Polypharmacy of heart failure. Creating a rational pharmacotherapeutic protocol.

Abstract

In the management of chronic heart failure, polypharmacy is common, necessary, and often overlooked. The increasing costs of care, noncompliance, and frequent adverse drug interactions have led to diminishing benefits by simply adding additional drugs to the already complex regimen. This review outlines a rational pharmacotherapeutic protocol based on establishing overall therapeutic goals and confirming treatment targets, tailoring therapy to individual patients by balancing beneficial and adverse drug effects, and paying particular attention to patient education and other nonpharmacologic support.

• Authors: W H Tang, G S Francis
• Journal: Cardiology clinics (Cardiol Clin) Vol. 19 Issue 4 Pg. 583-96, viii (Nov 2001) ISSN: 0733-8651 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 11715179 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
• Diuretics

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Comorbidity
• Diuretics (therapeutic use)
• Heart Failure (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Humans
• Polypharmacy
• Treatment Outcome
• Ventricular Function, Left