by Debra Wood, RN
The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medicine categories listed below. Only the most general side effects are included, so ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Use each of these medicines as recommended by your doctor, or according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
Emergency medical personnel may begin treating you with medicines before you reach the hospital. At the hospital, additional drugs will be given and you will likely receive medicines to take at home after you are discharged.
Opioid Analgesics
Nitrates
Thrombolytic Agents
Antiarrhythmic
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers
Antiplatelet Drugs
Anticoagulants
Statins
Common names include:
Morphine is given to relieve chest pain. Possible side effects include:
Nitroglycerin
Nitrates help relieve chest pain by dilating the arteries, which allows more blood to flow to the heart muscle. Early in treatment, nitroglycerin may be administered as a tablet placed under the tongue or infused through a vein. Long-term, nitroglycerin may be given on a regular basis through a patch, paste, or orally to control chronic chest pain.
Possible side effects include:
A drug to dissolve or break up blood clots in the coronary artery may be given via a needle placed in the arm (intravenously or IV). Early treatment, within three hours of the heart attack, offers the best chance for good results. Your medical history, age, and condition may prevent treatment with clot-busting drugs.
During a heart attack, damage to the heart muscle can increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. Unstable heart rhythms can prevent the heart from effectively pumping blood, and if serious, lead to sudden death. Antiarrhythmic drugs help the heart beat more normally, usually by suppressing abnormal beats or by regularizing the heart rate.
There are a wide variety of drugs available to treat the various causes of abnormal rhythms. In emergencies, some of these drugs are given via an IV. Oral forms of medicine are used to treat more chronic arrhythmias. The main issue with these drugs is that unless the underlying rhythm problem can be corrected, they must be taken indefinitely. Also, one of the more unpredictable side effects of some of these medicines is the risk of making the arrhythmia worse. Talk to your doctor about the specific side effects or warning signs to watch for based on the drug you are taking.
Sodium channel blockers are a type of antiarrhythmic drugs. Examples of these medicines include:
Beta-blockers are another type of antiarrhythmic drugs. Beta-blockers decrease demands on the heart and lower blood pressure. They may limit the amount of heart damage and help to prevent future heart attacks. They can also be used for their antiarrhythmic effects.
Action potential-prolonging agents are another type of antiarrhythmic drugs. Examples of these medicines include:
Another type of antiarrhythmic drugs, calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. These may be given to patients who cannot take beta-blockers. They can also be used for their antiarrhythmic effects.
ACE inhibitors lower blood pressure and help lower mortality in people who sustain significant damage to the heart muscle.
Antiplatelet drugs help prevent the blood from clotting. They may be given when aspirin cannot be used. They may also be given in conjunction with aspirin to people who have had an angioplasty.
Anticoagulants help to prevent the blood from clotting. It is often given to patients during heart procedures or after a clot-busting drug treatment.
Statins are drugs that help to lower blood cholesterol levels. They may be prescribed along with a low cholesterol diet if you have high cholesterol. Atorvastatin may reduce the risk of repeat stroke or heart attack.
Aspirin may be given by emergency medical personnel and continued after admission to the hospital. Aspirin helps prevent clotting and reclosing of the artery. Aspirin should generally be taken with food to decrease stomach upset.
If you are taking medicines, follow these general guidelines:
Cardiac medications. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/PreventionTreatmentofHeartAttack/Cardiac-Medications_UCM_303937_Article.jsp. Accessed August 8, 2012.
ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/. Updated June 7, 2012. Accessed August 8, 2012.
9/19/2006 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Amarenco P, Bogousslavsky J, Callahan A, Goldstein LB, Hennerici M, Rudolph AE, et al. High-dose atorvastatin after stroke or transient ischemic attack. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(6):549-559.
3/5/2012 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: FDA announces safety changes in labeling for some cholesterol-lowering drugs. US Food and Drug Administration website. Available at: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm293623.htm. Published February 28, 2012. Accessed March 5, 2012.
Last reviewed September 2012 by Michael J. Fucci, DO
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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