There are several remedies that, although not used to treat heart problems, have an effect on the organ that can over time cause changes leading to heart disease.
Some of these remedies, such as antidepressants, anti-inflammatory drugs and contraceptives, for example, are widely used and, therefore, it is advisable to take such remedies only with the advice of a doctor, especially when it is necessary to use them. them for a long time.
- This type of antidepressant is especially used in the most severe cases of depression.
- As they cause strong side effects that can affect the heart.
- Causing an increase in heart rate.
- A drop in blood pressure when getting up.
- Changes in the electrical functioning of the heart and can also make work difficult.
However, when used correctly and at controlled doses, these medications present a low risk of heart problems and can be used after a rigorous medical evaluation.
Examples of tricyclic antidepressants: amitriptyline, clomipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline, desipramine, imipramine, doxepine, amoxapine or maprotilin.
Some nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs work by inhibiting renal prostaglandins, which can cause fluids to build up in the body, so pressure on the heart increases and, if maintained for a long time, can cause dilation of the heart muscle, which can lead to heart failure, for example.
This effect can still be seen in some corticosteroid medications, however, in this type of medication there are still other effects such as vision problems or weakened bones, and should only be used with the advice of a doctor. Learn more about the effects of corticosteroids on the body.
Examples of anti-inflammatory drugs that affect the heart: phenylbutazone, indomethacin and certain corticosteroids, such as hydrocortisone.
Estrogen-based contraceptives have always been linked to the development of cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure, heart attacks or strokes, for example, however, at reduced doses, this risk is very low, almost zero.
However, this type of contraceptive also increases the risk of venous thrombosis, especially in women over the age of 35, so contraceptive use should always be evaluated with the gynecologist to identify potential risk factors.
Examples of heart contraceptives: Diane 35, Selene, Cycle 21, Level, Microvlar, Soluna, Norestin, Minulet, Harmonet, Mercilon or Marvelon.
Antipsychotics are widely used to relieve symptoms of psychiatric problems, and there are several types, depending on the problem to be treated; In this type, phenothiazine antipsychotics produce certain side effects that can affect the heart, such as a marked decrease in blood pressure. and arrhythmias, in rarer cases.
In addition, phenothiazine antipsychotics may also be related to an increased risk of sudden death and should therefore only be used with medical advice and frequent evaluations.
Examples of phenothiazine antipsychotics affecting the heart: thioridazine, chlorpromazine, triflupromazine, levomepromazine, trifluoperazine or flufenazine.
Antineoplastic agents are used in chemotherapy and, although they help eliminate tumor cells, they also cause many side effects that affect the entire body. The most common effects on the heart include changes in heart muscle strength, arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure and changes in electrical function of the heart, which can lead to heart failure, for example.
Although they have all these effects, antineoplastic agents are often necessary to save the patient’s life and are therefore used to fight cancer, although they can cause other problems, which can also be treated later.
Examples of antineoplastics affecting the heart: doxorubicin, daunorubicin, fluorouracile, vincristine, vinblastine, cyclophosphamide or mitoxantrone.
Levodopa is one of the most commonly used drugs in the treatment of Parkinson’s cases, however, it can cause major heart changes such as arrhythmias or a marked decrease in blood pressure during the increase, for example.
Therefore, people taking this medicine should consult regularly with the neurologist and cardiologist to evaluate the effects of levodopa on the body.