DRUGS USED IN HEART FAILURE

Abstract

Cardiotonics (cardiostimulants) potentiate heart function by increasing heart rate (chronotropy) and myocardial contractility (inotropy), which increases cardiac output and arterial pressure. Many of them also have a positive dromotropic and lusitropic effect. Some of these drugs cause systemic vasodilation, while others have vasoconstrictive effects. The effects of these drugs on the heart muscle predispose them to use in heart failure, cardiogenic shock and hypotension. In the treatment of heart failure, procedures that reduce the demands on myocardial function are preferred over cardiotonics- ie reduce afterload or preload, or both (diuretics, organic nitrates, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors).