Medicines are one of the most important things to stop you having another heart attack.

All medicines have an approved name (often used in hospitals), like Atenolol, and many also have one or more brand names, like Tenormin.  In these cases, both names will be on the box.  If you are not sure about your medicines, please ask a doctor, pharmacist or nurse.

 

Doctors can use many different medicines in heart disease and some medicines have more than one use. The ones listed below are just a few examples.  Some brand names are shown in brackets

 

Aspirin and Clopidogrel (Plavix) are used to make the blood less sticky.

 

Beta-Blockers like Atenolol (Tenormin) or Bisoprolol (Monocor) slow and steady the heart beat.

 

ACE Inhibitors like Ramipril (Tritace) or Enalapril (Innovace) reduces the heart's workload.

 

Statins like Simvastatin (Zocor) and Atorvastatin (Lipitor) help you reduce your cholestrol.

 

Other medicines can help to prevent angina or treat breathlessness or heart rhythm problems.

 

All medicines have side effects.  The lists that come in medicine boxes are very long and can be worrying.  Most of these are rare.  Your doctors and nurses should have discussed the more common side effects with you.  If you suspect you are having side effects from a tablet, do not stop taking the tablets until you have discussed this with your hospital doctor or GP

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