Drugs that worsen heart failure often cause fluid retention, increase strain on the heart, or interfere with heart medications, including NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen), certain diabetes drugs (like thiazolidinediones), some blood pressure/heart rhythm meds, decongestants (like pseudoephedrine), and even some herbs, so always check with a doctor or pharmacist before taking any new medication, including over-the-counter (OTC) ones.
Medicines to avoid include:
Outline
Several Class I antiarrhythmic drugs, particularly sodium channel blockers such as disopyramide, flecainide, propafenone, and procainamide, have negative inotropic effects that can impair cardiac contractility and potentially trigger or worsen HF.
Common medications that can make heart failure worse include NSAIDs, some diabetes and blood pressure medications, and certain types of chemotherapy. Stimulants can also make heart failure worse. If you have heart failure, be sure to let all of your healthcare providers know.
Foods to avoid with heart failure include those high in sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol, as well as simple carbs and processed foods. Alcohol and caffeine should be limited as well to better maintain great heart health.
Cocaine. Researchers have long noticed an association between non-fatal heart attacks and regular cocaine use in adults. Researchers — who called cocaine “the perfect heart attack drug” — showed how users had higher rates of multiple factors associated with higher risks of heart attack and stroke.
Diseases and conditions that increase the risk of heart failure include:
High risk medications
Drugs like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiarrhythmic agents, and calcium channel blockers should be avoided in patients with congestive heart failure as they are known to have negative or deleterious effects on cardiac contractility, the neurohormonal system, or may cause sodium retention.
Medicines for heart failure
Exercises to avoid if you have heart failure
It's important to avoid exercise that involves heavy weight-lifting, or holding your breath. Don't do any exercises that use your whole body as a weight, such as press-ups or planks.
Cardiac arrest is the mode of demise in 30–50% of patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), and conversely, systolic dysfunction is a major risk factor for sudden cardiac death in the community.
In summary, the totality of evidence now suggests that patients with HFrEF should be treated early with a combination of the four drugs: an ARNI, beta-blocker, MRA, and SGLT2 inhibitor in order to benefit from substantial and sustained reductions of mortality, heart failure hospitalizations, and symptoms.
According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP), “High-alert medications are those likely to cause significant harm when used in error.” The top five high-alert medications are “insulin, opiates and narcotics, injectable potassium chloride (or phosphate) concentrate, intravenous anticoagulants (heparin) ...
What are the most dangerous drugs?
Unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as an unhealthy diet, smoking, using cocaine or other illegal drugs, heavy alcohol use, and lack of physical activity, increase your risk of heart failure. Heart or blood vessel conditions, serious lung disease, or infections such as HIV or SARS-CoV-2 raise your risk.
Avoid taking
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). These include: ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Aleve, Toradol, Celebrex. These medicines hold fluid and cause swelling. They also can harm your kidneys.
Your heart suddenly cannot pump as much blood as your body needs. Sudden heart failure causes rapid fluid buildup, or congestion, in the lungs and other parts of the body. Sudden heart failure is an emergency. You need care right away. Sudden heart failure is also called a "flare-up" or "acute heart failure."
Prescription Drugs
These drugs can raise your risk of heart failure or related problems: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Prescription NSAIDs include diclofenac, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and ketorolac.
“Smoking is one of the most harmful things people can do to themselves,” Dr. Maniar says. Blood flow drops, slashing oxygen that fuels the heart, which compensates by spiking blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm, and can lead to hardened and narrowed arteries and blood clots causing cardiovascular disease.
Opioids are the deadliest category of drugs; at least one type of opioid is a factor in 76% of OD deaths. Opioids kill nearly three (3) times as many people as cocaine.