Medicine and cardiac rehab
Some prescribed medicines can change your heart rate, blood pressure, and overall ability to exercise. Therefore, it is important to identify and understand how each drug can affect these measurements in order to safely exercise during cardiac rehab.
Medicine effects Drugs
Affect heart rate (HR)?
Affect blood pressure (BP)?
Affect overall exercise capacity?
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors No Lower BP No Antiarrhythmic agents No No No Beta-blockers Lower HR Lower BP Decrease, but may increase if you have angina Bronchodilators Raise HR No Increase capacity Calcium channel blockers Raise or lower HR (depending on the drug) Lower BP No Digoxin Lower HR No Increase, if atrial fibrillation or heart failure is present Diuretics No Lower BP No Hyperlipidemic agents No No No Nitrates (nitroglycerine) Raise HR Lower BP Increase, if angina or heart failure is present Vasodilators Raise HR Lower BP (raises BP after exercise) No What about other medicines and exercise?
Many people recovering from heart conditions are clinically anxious or depressed. These symptoms usually go away within 6 to 9 months. However, it is important to be aware of this risk and to be screened for signs of anxiety or depression. Medicines for anxiety or depression may affect your blood pressure and heart rate. Be sure your doctor knows what medicines you are taking.
- Antidepressants may increase your heart rate as well as decrease your blood pressure at rest and during exercise. But some antidepressants can increase blood pressure.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have few heart-related side effects.
- Dual-acting serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors may increase your heart rate and blood pressure.
- Minor tranquilizers may lower both your heart rate and blood pressure by controlling your anxiety. They will probably not affect your exercise capacity.
- Major tranquilizers may lower both your heart rate and blood pressure at rest and during exercise.
- Lithium will likely not change your heart rate or blood pressure at rest or during exercise. This drug may affect your ECG by causing T-wave changes and arrhythmias both at rest and during exercise.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: October 16, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Cheryl Allind, RN, BS - Cardiac Rehabilitation Neil J. Stone, MD, FACC, FACP - Internal Medicine, Cardiology | |
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