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Heart Failure

Heart failure means the heart cannot fill or pump efficiently enough for the body’s needs. It can cause breathlessness, fatigue and fluid build-up, but treatment differs according to the underlying disease and how the heart is functioning.

Entresto

Sacubitril, Valsartan

97/103mg

Sacubitril with valsartan as a film-coated tablet, used in the management of chronic heart failure. A neprilysin inhibitor combined with a sartan.

From$1.79/ tabletView

Zestril

Lisinopril

2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Lisinopril at 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg, listed for hypertension, heart failure and myocardial infarction. The enzyme it inhibits gives the class its name.

From$0.46/ tabletView

Coversyl

Perindopril

4mg

Perindopril 4mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of hypertension, heart failure and stable coronary artery disease. An ACE inhibitor.

From$1.45/ tabletView

Aldactone

Spironolactone

25 · 100mg

Spironolactone 25mg and 100mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of hypertension, oedema, heart failure and hyperaldosteronism. An aldosterone antagonist.

From$0.29/ tabletView

Coreg

Carvedilol

3.125 · 6.25 · 12.5 · 25mg

Coreg is carvedilol from 3.125mg to 25mg, used in the management of hypertension, chronic heart failure and angina. Beta-blockade with alpha-1 blockade.

From$0.42/ tabletView

Zebeta

Bisoprolol

5 · 10mg

Bisoprolol 5mg and 10mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of hypertension and chronic heart failure. A beta-1 selective antagonist.

From$0.47/ tabletView

Tritace

Ramipril

1.25 · 2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Ramipril tablets from 1.25mg to 10mg, used in the management of hypertension, congestive heart failure and recovery after myocardial infarction.

From$0.61/ tabletView

Digoxin Tablets

Digoxin

0.25mg

Digoxin 0.25mg tablets, used in the management of heart failure and atrial fibrillation. A cardiac glycoside that inhibits the sodium-potassium pump.

From$0.44/ tabletView

Candesartan Tablets

Candesartan

4 · 8 · 16mg

Candesartan 4mg, 8mg and 16mg tablets, used in the management of hypertension and chronic heart failure. An angiotensin II receptor blocker.

From$0.71/ tabletView

Altace

Ramipril

1.25 · 2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Altace is ramipril in hard capsules from 1.25mg to 10mg, used in the management of hypertension, heart failure and recovery after a myocardial infarction.

From$0.58/ tabletView

Aceon

Perindopril

2 · 4 · 8mg

Aceon is perindopril in 2mg, 4mg and 8mg tablets, used in the management of hypertension and heart failure. An ACE inhibitor taken by mouth.

From$1.61/ tabletView

Vasotec

Enalapril

2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Vasotec is enalapril in 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg tablets for hypertension and heart failure, an ACE inhibitor that lowers angiotensin II.

From$0.38/ tabletView

Prinivil

Lisinopril

2.5 · 5 · 10mg

Lisinopril 2.5mg, 5mg and 10mg tablets, used in the management of hypertension and heart failure. An ACE inhibitor that stops angiotensin II forming.

From$0.39/ tabletView

Inspra

Eplerenone

25 · 50mg

Eplerenone 25mg and 50mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of heart failure and hypertension. An aldosterone blocker that limits sodium retention.

From$2.55/ tabletView

Apresoline

Hydralazine

25mg

Hydralazine 25mg tablets, used in the management of hypertension and heart failure. A vasodilator that relaxes arterial smooth muscle directly.

From$0.54/ tabletView

Farxiga

Dapagliflozin

5 · 10mg

Farxiga is dapagliflozin 5mg and 10mg film-coated tablets, used in the management of type 2 diabetes and chronic heart failure. An SGLT2 inhibitor.

From$0.27/ tabletView

Key points

  • Echocardiography helps classify heart failure and guides which treatments improve outcomes.
  • Several medicine classes are often combined, with kidney function, potassium and blood pressure monitored.
  • Rapidly worsening breathlessness or fluid retention can signal decompensation and needs prompt action.

Heart-failure listings do not define a safe regimen; ejection fraction, rhythm, kidney function, blood pressure and other conditions must guide prescribing.

How is heart failure assessed?

Symptoms, examination, blood tests, ECG and echocardiography help distinguish heart failure from lung disease, anaemia and other causes of breathlessness. Clinicians also look for coronary disease, valve problems, hypertension or arrhythmia as treatable drivers.

What does treatment aim to do?

Medicines can reduce symptoms, hospitalisation risk and disease progression. Options may include ramipril, spironolactone or other classes selected for the heart-failure type. Combining them requires monitoring rather than self-adjustment. Daily weight and symptom trends can reveal fluid accumulation; see heart and blood pressure for class context.

When to seek urgent care

Call emergency services for severe breathlessness at rest, chest pain, fainting, confusion, blue lips or coughing pink frothy sputum. Rapid weight gain, increasing swelling or needing more pillows to breathe warrants prompt clinical contact.

Further reading

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