Section 12: Cardiovascular Drugs

12.1 ANTIANGINAL DRUGS

¤atenolol tablet, 50 mg, 100 mg

glyceryl trinitrate tablet (sublingual), 500 µg

¤isosorbide dinitrate tablet (sublingual), 5 mg

¤verapamil (10) tablet, 40 mg, 80 mg

(hydrochloride)

12.2 ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUGS

¤atenolol tablet, 50 mg, 100 mg

digoxin (4, 11) tablet, 62.5 µg, 250 µg

oral solution, 50 µg/ml

injection, 250 µg/ml

in 2-ml ampoule

lidocaine injection, 20 mg

(hydrochloride)/ml

in 5-ml ampoule

verapamil (8, 10) tablet, 40 mg,

80 mg (hydrochloride)

injection, 2.5 mg

(hydrochloride)/ml

in 2-ml ampoule

Complementary drugs

epinephrine (C) injection, 1 mg

(as hydrochloride)/ml

isoprenaline (C) injection, 20 µg

(hydrochloride)/ml

¤procainamide (B) tablet, 250 mg,

500 mg (hydrochloride)

injection, 100 mg

(hydrochloride)/ml

in 10-ml ampoule

¤quinidine (A) (7) tablet, 200 mg (sulfate)

12.3 ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

¤atenolol tablet, 50 mg, 100 mg

¤captopril scored tablet, 25 mg

¤hydralazine tablet, 25 mg, 50 mg

(hydrochloride)

powder for injection, 20 mg

(hydrochloride) in ampoule

¤hydrochlorothiazide scored tablet, 25 mg

methyldopa (7) tablet, 250 mg

¤nifedipine (10) sustained-release formulations

,

tablet, 10 mg

¤reserpine tablet, 100 µg, 250 µg

injection, 1 mg in 1-ml ampoule

Complementary drugs

prazosin tablet, 500 µg, 1 mg (mesilate)

¤sodium nitroprusside powder for infusion,

(C) (2, 8) 50 mg in ampoule

12.4 DRUGS USED IN HEART FAILURE

¤captopril scored tablet, 25 mg

digoxin (4, 11) tablet, 62.5 µg, 250 µg

oral solution, 50 µg/ml

injection, 250 µg/ml in 2-ml ampoule

dopamine injection, 40 mg

(hydrochloride)/ml in 5-ml vial

¤hydrochlorothiazide tablet, 25 mg, 50 mg

12.5 ANTITHROMBOTIC DRUGS

acetylsalicylic acid tablet, 100 mg

Complementary drug

streptokinase (C) powder for injection,

100 000 IU, 750 000 IU in vial

¤ Example of a therapeutic group. Various drugs can serve as alternatives.

1 All plasma fractions should comply with the Requirements for the Collection, Processing and Quality Control of Blood, Blood

Components and Plasma Derivatives (Revised 1992). WHO Technical Report Series, No. 840, 1994, Annex 2.

Essential Drugs

12.6 LIPID-LOWERING AGENTS

The WHO Expert Committee on Essential Drugs recognizes

the value of lipid-lowering drugs in treating patients

with hyperlipidaemia. Beta-hydroxy-beta-methylglutarylcoenzyme

A (HMG CoA) reductase inhibitors, often referred

to as "statins", are potent and effective lipidlowering

drugs with a good tolerability profile. Several of

these drugs have been shown to reduce the incidence of

fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction, stroke and mortality

(all causes), as well as the need for coronary bypass

surgery. All remain very costly but may be costeffective

for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease

as well as for primary prevention in some very highrisk

patients. Since no single drug has been shown to be

significantly more effective or less expensive than others

in the group, none is included in the model list; the choice

of drug for use in patients at highest risk should be

decided at national level.