Angina, stable - Treatments
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Angina is the discomfort or pain you feel, usually in your chest, when your heart isn't getting enough oxygen. Typically, you get angina when you do something active and it goes away when you rest.
We are looking at treatments for the most common type of angina. Doctors call this stable angina because it has a regular pattern to it.
There are some good treatments that can relieve the discomfort or pain of an angina attack, cut your number of attacks and help you get on with your life. Your doctor will also suggest treatments to stop your angina and heart disease getting worse and to lower your chances of having a heart attack.
Key points about treating angina
- You can take tablets or a spray you put under your tongue to get quick relief from an angina attack. This medicine is called glyceryl trinitrate (GTN for short).
- If you plan to do something that usually brings on your angina, you can take this medicine first to stop you getting an attack.
- If you get angina often or it bothers you a lot, you'll need to take tablets regularly to keep the symptoms at bay.
- Drugs called beta-blockers can help you have fewer angina attacks and stay active. They are usually the first treatment doctors give for stable angina.
- Three other types of medicines called calcium channel blockers, nitrates and nicorandil also work for angina.
- To stop angina attacks coming on, you'll also need to learn to slow down, to avoid too much exercise and large meals, and to handle stress. For more, see What you can do to help yourself.
Treatments for angina
We've carefully weighed the research for the treatments for stable angina. You can find out more about each treatment by clicking on the links below.
Your doctor will help you choose the best one to start on. Later, you may need a second treatment too, depending on how the first one works.
For help in deciding which treatment is best for you, see .
Treatments that are likely to work
- Beta-blockers: These are drugs that make your heart beat more slowly, so it doesn't have to work so hard. Some examples (with brand names) are atenolol (Tenormin), metoprolol (Lopresor) and propranolol (Inderal). More...
- Calcium channel blockers: These are drugs that make your heart beat more gently. Some examples (with brand names) are diltiazem (Adizem, Dilzem, Tildiem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Adalat, Coracten SR) and verapamil (Cordilox, Securon, Univer). More...
- Nitrates: These drugs widen your heart's blood vessels. They come as tablets, sprays, patches and ointment. Some examples (with brand names) are isosorbide dinitrate (Cedocard Retard, Isoket Retard) and isosorbide mononitrate (Elantan, Imdur, Ismo). You can get glyceryl trinitrate (GTN for short) as a tablet or spray for under your tongue. Brand names for the spray include Coro-Nitro Pump spray, Glytrin spray and Nitrolingual Pumpspray. More...
- Nicorandil: This drug widens your blood vessels. The brand name is Ikorel. More...
Other treatments
Angina is usually a symptom of coronary artery disease. In this disease, the arteries that carry blood to your heart are narrowed. This can put you at risk for a heart attack. To lower this risk, your doctor will also suggest treatments besides those for your chest pain. For more, see Living with angina.
If you have angina, there's a good chance you have other conditions that can make your heart disease worse. If you have any of these conditions, your doctor will talk to you about treatment. For more, see our articles on:
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
