General Medication Guidelines for Heart Failure
... Medication needs vary for each person. Your doctor will work with you to find the best medications to relieve your symptoms and improve your sense of well-being. Remember, medications are intended to ...

What You Need to Know About Metoprolol
... Common brand names: Lopressor, Toprol XL Why is this drug prescribed? Metoprolol controls high blood pressure and heart failure but does not cure either condition. This medication is classified as a b...

Spironolactone
... Common brand name: Aldactone Type of medication: Spironolactone is a type of medication called a "potassium sparing" diuretic. Diuretics are used to remove a surplus of fluid from the body''...

Ramipril
... Common brand name: Altace Why is ramipril prescribed? Ramipril is used to treat mild to severe high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. It decreases certain chemicals that constrict the blood...

What You Need to Know About Quinapril
... Common brand name: Accupril Why is quinapril prescribed? Quinapril is used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. The drug decreases certain chemicals that constrict the blood vess...

What You Need to Know About Lisinopril
... Common brand names: Prinivil, Zestril Why is lisinopril prescribed? Lisinopril is used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. It relaxes constricted blood vessels so that blood can...

What You Need To Know About Isosorbide
... Common brand names: Isosorbide mononitrate: Imdur, Ismo, Monoket Isosorbide dinitrate: Dilatrate-SR, Isordil, Sorbitrate Why is isosorbide prescribed? Isosorbide affects the supply of blood and oxygen...

What You Need To Know About Captopril
... Common brand name: Capoten Why is captopril prescribed? Captopril (KAP-toe-pril) is used to treat mild to severe high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. It decreases certain chemicals that c...

What You Need To Know About Enalapril
... Common brand name: Vasotec Why is enalapril prescribed? Enalapril is used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. The drug decreases certain chemicals that constrict (narrow) the bl...

What You Need To Know About Hydralazine
... Common brand name: Apresoline Why is hydralazine prescribed? Hydralazine controls high blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily through the body. It also is used...

What You Need To Know About Carvedilol
... Common brand name: Coreg Why is this drug prescribed? Carvedilol is used to control high blood pressure and to treat patients with mild or moderate congestive heart failure. How and when should carved...

Heart Failure Medications
... Taking your heart failure medications as prescribed is one of the most  important things you can do to manage your heart failure. The more you know about your medications and how they work, the e...

Complications
... In heart failure, your heart pumps with less force. To compensate, your heart may undergo several changes — including enlargement. An enlarged heart can stretch and contract with more strength, ...

Treatment
... Doctors sometimes can correct heart failure by treating the underlying cause. For example, controlling a fast heart rhythm may reverse heart failure. But in most cases, once you have heart failure, it...

Self-care
... Making lifestyle changes can often help relieve signs and symptoms of heart failure and prevent the disease from worsening. These changes may be among the most important and beneficial you can make: R...