Understanding your heart medicines

Different types of blood pressure medicines:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (or ACE inhibitors). The names of these medicines often end in ‘pril’.
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (or ARBs). The names of these medicines often end in ‘sartan’.
• Beta blockers. The names of these medicines often end in ‘lol’. Beta blockers are also prescribed for abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure and angina (chest pain).
• Calcium channel blockers. The names of these medicines often end in ‘pine’. 

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.

• The names of these medicines often end in ‘statin’.
• These medicines help manage your cholesterol and can prevent fatty plaques building up in blood vessels (arteries).
• Cholesterol medicines stabilise fatty plaques in the arteries, helping to stop them from breaking up. When this happens, a blood clot can form which can block arteries and cause a heart attack or stroke.
• Your doctor might prescribe other cholesterol medicines as well.

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.

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