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The types of medicines you take will depend on your heart condition. Your doctor might prescribe more than one type of heart medicine.
Click on the headings below to learn about the different types of heart medicines.
Different types of blood pressure medicines:
These medicines maintain a healthy blood pressure to improve the flow of oxygen and blood around the body. Some help the heart to pump more easily and more efficiently.
Your doctor might prescribe a blood pressure medicine as part of a Heart Health Check. This is to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor might also prescribe cholesterol medicines if you have already had a heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor might prescribe a cholesterol medicine as part of a Heart Health Check. This is to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.
Your doctor might also prescribe cholesterol medicines if you have already had a heart attack or stroke.
Anticoagulants and antiplatelets prevent blood clots forming. Anticoagulants can also treat existing blood clots.
These medicines reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke by preventing clots from blocking the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the heart and brain.
People with heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) are often prescribed these medicines.
People who have had certain heart procedures might also need to take these medicines.
You might be prescribed more than one medicine to stop blood clots forming.
Having an abnormal heart rate or rhythm means your heart is beating too fast, too slow or in an irregular pattern.
Medicines such as beta blockers and calcium channel blockers (See Medicines to manage blood pressure) help to stabilise the heart rate and rhythm.
These medicines are prescribed for people who have abnormal heart rhythms (such as atrial fibrillation).
These medicines are commonly called ‘nitrate medicines’. They improve the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. Beta blockers can also prevent angina (see Medicines to manage blood pressure).
Nitrate medicines are often prescribed after a heart attack or angina episode.
Long-acting nitrate medicines can be taken every day to prevent angina, in the form of a tablet or patch.
Short-acting nitrate medicines can be taken when a person is having an angina episode. They come in the form of a tablet or spray that goes under the tongue. If you are prescribed this type of medicine, be sure to always keep it handy.
These medicines are commonly known as diuretics.
A diuretic helps reduce the amount of excess fluid in the body by increasing the amount of urine (pee) you produce.
People with heart failure may occasionally be prescribed these medicines to prevent fluid building up in the lungs, abdomen (tummy), legs, ankles and feet. A buildup of fluid can make heart failure symptoms worse. For example, you might feel more short of breath than normal.
It’s important to know which heart medicines you are taking and what they are for. Your doctor or pharmacist can give you this information.
Remember to always let your doctor or pharmacist know what over-the-counter medicines you are taking. Over-the-counter medicines are medicines you can buy from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop without a prescription. Many over-the-counter medicines (including pain medicines, cold and flu medicines, supplements and vitamins) can interact with your heart medicines.
Keep a list of the medicines you take, either on a piece of paper in your wallet or handbag or on your phone. There are also free medicine tracking apps available like MedicineWise: Manage Medicine.
For each medicine, it’s helpful to make a note of:
Take your medicines list to all your health appointments.
Your doctor or pharmacist can answer any questions you have about your heart medicines.
Other reliable sources of information include:
1. Commonwealth of Australia as represented by the Department of Health and Aged Care. Australian Guideline for assessing and managing cardiovascular disease risk. 2023. www.cvdcheck.org.au/
2. Chew DP, Scott IA, Cullen L, et al. National Heart Foundation of Australia & Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand: Australian Clinical Guidelines for the Management of Acute Coronary Syndromes 2016. Heart Lung Circ. 2016;25(9):895-951. doi:10.1016/j.hlc.2016.06.789
Know what your heart medicines are for and how to take them.
Find answers below to frequently asked questions about heart medicines.
This research is driven by clinically relevant problems of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). My 1st theme focuses on advanced functional/molecular imaging technologies. Current clinical diagnostic imaging usually provides anatomical readouts only after irreversible damage & structural changes have occurred.
Last updated18 January 2024