and sprays (Nitro-Bid, Nitrocine, Nitroglyn, Nitrolingual, Nitrong, Nitrostat)

Other anti-anginals

  • ranolazine(Renexa)

Notes about nitrates:

  • If your nitroglycerin pills come with instructions to dissolve them under your tongue, be sure to do this. Do NOT swallow them. The drug won’t work if it’s in your stomach.
  • Store nitroglycerin in its original bottle, in a dark place. This helps preserve its potency.
  • It’s important to replace your nitroglycerin pills every three months, because they lose their effectiveness.

Notes about ranolazine (Renexa):

  • (^) Ranolazine has many drug interactions. Be sure to tell your doctor about all other medications you are taking.
  • Do NOT take ranolazine if you have severe liver disease.

Pain medications

These are commonly prescribed after a cardiac procedure or surgery.

Prescription medications:

  • acetaminophen and codeine (Tylenol #3)
  • hydrocodone bitartrate and acetaminophen (Lortab, Vicodin)
  • oxycodone HCl and acetaminophen (Percocet)
  • (^) oxycodone HCl and aspirin(Percodan)
  • propoxyphene napsylate and acetaminophen (Darvocet)
  • tramadol HCl(Ultram)

Non-prescription medications:

  • (^) acetaminophen(Tylenol)
  • ibuprofen(Advil, Motrin)
  • naproxen(Aleve)

Side effect: Pain medication may cause

dizziness or drowsiness.

Notes :

  • Don’t take more pain medication — or take it more often — than prescribed.
  • Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you’re not alert.
  • Don’t drink alcohol while you’re using pain medications, especially acetaminophen (Tylenol). Acetaminophen can damage your liver — and drinking alcohol can increase this risk.
  • If you’re taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) don’t use more than 4 grams (4,000 milligrams) in 24 hours. Watch out for acetaminophen as an ingredient in other medications.

Potassium supplements

These are commonly prescribed to offset loss of potassium from the body, which can occur with the use of some diuretic medications.

  • K-Dur
  • K-Lyte
  • K-tab
  • Micro K
  • Slow K
  • Klor-con

Note:

  • (^) Some brands of potassium have a waxy residue that may appear in stool (this is normal).
  • Be sure to follow your healthcare provider’s directions about taking potassium.

Stool softeners

These make bowel movements easier. They are commonly prescribed after heart surgery to prevent straining and to get your digestive system functioning normally again.

  • docusate calcium (Surfac)
  • (^) docusate sodium(Colace)
  • docusate sodium and casanthranol (Pericolace)
  • DOS

Notes:

  • Don’t use stool softeners if you have severe stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.
  • To avoid dependency, don’t use stool softeners for longer than 1 week, unless approved by your healthcare provider. (If you’re taking narcotics, you may need to continue taking stool softeners until you’re finished taking the narcotics.)

NOTES

*Generic drug names are listed in lowercase letters.