Medications for Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease

ByRanya N. Sweis, MD, MS, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine;
Arif Jivan, MD, PhD, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Reviewed/Revised Feb 2024
VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION

    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 narrows one or more of these arteries can block blood flow, causing chest pain (angina) or an acute coronary syndrome (see also Overview of Coronary Artery Disease).

    In an acute coronary syndrome, sudden blockage in a coronary artery greatly reduces or cuts off the blood supply to an area of the heart muscle (myocardium). The lack of blood supply to any tissue is termed ischemia. If the supply is greatly reduced or cut off for more than a few minutes, heart tissue dies. A heart attack, also termed myocardial infarction (MI), is death of heart tissue due to ischemia.

    There are many different reasons doctors give medications to people with coronary artery disease:

    • To relieve chest pain by reducing the heart's workload and widening arteries (usually nitrates)

    • To prevent and reverse coronary artery narrowing from atherosclerosis (angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARBs], statins, and antiplatelet medications)

    • To open a blocked artery (clot-dissolving medications, anticoagulants)

    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.

    Table
    Table

    Nitrates

    Morphine

    antiplatelet medications and reduce their effectiveness and may slightly increase the risk of death.

    Beta-blockers

    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

    Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers

    Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and (ARBs) can reduce heart enlargement and increase the chance of survival for many people. Therefore, these medications are usually given in the first few days after a heart attack and prescribed indefinitely.

    Statins

    Statins have long been used to help prevent coronary artery disease, but 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.

    Antiplatelet medications

    aspirin

    Clot-dissolving medications

    Clot-dissolving medications (thrombolytic medications) are given intravenously to open the arteries if percutaneous coronary interventions cannot be done within 90 minutes after the person arrives at the hospital.

    Anticoagulants

    Ranolazine and ivabradine

    PCSK-9 inhibitors

    hyperlipidemia, including familial hypercholesterolemia. They can be particularly useful for people who have difficulty tolerating the side effects of other medications that lower cholesterol levels.

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