Common Heart Disease Drugs
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Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9) Inhibitors – A new class of cholesterol lowering drugs which is used in patients who cannot control their cholesterol through diet and statin treatments. The drugs block the liver protein PCSK9 which hinders the liver’s ability to remove LDL-cholesterol from the blood. In doing so it dramatically reduces the amount of harmful LDL cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream.
Vasodilators: Vasodilators are used to treat heart failure and control high blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels so blood can flow more easily through the body. Vasodilators are prescribed for patients who cannot take ACE inhibitors.
Warfarin: Warfarin is an anticoagulant medication. "Anti" means "against," and "coagulant" means "causing blood clotting." Therefore, warfarin helps prevent clots from forming in the blood.
A person is prescribed warfarin because the body is making blood clots or the person has a medical condition known to promote unwanted blood clots. Blood clots can move to other parts of the body and cause serious medical problems. Warfarin will not dissolve a blood clot; over time, however, the blood clot may dissolve on its own. Warfarin may also prevent other clots from forming.
Be sure to ask your loved one's doctor if you have any questions about over-the-counter drugs or herbs, or the medications the patient has been prescribed.