Dr Malik explores some of the possible medication you can take for the heart.
Medical therapy is the term used in medicine to describe the prescription of drugs to manage a specific diagnosis or set of risk factors. The market is constantly changing with new developments driven by a multi-billion pound pharmaceutical industry.
Do I need medical therapy?
In deciding what course of treatment to take the cardiologist will need to perform a thorough investigation of your presenting condition and it will be necessary to consider the following:
- The nature and the severity of your symptoms/condition
- Other underlying disease or co-morbidity
- Age
- Family history
- Overall health
It is likely the cardiologist will undertake various testing most commonly ECG, Echocardiogram, Holter monitoring and frequently a functional exercise test.
What drugs are available and what do they do?
| Risk lowering therapies | Anti Anginals | Blood Pressure Treatment | Heart Failure Treatment | Rhythm management |
| Asprin | Beta Blockers | ACEI/ARB | Diuretics | BetaBlockers |
| Clopidogrel | Calcium Channel Blockers | Calcium Channel Blocker | Digoxin | Digoxin |
| Prasugrel | Nitrates | Diuretics | BetaBlockers | Class I, III, IV drugs |
| Ticagrelor | Nicorandil | BetaBlockers | ACEI/ARB | Anti-coagulants |
| Fibrates | Ivabradine | Aldosterone Blockers | Aldosterone Blockers | Amiodarone |
| ACEI/ARB | Ranolazine | Alpha Blockers | ||
| Statins | Central Drugs | |||
| Colchicine |
