Types of Coronary Heart Disease Medications

Many different types of medications are used to treat coronary heart disease, also called coronary artery disease, depending on the patient's needs. You may be prescribed

• antiplatelet drugs such as
  • Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate),
  • Ticlid (ticlopidine),
  • Efficient (prasugrel),
  • Reopro (abciximab),
  • Integrilin (eptifibatide), and
  • aspirin;
• anticoagulants including
  • Coumadin (warfarin) and
  • heparin;
• angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as
  • Zestril (lisinopril);
• vasodilators such as
  • Nitrostat and Nitropress (nitroglycerin),
  • Ismo (isosorbide mononitrate), and
  • Isordil (isosorbide dinitrate);
• calcium channel blockers (CCBs) such as
  • Procardia (nifedipine);
• anti-arrhythmics including
  • Cordarone (amiodarone),
  • Tambocor (flecainide acetate), and
  • Rythmol (propafenone hydrochloride);
• catecholamines such as
  • dopamine and
  • dobutamine; and
• anti-anginal medications such as
  • Ranexa (ranolazine).

Each type of coronary heart disease medication has different side effects.

• Antiplatelet drugs can cause diarrhea, rash, or itching, abdominal pain, headache, chest pain, muscle aches, and dizziness.
• Side effects of anticoagulants are bleeding and necrosis (gangrene) of the skin.
• Side effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors include cough, elevated blood potassium levels (hyperkalemia), low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste, and rash.
• Taking vasodilators may cause lightheadedness or dizziness, increased or irregular heart rate, or headache.
• Side effects of calcium channel blockers include constipation, nausea, headache, rash, edema, low blood pressure, drowsiness, and dizziness.
• Anti-arrhythmics may cause dizziness, blurred vision, anorexia, unusual taste, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
• Side effects of anti-anginal medications are cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, metabolic/nutritional, central nervous system, endocrine, and ocular.
• Side effects of catecholamines are dizziness, nausea, vomiting, spinning sensation, headache, constipation, stomach pain, dry mouth, weakness, swelling in the hands/ankles/feet, tininess, tremors, blood in the urine, and shortness of breath.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Always consult your doctor if you are having unexplained symptoms or questions related to your medications. For more information about the side effects of coronary heart disease medications, search for the drug and click on the drug's "Side Effects Center" on the top left side of the page.