What Side Effects Should I Be Aware Of?
- Your treatment path for heart failure will depend on a few things like the stage of your disease and your overall health.
- Treatment may be a combination of lifestyle adjustments and medications.
- Medications for heart failure can often lead to side effects such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or low blood pressure.
- It’s important to let your doctor know about any side effects so you can decide together if you should continue that treatment.
“Medications for heart failure are typically very safe, as long as they are prescribed under a monitored setting, because a lot of the medications for heart failure dilate your blood vessels,” Dr. Aeshita Dwivedi, a cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, tells SurvivorNet. “They also drop your pressure. So some people may experience dizziness or lightheadedness, especially if their blood pressure typically runs low.”
Side Effects from Heart Failure Medications
Read MoreACE inhibitors
ACE inhibitors decrease the pressure inside the blood vessels and reduce the resistance against which the heart pumps. Side effects may include:- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Changes in kidney function
- Dry cough
- Increased potassium levels
- Swelling in the lips or throat
Angiotensin receptor blockers
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are an alternative treatment for reducing the workload on the heart in cases where ACE inhibitors are not well-tolerated. These can also cause a number of similar side effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Changes in kidney function
- Increased potassium levels
Beta blockers
Beta blockers reduce the heart’s tendency to beat faster and reduce its workload by blocking specific receptors on heart cells. These drugs may cause side effects, such as:
- Feeling tired
- Dizziness
- Weight gain
- Wheezing/shortness of breath
- Low blood pressure
- Slow heart rate
- Sexual side effects (erectile dysfunction in men and low libido in women)
“Some people may also experience fatigue with beta blockers, and especially in men, some patients might experience erectile dysfunction,” Dr. Dwivedi says. “Of course, at that point, it is important to have a conversation with your doctor about the side effects that you’re having and deciding the risks and the benefits of continuing the medication, and also ways to circumvent the side effects.”
Aldosterone blockers
These drugs block the effects of the hormone aldosterone, which causes sodium and water retention. They could also be called aldosterone antagonists, “water pills,” or diuretics. Possible side effects include:
- Changes in kidney function
- Increased potassium levels
- Swelling/tenderness of the breasts
- Decreased testosterone in men (which could lead to low libido)
- Irregular menstrual cycles in women
ARNIs
These are a relatively new class of medications that have been shown to yield really promising results in some patients. Common side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Low blood pressure
- Changes in kidney function
- Increased potassium levels
Because serious side effects are a possibility, it’s important to keep communication with your doctor open and report anything that feels out of the ordinary.
“A lot of the heart failure medications can raise your potassium levels or worsen the kidney function in some settings. So, it’s important to get your blood work done regularly and see your doctor regularly, if you are on these medications,” Dr. Dwivedi says. “[And] beta blockers, like Metoprolol or Carvedilol, lower your blood pressure and your heart rate. This in turn can make people dizzy or lightheaded. So, of course it’s important to talk to your doctor, if you’re facing any side effects.”
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
- What side effects should I be aware of before beginning medication?
- What are the risks vs. benefits of this medication?
- How can I contact you if I experience side effects?
- What are the options if the medication must be discontinued?
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