What kinds of medications are available for valve disease?

Medications do not work to correct the defect on the valve itself, but rather minimize its consequences or treat its complications. Medications are often quite effective in some cases of valvular regurgitation for the reasons explained below under "afterload reducing agents". Valves that are stenotic however generally require surgery or balloons if their effects are to be corrected. Medications simply cannot make up for the mechanical problems that come from the narrowed valve.
Afterload reducing agents. These allow for more effective forward flow to occur despite a leaky valve -- they are not nearly as effective, or may not be effective at all, for a stenotic valve. Imagine a pump with a valve pushing water out of a hose in a pulsatile fashion. Imagine then that there was a leak in that valve. Now imagine someone went and crimped the hose -- what would happen? There would be more leakage backwards since the pressure would be higher in the hose. Afterload reducing agents decrease this backward pressure on the hose, and therefore more forward flow will occur with less work by the pump.

Diuretics. Diuretics may be prescribed if there is a tendency to "hold on to fluid" or if the patient has experienced congestive heart failure.

Digitalis. Digitalis increases the force of the heart muscle's contraction, and can be useful if the person has experienced congestive heart failure. Digitalis can also be useful for treatment of some arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation, which can occur in valvular heart disease.

Blood pressure medications. Control of high blood pressure can be particularly important in people with valvular heart disease. This can decrease the amount of blood that leaks through regurgitant valves, and decrease the strain on chambers trying to pump through stenotic valves.

Blood thinners. Blood thinners, such as coumadin, aspirin, ticlodipine (Ticlid), clopidogil (Plavix), or dipyridamole (Persantine) may be prescribed. There may be a tendency to suffer from blood clots, resulting in strokes or other problems in some cases of valvular heart disease. This is more common in diseases of the mitral valve, particularly mitral stenosis. It is also an important consideration in persons who have atrial fibrillation, or who already have artificial valves.

Beta-blockers and anti-arrhythmics. Beta-blockers can be used for a variety of conditions. In the context of valvular heart disease, they are most often given for high blood pressure or irregular heart rhythms. Other types of antiarrhythmic drugs may also be prescribed.