Medications for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

• Nitroglycerin

Vasodilators help widen blood vessels that are narrowed This improves the amount of blood delivered to the heart muscle. Nitrates or nitroglycerin may be used to right away ease a sudden attack of angina. Or they may be taken to lower the risk of future attacks. Nitrates come in many forms, including tablets and sprays for use under the tongue, and ointments and patches for use on the skin. The nitroglycerin tablets or sprays are used for sudden attacks. Ointments, patches, and some pills are used every day to lower the risk of an attack.

Problems may be:

• Headache
• Lightheadedness or fainting from slowed heart rate
• Rapid heartbeat
• Flushing of the face and neck
• Nausea and vomiting
• Restlessness

• Metoprolol
• Atenolol
• Nadolol
• Propranolol
• Carvedilol
• Bisoprolol
• Pindolol Timolol
• Acebutolol
• Labetalol
• Betaxolol
• Carteolol
• Penbutolol
• Esmolol

These medicines help slow a person's heart rate and lower blood pressure, especially during exercise. They are used to lower the risk of angina attacks and heart attacks . Beta-blockers are also given to people recovering from a heart attack to lower the risk of getting one in the future.

Problems may be:

• Problems having sex
• Lightheadedness or fainting
• Problems sleeping or vivid dreams
• Lack of energy and strength
• Breathing problems or asthma

• Atorvastatin
• Pravastatin
• Lovastatin
• Simvastatin
• Fluvastatin
• Rosuvastatin

Statins are given to lower cholesterol and ease inflammation. They may lower the risk of both stroke and heart attack.

Problems may be:

• Headache
• Belly ache
• Diarrhea
• Muscle weakness
• Liver damage (rare)

• Nifedipine
• Verapamil
• Diltiazem
• Amlodipine
• Felodipine
• Isradipine
• Nisoldipine

These medicines affect the way calcium moves into the cells of the heart and blood vessels. This widens blood vessels and increases the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. This helps to prevent angina attacks and lowers the risk of heart attacks.

Problems may be:

• Constipation
• Leg swelling
• Lack of energy or strength
• Headache
• Rapid, irregular heartbeat

• Aspirin
• Clopidogrel
• Ticlopidine
• Dipyridamole

Antiplatelets lower the risk of blood clots forming by platelets from clumping and sticking together.

Problems may be:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Skin rash or bruising
• Ringing in the ears
• Irritation of the stomach lining
• Bleeding from the digestive tract and other internal organs
• Allergic reaction

• Warfarin

Anticoagulants are given to lower the risk of blood clots. Bleeding is the most serious side effect.

Problems may be:

• Bloody or tarry black stools
• Nosebleeds
• Heavy menstrual periods
• Easy bruising
• Allergic reaction

This medicine contains a nitrate and widens blood vessels. It also changes the way potassium flows to heart cells and blood vessels.

Ranolazine is given to lower the risk of angina that is not affecting heart rate or blood pressure. It eases angina pain, but does not lower the risk of heart attacks.

Problems may be:

• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Nausea
• Constipation
• Interactions with other medicines, such as those used to treat liver or kidney disease

• Benazepril
• Captopril
• Enalapril
• Fosinopril
• Lisinopril
• Moexipril
• Perindopril
• Quinapril
• Ramipril

ACE inhibitors widen blood vessels by interfering with the action of angiotensin. This is a chemical that contracts and narrows blood vessels.

Problems may be:

• Cough
• Headache
• Lightheadedness
• Higher levels of potassium in the blood

A small, daily dose of aspirin has been shown to lower the risk of heart attack in people with CAD by stopping blood clots from forming. Bleeding in the stomach and gastrointestinal tract is one possible side effect.