Angina Treatment: Nitrates and Beta Blockers

Nitrates

• Used to reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks
• Mechanism of action: vasodilation, reducing preload and myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples:
  • Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN)
  • Isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN)
  • Isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN)

Beta Blockers

• Used to reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks
• Mechanism of action: reducing heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples:
  • Atenolol
  • Metoprolol
  • Propranolol

Calcium Channel Blockers

• Used to reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks
• Mechanism of action: vasodilation, reducing myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples:
  • Amlodipine
  • Felodipine
  • Verapamil

Potassium Channel Openers

• Used to reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks
• Mechanism of action: vasodilation, reducing myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples:
  • Nicorandil

Ranolazine

• Used to reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks
• Mechanism of action: reducing late sodium current, decreasing myocardial oxygen demand
• Example:
  • Ranolazine

Anti-Platelet Agents

• Used to prevent thrombus formation and reduce risk of acute coronary syndrome
• Examples:
  • Aspirin
  • Clopidogrel

Statins

• Used to reduce cholesterol levels and prevent progression of atherosclerosis
• Examples:
  • Atorvastatin
  • Simvastatin

Angina Medications

• Nitrates are used to reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks by vasodilation, reducing preload and myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples of nitrates include Glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), Isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN), and Isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN)

Beta Blockers

• Beta blockers reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks by reducing heart rate and blood pressure, decreasing myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples of beta blockers include Atenolol, Metoprolol, and Propranolol

Calcium Channel Blockers

• Calcium channel blockers reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks by vasodilation, reducing myocardial oxygen demand
• Examples of calcium channel blockers include Amlodipine, Felodipine, and Verapamil

Potassium Channel Openers

• Potassium channel openers reduce frequency and severity of angina attacks by vasodilation, reducing myocardial oxygen demand
• Nicorandil is an example of a potassium channel opener

Ranolazine

• Ranolazine reduces frequency and severity of angina attacks by reducing late sodium current, decreasing myocardial oxygen demand
• Ranolazine is an example of this type of medication

Anti-Platelet Agents

• Anti-platelet agents prevent thrombus formation and reduce risk of acute coronary syndrome
• Examples of anti-platelet agents include Aspirin and Clopidogrel

Statins

• Statins reduce cholesterol levels and prevent progression of atherosclerosis
• Examples of statins include Atorvastatin and Simvastatin

Learn about the medications used to treat angina attacks, including nitrates and beta blockers, their mechanisms of action, and examples of each.