Drug Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

Most people are given nitroglycerin, which relieves pain by lowering blood pressure, which reduces the workload of the heart, and possibly by dilating arteries. Usually, it is first given under the tongue, then intravenously.

Most people who have had a heart attack are experiencing severe discomfort and anxiety. Morphine has a calming effect and reduces the workload of the heart. It is given when nitroglycerin cannot be used or is not effective; however, recent data suggest it may interact with antiplatelet drugs Antiplatelet drugs The heart muscle needs a constant supply of oxygen-rich blood. The coronary arteries, which branch off the aorta just after it leaves the heart, deliver this blood. Coronary artery disease that... read more and reduce their effectiveness and may slightly increase the risk of death.

Because decreasing the heart’s workload also helps limit tissue damage, a beta-blocker is usually given to slow the heart rate. Slowing the rate enables the heart to work less hard and reduces the area of damaged tissue.

Calcium channel blockers prevent blood vessels from narrowing (constricting) and can counter coronary artery spasm. All calcium channel blockers reduce blood pressure. Some of these drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, may also reduce the heart rate. This effect can be useful to many people, especially those who cannot take beta-blockers or who do not get enough relief from nitrates.

Ranolazine is a drug used to treat angina in people who continue to have symptoms despite taking all other antianginal therapy.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors High blood pressure is very common. It often does not cause symptoms; however, high blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Therefore, it is important... read more (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers Angiotensin II receptor blockers High blood pressure is very common. It often does not cause symptoms; however, high blood pressure can increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure. Therefore, it is important... read more (ARBs) can reduce heart enlargement and increase the chance of survival for many people. Therefore, these drugs are usually given in the first few days after a heart attack and prescribed indefinitely.

Statins Treatment Dyslipidemia is a high level of cholesterol and/or triglycerides or a low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Lifestyle, genetics, disorders (such as low thyroid hormone levels... read more have long been used to help prevent coronary artery disease, but doctors have recently found that they also have short-term benefit for people with an acute coronary syndrome. Doctors give a statin to people who are not already taking one.

People who think they may be having a heart attack should chew an aspirin tablet immediately after calling an ambulance. If aspirin is not taken at home or given by emergency personnel, it is immediately given at the hospital. This therapy improves the chances of survival by reducing the size of the clot (if present) in the coronary artery. People may also be given other types of antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel, ticlopidine, or ticagrelor taken by mouth, or glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors given by vein (intravenously).

Clot-dissolving drugs (thrombolytic drugs) are given intravenously to open the arteries if percutaneous coronary interventions Opening the arteries Acute coronary syndromes result from a sudden blockage in a coronary artery. This blockage causes unstable angina or a heart attack (myocardial infarction), depending on the location and amount... read more cannot be done within 90 minutes after the person arrives at the hospital.

Most people are also given an anticoagulant drug, such as heparin, to help prevent the formation of additional blood clots.

Often, oxygen is given through nasal prongs or a face mask. Providing more oxygen to the heart can help keep heart tissue damage to a minimum.