Angina Pectoris
22 medicines
Angina pectoris is chest pain that happens when the heart muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood, usually during exertion or stress. It's managed with beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitrates.
Inderal La
Propranolol
40mg
Inderal La is a heart blood pressure medication containing Propranolol, available as 40mg tablets.
Isoptin Sr
Verapamil
120/240mg
Isoptin Sr is a heart blood pressure medication containing Verapamil, available as 120/240mg tablets.
Key facts
- Angina pectoris is chest pain or tightness that happens when the heart muscle doesn't receive enough oxygen-rich blood. It's a warning sign of strain on the heart, not a heart attack itself.
- Pain is typically a squeezing pressure in the center of the chest, sometimes spreading to the left arm, jaw, or back; it usually comes on with exertion or stress and eases with rest within a few minutes.
- Treatment reduces the heart's workload with beta-blockers such as metoprolol and propranolol, or calcium channel blockers such as amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem. Short-acting nitrates give rapid relief during an attack.
- Chest pain lasting more than 15 minutes, occurring at rest, or accompanied by sweating, nausea, or breathlessness needs emergency care; it may signal a heart attack rather than stable angina.
What the pain actually feels like
The classic pattern is a squeezing or pressure in the center of the chest, sometimes radiating to the left arm, jaw, or back. It tends to come on predictably: climbing stairs, hurrying in the heat, or after a heavy meal, and it eases once you stop and rest. Unstable angina behaves differently: pain arrives at rest or with minimal effort, lasts longer, and is a medical emergency that needs same-day evaluation.
How angina is managed
Most people with stable angina combine lifestyle changes with medicines that reduce the heart's workload and keep the coronary arteries as open as possible.
Beta-blockers such as metoprolol and propranolol slow the heart rate and reduce the force of each beat, cutting the oxygen demand that triggers pain. Calcium channel blockers, including amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil, and diltiazem, relax the muscular walls of the coronary arteries and improve blood flow. Short-acting nitrates give rapid relief during an attack, while long-acting nitrates and other heart and blood pressure medicines help prevent episodes from developing.
Reducing attack frequency day to day
Avoiding triggers matters as much as medication. Pace physical activity rather than avoiding it: regular moderate exercise strengthens the heart over time, but sudden intense bursts can provoke an attack. Stopping smoking, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, and limiting saturated fat all reduce the underlying coronary narrowing that causes angina.
When to seek emergency care
Seek emergency care immediately if chest pain lasts more than 15 minutes, is more severe than usual, occurs at rest, or comes with sweating, nausea, or breathlessness. These can signal a heart attack rather than stable angina.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.