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Drug Glossary
ACE inhibitors | Anti-arrhythmic drugs | Anticoagulants | Beta-blockers | Calcium channel blockers
Cholesterol-lowering drugs | Diuretics | Nitrates | Potassium channel activators
Thrombolytic drugs | Other drugs
ACE inhibitors :
Are very effective drugs in the treatment and prevention of heart
failure which reduce the activity of ’angiotensin converting enzyme’
or ACE for short. Ace has a powerful narrowing effect on the blood
vessels.
Anti-arrhythmic drugs :
Are for controlling the rhythm of the heart
Anticoagulants :
Help stop blood clotting by preventing a protein called fibrin from
forming.
Beta-blockers :
Prevent the heart from beating quickly and forcefully by blocking the
actions of hormones such as adrenaline.
Calcium channel blockers (calcium antagonists) :
Reduce the amount of calcium in the
arteries causing them to relax which increases the blood supply to the
heart, thereby reducing the work it has to do.
Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) :
Are the main type of drug used to lower overall
cholesterol (fatty substances) levels in the blood in general and LDL
(low density lipids) cholesterol in particular.
Diuretics (water tablets) :
Increase the output of water and salt in the urine and are
effective in lowering high blood pressure.
Nitrates :
Relax the muscle in the artery walls and help them widen. This in
turn helps in reducing angina pain.
Potassium channel activators :
Act similar to nitrates by relaxing arterial walls and
improving the blood flow.
Thrombolytic drugs :
Are used to dissolve a blood clot often after a heart attack.
(‘clot busters’)
Other drugs :
Used to control high blood pressure when those detailed above produce
unacceptable or serious side effects.
These include; Alpha-blockers, Angiotensin II antagonists, Methyldopa,
and Moxonidine.