Some angina medicines work by expanding the walls of the coronary arteries, so that more blood can get through. Other angina medicines work by reducing the amount of work the heart has to do. That way the heart muscle needs less blood.
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View Originalfigure 1How medicines prevent or treat angina
Some angina medicines work by expanding the walls of the coronary arteries, so that more blood can get through. Other angina medicines work by reducing the amount of work the heart has to do. That way the heart muscle needs less blood.
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View OriginalType of medicine
Generic name
Sample US brand names
Nitrates
Nitroglycerin pill for under the tongue
Nitrostat ‚ ®
Nitroglycerin spray for on or under the tongue
Nitrolingual ‚ ®, NitroMist ¢ „ ¢
Nitroglycerin patch
Minitran ¢ „ ¢, Nitro-Dur ‚ ®
Nitroglycerin ointment
Nitro-Bid ‚ ®
Isosorbide dinitrate
Isordil ‚ ®
Isosorbide mononitrate
Imdur ‚ ®, Ismo ‚ ®, Monoket ‚ ®
Beta blockers
Atenolol
Tenormin ‚ ®
Metoprolol
Lopressor ‚ ®, Toprol-XL ‚ ®
Acebutolol
Sectral ‚ ®
Propranolol
Inderal ‚ ®
Labetalol
Trandate ‚ ®
Carvedilol
Coreg ‚ ®
Calcium channel blockers
Amlodipine
Norvasc ‚ ®
Felodipine
Plendil ‚ ®
Nifedipine
Adalat ‚ ® CC,
Verapamil
Calan ‚ ®, Verelan ‚ ®
Diltiazem
Cardizem ‚ ®, Cartia ‚ ®, many others
Other
Ranolazine
Ranexa ‚ ®
Most common medicines to treat angina (except ranolazine and nitroglycerin spray) are usually sold as generic drugs in the US. In many countries outside the US, nitroglycerin is also called glyceryl trinitrate.
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