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Heart Failure Medications

Heart failure means the heart can’t pump blood efficiently enough for the body’s needs. It causes breathlessness, fatigue, and fluid build-up with swollen ankles. The condition tends to be long-term, and several medicines are used together to manage it.

Key points

  • Several drug classes, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and aldosterone antagonists, are typically combined for long-term treatment.
  • Loop diuretics such as furosemide remove excess fluid from the body and can ease breathlessness quickly.
  • For the more common form of the condition, treatment can extend survival as well as relieve symptoms.
  • Severe breathlessness that worsens on lying flat, or chest pain, should prompt an emergency call.

Medicines used to treat Heart Failure

Zestril

Lisinopril

2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Designed to relieve hypertension and indicated to support cardiovascular health in patients.

Aldactone

Spironolactone

25 · 100mg

Formulated to alleviate fluid retention, indicated to support blood pressure management and target mineralocorticoid receptors.

Tritace

Ramipril

1.25 · 2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Developed to manage high blood pressure and to support heart health by inhibiting the angiotensin-converting enzyme.

Digoxin Tablets

Digoxin

0.25mg

Designed to support heart rhythm regulation, indicated to manage chronic heart failure.

Altace

Ramipril

1.25 · 2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Utilized to support cardiac function and indicated to mitigate high blood pressure and post-heart attack complications.

Aceon

Perindopril

2 · 4 · 8mg

Lowers blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels, improving heart efficiency and circulation.

Vasotec

Enalapril

2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Formulated to alleviate elevated blood pressure utilized to support cardiac efficiency.

Prinivil

Lisinopril

2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Prinivil is indicated for hypertension to alleviate elevated blood pressure, utilized to manage cardiovascular demands and to support patient long-term arterial health.

Inspra

Eplerenone

25 · 50mg

Utilized to support heart health and manage systemic pressure.

How it’s treated

Treatment eases symptoms and, for the common type, helps people live longer. Core classes:

  • ACE inhibitors such as ramipril, lisinopril, enalapril and perindopril (or an ARB/ARNI if not tolerated).
  • Beta-blockers such as bisoprolol and carvedilol.
  • Aldosterone antagonists such as spironolactone and eplerenone.
  • Loop diuretics like furosemide clear fluid and ease breathlessness.

Others include SGLT2 inhibitors, digoxin and hydralazine with a nitrate in selected cases.

UK status

All heart-failure medicines are prescription-only (POM). Sudden severe breathlessness, especially lying flat, or chest pain is an emergency, so call 999.

Further reading