Shumit/Heart-Failure-Text · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Beta-blockers
What to watch out for
-Symptoms of low blood pressure or heart rate.
-You may feel tired (low energy) when you first start this medicine. This will get better as your body gets used to the medicine.
-Do not stop this medicine suddenly unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Your heart may race if you stop it suddenly.

MRAs
What to watch out for
-Expect ongoing bloodwork for kidney function and potassium (risk of high potassium).
-Spironolactone: You may experience swelling of your breasts or tenderness. This is more common in men, and occurs in 9 out of 100 people.

SGLT2 inhibitors
What to watch out for
-Genital yeast infection or bladder infection (less than 1 in 100 people). You can reduce this risk by paying close attention to your hygiene.
-Expect ongoing bloodwork for kidney function.
-This medicine is also used to treat diabetes. Other diabetes medicines may need to be adjusted when you take this medicine.

Other common symptoms can include:
-Insomnia or problems sleeping
-Problems with your stomach and digestion
-Sense of unease
-Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
-Feeling tired

Severe Side Effects

ARNI, ACEi, ARBs

Severe side effects
1 in 500 people may experience a severe allergic reaction to ACEi and ARNIs called angioedema. This involves swelling of the face, tongue, lips, and hands.

If you develop another illness and as a result are not able to eat or drink, or if you are experiencing a lot of vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

What to do
Seek immediate medical attention.

Beta-blockers

Severe side effects
If you have a history of asthma or COPD (also known as chronic bronchitis/emphysema), beta-blockers may make you feel wheezy or short of breath.

What to do
Contact your health care provider immediately.

MRAs

Severe side effects
If you develop another illness and as a result are not able to eat or drink, or if you are experiencing a lot of vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

What to do
Contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

SGLT2 inhibitors

Severe side effects
If you develop another illness and as a result are not able to eat or drink, or if you are experiencing a lot of vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

1 in 1,000 people may experience a serious condition called ‘ketoacidosis’ while taking SGLT2 inhibitors during times of medical stress or illness. Signs of ketoacidosis include dehydration, nausea and excessive fatigue.

What to do
Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening if not treated and requires admission to hospital and stopping this medication.

You may also experience worry or anxiety through this process. Some side effects go away or become less bothersome with time. Some will continue. If you are concerned about a side effect, speak to your health care provider. Be aware that these symptoms are not always due to medications. You should make sure your family and/or caregiver are aware of severe side effects from your medications, and what to do if you need help.

Getting to Optimal Medication
It is crucial that medications be started as soon as possible after heart failure diagnosis. There is no single best approach to starting and increasing your medications. Your health care team will work with you in making these decisions. Factors such as blood pressure, kidney function, medication coverage and possible side effects all play a critical role.

How are Heart Failure Medications introduced?
Generally, new medications are started at a low dose and increased over time until you reach your maximally targeted dose. Two common ways to start and increase medications are shown here. The goal is that people with HFrEF should be on all 4 guideline-directed medications, at a maximally tolerated dose for them, within 3 to 6 months from their initial diagnosis.

Strict Sequential
Introducing medications one at a time before adding a new drug.
This typically requires 6 months or more.

Step 1: ACEi/ARB

They reduce salt and water retention and open up blood vessels. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to your body.

Step 2: Beta Blockers

They block adrenaline so your heart does not have to work as hard and beat as fast.

Step 3: MRA

They block stress hormones that make the heart stiff and cause scarring.

Step 4: SGLT2i

They help lower stress on your heart.

Step 5: ARNI

They reduce salt and water retention and open up blood vessels. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to your body.


In Parallel
Introducing and increasing medications all at once.
All steps achieved within 4 weeks.

Beta-blockers

What to watch out for

-Symptoms of low blood pressure or heart rate.

-You may feel tired (low energy) when you first start this medicine. This will get better as your body gets used to the medicine.

-Do not stop this medicine suddenly unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Your heart may race if you stop it suddenly.

MRAs

What to watch out for

-Expect ongoing bloodwork for kidney function and potassium (risk of high potassium).

-Spironolactone: You may experience swelling of your breasts or tenderness. This is more common in men, and occurs in 9 out of 100 people.

SGLT2 inhibitors

What to watch out for

-Genital yeast infection or bladder infection (less than 1 in 100 people). You can reduce this risk by paying close attention to your hygiene.

-Expect ongoing bloodwork for kidney function.

-This medicine is also used to treat diabetes. Other diabetes medicines may need to be adjusted when you take this medicine.

Other common symptoms can include:

-Insomnia or problems sleeping

-Problems with your stomach and digestion

-Sense of unease

-Feeling dizzy or lightheaded

-Feeling tired

Severe Side Effects

ARNI, ACEi, ARBs

Severe side effects

1 in 500 people may experience a severe allergic reaction to ACEi and ARNIs called angioedema. This involves swelling of the face, tongue, lips, and hands.

If you develop another illness and as a result are not able to eat or drink, or if you are experiencing a lot of vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

What to do

Seek immediate medical attention.

Beta-blockers

Severe side effects

If you have a history of asthma or COPD (also known as chronic bronchitis/emphysema), beta-blockers may make you feel wheezy or short of breath.

What to do

Contact your health care provider immediately.

MRAs

Severe side effects

If you develop another illness and as a result are not able to eat or drink, or if you are experiencing a lot of vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

What to do

Contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

SGLT2 inhibitors

Severe side effects

If you develop another illness and as a result are not able to eat or drink, or if you are experiencing a lot of vomiting or diarrhea, contact your health care provider or pharmacist.

1 in 1,000 people may experience a serious condition called ‘ketoacidosis’ while taking SGLT2 inhibitors during times of medical stress or illness. Signs of ketoacidosis include dehydration, nausea and excessive fatigue.

What to do

Ketoacidosis can be life-threatening if not treated and requires admission to hospital and stopping this medication.

You may also experience worry or anxiety through this process. Some side effects go away or become less bothersome with time. Some will continue. If you are concerned about a side effect, speak to your health care provider. Be aware that these symptoms are not always due to medications. You should make sure your family and/or caregiver are aware of severe side effects from your medications, and what to do if you need help.

Getting to Optimal Medication

It is crucial that medications be started as soon as possible after heart failure diagnosis. There is no single best approach to starting and increasing your medications. Your health care team will work with you in making these decisions. Factors such as blood pressure, kidney function, medication coverage and possible side effects all play a critical role.

How are Heart Failure Medications introduced?

Generally, new medications are started at a low dose and increased over time until you reach your maximally targeted dose. Two common ways to start and increase medications are shown here. The goal is that people with HFrEF should be on all 4 guideline-directed medications, at a maximally tolerated dose for them, within 3 to 6 months from their initial diagnosis.

Strict Sequential

Introducing medications one at a time before adding a new drug.

This typically requires 6 months or more.

Step 1: ACEi/ARB

They reduce salt and water retention and open up blood vessels. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to your body.

Step 2: Beta Blockers

They block adrenaline so your heart does not have to work as hard and beat as fast.

Step 3: MRA

They block stress hormones that make the heart stiff and cause scarring.

Step 4: SGLT2i

They help lower stress on your heart.

Step 5: ARNI

They reduce salt and water retention and open up blood vessels. This makes it easier for your heart to pump blood to your body.

In Parallel

Introducing and increasing medications all at once.

All steps achieved within 4 weeks.