For your patients with cardiomyopathy who get the most out of drug therapy

Medications are the backbone of cardiomyopathy treatment to keep you feeling better and staying longer. Your health care team will work with you to optimize your regimen; You play a key role in adhering to your medication and in reporting any side effects that occur.

Common lessons learned from medications used in all forms of cardiomyopathy are:

Medications that reduce pressure on the heart and improve blood flow by reducing blood stress and decreasing neurohormonal activation, similar to angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and beta blockers Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, a class of drugs originally used to treat diabetes, but target cardiometabolic disease through a variety of mechanisms and have been shown to reduce the likelihood of cardiovascular death or worsening heart failure Angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibition with sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto), which combines an ARB with another class of drugs that act on blood vessels to inhibit narrowing and promote widening Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists and various diuretics to reduce fluid buildup, which can tighten the intestines and make breathing difficult. Medications that control the rate or rhythm of the heartbeat Anticoagulants to reduce the risk of blood clots

It is necessary to speak with your medical team before stopping any medicine or deciding to reduce the doses to save money. A study of patients with coronary heart failure confirmed that people who took less than 80% of their medications were twice as likely to die or be hospitalized with coronary heart failure within about a year. When there are adverse effects or price points, several treatment options can be mentioned.

Read previous episodes of this series:

Understanding Your Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis

What to expect if your doctor suspects cardiomyopathy

How to prepare for your cardiomyopathy appointment

Does my family also need to be screened for cardiomyopathy?

Maximize your wellness with cardiomyopathy

Dealing with a difficult diagnosis

Medical Journeys is a set of peer-reviewed academic resources for physicians and other health professionals, and the patients they serve. Each episode of this 12-part journey through a medical condition includes a guide for clinicians and a downloadable/printable resource for those affected. "Medical Journeys" provide a path through each step of the method for physicians and patients, providing ongoing resources and support as the care team navigates the course of an illness.