Beneficial Extracardiac Effects of Cardiovascular Medications

Asra K Butt; Jay Patel; Hamid Shirwany; Qasim Mirza; Jonathan Hoover; Rami N Khouzam

doi:10.2174/1573403X17666211015145132

Beneficial Extracardiac Effects of Cardiovascular Medications

Curr Cardiol Rev. 2022;18(2):e151021197270. doi: 10.2174/1573403X17666211015145132.

Authors

Asra K Butt¹, Jay Patel², Hamid Shirwany³, Qasim Mirza⁴, Jonathan Hoover⁵, Rami N Khouzam⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Memphis, TN 38104, USA.
² Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
³ University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
⁴ Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
⁵ Department of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide, with cardiovascular medications being amongst the most common medications prescribed. These medications have diverse effects on the heart, vascular system, as well as other tissues and organ systems. The extra cardiovascular effects have been found to be of use in the treatment of non-cardiovascular diseases and pathologies. Minoxidil is used to manage systemic hypertension with its well-known side effect of hirsutism used to treat alopecia and baldness. Sildenafil was originally investigated as a treatment option for systemic hypertension; however, its side effect of penile erection led to it being widely used for erectile dysfunction. Alpha-1 blockers such as terazosin are indicated to treat systemic hypertension but are more commonly used for benign prostatic hyperplasia and post-traumatic stress disorder. Beta blockers are the mainstay treatment for congestive heart failure and systemic hypertension but have been found useful to help in patients with intention tremors as well as prophylaxis of migraines. Similarly, calcium channel blockers are indicated in medical expulsion therapy for ureteric calculi in addition to their cardiovascular indications. Thiazides are commonly used for treating systemic hypertension and as diuretics. Thiazides can cause hypocalciuria and hypercalcemia. This side effect has led to thiazides being used to treat idiopathic hypercalciuria and associated nephrolithiasis. Spironolactone is commonly utilized in treating heart failure and as a diuretic for edema. It's well described anti-androgen side effects have been used for acne vulgaris and hirsutism in polycystic ovarian syndrome. This review article discusses how the various extracardiovascular effects of commonly used cardiovascular medications are put to use in managing non-cardiovascular conditions.

Keywords: Pharmacotherapy; beneficial effects; cardiovascular disease; extracardiovascular; medications; side effects.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
Cardiovascular Diseases* / drug therapy
Diuretics / adverse effects
Heart Failure* / drug therapy
Hirsutism / chemically induced
Hirsutism / drug therapy
Humans
Hypertension* / drug therapy
Male
Thiazides / therapeutic use

Substances

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
Diuretics
Thiazides