In addition to nitroglycerin for immediate relief of your angina symptoms, your doctor may prescribe one or more of the medications listed below to reduce your symptoms and risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.
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Medication Type
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Purpose
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Aspirin
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To prevent and dissolve clots in the arteries
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Other antiplatelet medications (plavix, brilinta, effient)
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To thin the blood and help prevent and dissolve clots, especially in arteries and stents
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Beta blockers
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To lower blood pressure and heart rate, thus reducing oxygen demands on the heart
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Calcium channel blockers
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To lower blood pressure and/or heart rate, thus reducing oxygen demands on the heart.
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Ranolazine
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Favorably affects the metabolism of the heart muscle and increases the time that one can exercise before angina occurs
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Short-term nitrates
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To relieve or prevent angina on an as-needed basis
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Long-term nitrates
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Taken daily to decrease episodes of angina
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Statins
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To lower cholesterol level and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke
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It may seem obvious, but for medication to be effective it has to be taken as prescribed. It’s one thing to know that and another thing to practice it. It’s very easy to forget, and for many of us, medication has expensive. Learn more about taking medications, including tips and resources for overcoming these challenges.