Heart Failure
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Overview
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump blood efficiently enough to meet the body's needs. Treatment includes medications like ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, diuretics, and cardiac glycosides like digoxin to strengthen and regulate heart function.
Drug classes used to treat heart failure
- Cardiac Glycosides — Cardiac glycosides are a class of medications derived from the foxglove plant (Digitalis) that strengthen heart contract...
- Loop Diuretics — Loop diuretics are the most potent class of diuretics, producing rapid and pronounced natriuresis and diuresis. Furosemi...
- Aldosterone Antagonists (Potassium-Sparing Diuretics) — Aldosterone antagonists competitively block mineralocorticoid receptors in the distal nephron, promoting sodium and wate...
Medications for heart failure
- Spironolactone (Aldactone)
- Furosemide (Lasix)
- Digoxin (Lanoxin, Digitek)