Aortic Valve Stenosis: Medications

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Medications

You may need to take medicines to prevent and treat complications of aortic valve stenosis.

If you have valve replacement surgery with a man-made (mechanical) valve, you also will need to take blood-thinning (anticoagulant) medication (such as heparin or warfarin [for example, Coumadin]) for the rest of your life. These medicines prevent blood clots from forming around the valve.

Some doctors also recommend taking low doses of aspirin in addition to warfarin. If you receive a biological (tissue) replacement valve instead of a mechanical valve, you may need to take anticoagulants for only a few months. After that time, you may be able to take aspirin alone.

If you have an artificial valve, you may need to take antibiotics before you have certain dental or surgical procedures. The antibiotics help prevent an infection in your heart called endocarditis.

If an infection develops in your heart, your doctor will prescribe high-dose antibiotics for a much longer period of time than if you were trying to prevent an infection.

If aortic valve stenosis leads to irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias), you may need to take medicines that help control irregular heart rhythms until surgery can be done.

If you develop heart failure, you may be able to take medicines such as diuretics, digoxin, vasodilators, or beta-blockers to help your heart pump blood more effectively. For more information, see the topic Heart Failure.

Last updated:	November 14, 2007
Author:	Robin Parks, MS
Reviewed By:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine, George Philippides, MD - Cardiology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC