Other Than Digitalis...

Different from the nineteenth century, there are some other treatments doctors use to treat Congestive Heart Failure. Some drugs in circulation are ACE Inhibitors. ACE Inhibitors are "vasodilators," which cause the blood vessels to dilate, or open up. By dilating the blood vessels, ACE Inhibitors reduce the workload of the failing heart commonly seen with heart failure.

The drugs in this class are:
Benazepril (Lotensin)
Captopril (Capoten)
Enalapril (Vasotec)
Enalapril, Enalaprilat Injection (Vasotec IV)
Fosinopril (Monopril)
Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
Moexipril (Univasc)
Perindopril (Aceon)
Quinapril (Accupril)
Ramipril (Altace)
Trandolapril (Mavik)

Captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, quinapril, ramipril and trandolapril have all been clinically studied, and show that they significantly reduce the number of deaths at hospitals from heart failure. Limited data is available for the use of benazepril, moexipril, and perindopril in heart failure. However, because it is thought that all ACE Inhibitors work in the same manner, these ACE Inhibitors are sometimes used in the treatment for CHF. Researchers are still finding ways to determine the dosage that should be used for patients. Right now, doctors have a rough estimate of what they should give their patients, but they hope that researchers will further study these ACE Inhibitors.

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