What are the recommended drugs for treating angina?
Beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, long-acting nitrates, and newer agents such as ranolazine are recommended as first-line drugs for treating angina. In patients who do not tolerate or adequately respond to beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and/or long-acting nitrates may be substituted or added. Ranolazine has been shown to inhibit the late sodium current in humans and has demonstrated lusitropic properties. Clinical trials have shown that this agent is comparable to other agents in alleviating angina, and it has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for first-line use in patients with chronic angina, although it is recommended to be considered in circumstances in which beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and nitrates are not adequately effective or are not tolerated. 