Medications for Congestive Heart Failure

Common Side Effects

• Low blood pressure
• Dizziness and lightheadedness
• Raised potassium levels
• Drowsiness

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are almost always used in combination with other drugs such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics. They help slow heart rate and lower blood pressure. Research presented at the 2006 American College of Cardiology meeting indicated that beta-blockers are an important treatment for most patients with left ventricular heart failure. Data from the study found that the beta blocker carvedilol (Coreg) significantly lowered the risk of death or rehospitalization within 3 to 6 months after hospital discharge.

Beta blockers can help patients with heart failure by:

• Treating high blood pressure, angina, arrhythmias, and preventing heart attack in high-risk patients.
• Preventing left ventricular remodeling in patients with enlarged heart chambers and weakened heart muscles (dilated cardiomyopathy), and in those who have suffered a first heart attack.
• Blocking inflammatory immune factors called cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF). TNF may play a key role in the process leading to heart failure.
• Preventing norepinephrine (adrenaline) from binding to heart cells. Elevated levels of norepinephrine, a stress hormone, can overstimulate the failing heart and are associated with severe heart failure.

Brands and Indications. Beta blockers treat Stage A high blood pressure. They are also treat Stage B patients (both those who have had a heart attack and those who have not had a heart attack but who have heart damage). Recent guidelines identify three drugs best for treating Stage C patients with heart failure. Specific brands and stages include:

• Acebutolol (Sectral) – (Stage A)
• Atenolol (Tenormin) – (Stages A, B)
• Betaxolol (Kerlone) – (Stage A)
• Bisoprolol (Zebeta) – (Stages A, C)
• Cartelol (Cartrol) – (Stage A)
• Carvedilol (Coreg) – (Stages A, B, C)
• Labetalol (Trandate) – (Stage A)
• Metoprolol succinate (Toprol XL) – (Stages A, C)
• Metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) – (Stages A, B)
• Nadolol (Corgard) – (Stage A)
• Penbutolol (Levatol) – (Stage A)
• Pindolol (Visken) – (Stage A)
• Propranolol (Inderal) – (Stages A, B)
• Timolol (Blocadren, Timolide) – (Stages A, B)