HCM Medications 

Sabrina Cuddy

May is about medical management here at the HCMA. Medical management means using medications and other non-invasive therapies to treat disease and relieve symptoms. It’s exciting that new treatments for HCM are being studied and that the FDA approved Camzyos last year! It is historic for treatments to be targeted for HCM.

HCM can cause various symptoms depending on how stiff the heart is, how much scarring there is, and whether there is obstruction. Some people have no noticeable symptoms. Symptoms of HCM may include chest pain/pressure, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, fatigue, palpitations, syncope (fainting)/near-syncope, and brain fog.

Medications are the first-line treatment for symptoms of HCM. Here are some medications used to treat HCM and what they’re used for:

• Beta Blockers – make your heart beat slower and relax better, allowing the heart to fill more completely between beats. They can lower blood pressure and relieve symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, and palpitations.

• Calcium Channel Blockers – are used to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. May reduce symptoms from obstruction in HCM.

• Myosin Inhibitors – cause the heart to beat with less force. They may reduce obstruction and septal thickness in some patients. Camzyos (mavacamten) is the first of this class of medication. For more information, click HERE. 

• Antiarrhythmics – used to try to restore normal rhythm in the heart.

• Blood Thinners – anticoagulants make it harder for blood to clot. They are prescribed to reduce the risk of stroke, which is higher in patients with afib, aflutter, and artificial heart valves. 

• Diuretics – “water pills” are used to help the kidneys get rid of extra water and salt, reducing swelling in the body.

• Sodium Channel Blockers – may reduce gradient in obstructive HCM and can treat chest pain.

• Antibiotics – treat or prevent bacterial infections. In HCM, they may be given before dental work to prevent infective endocarditis.

To learn more and see the side effects of these medications, click HERE.