Medications

Medications are often used to ease symptoms of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and prevent complications. These medications, including beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, heart rhythm drugs (also called anti-arrhythmic drugs), and blood thinners, can help:

• Relax the heart muscle, letting it fill and pump better
• Steady or slow your heart rate or rhythm
• Prevent blood clots from forming
• Reduce chest pain

Mavacamten has been approved for patients who have symptoms from obstructive HCM, which happens when the thickened part of the heart muscle blocks or reduces oxygen-rich blood flow out of the heart. For many of these patients, mavacamten has been shown to ease symptoms and improve how much exercise they can do. 

Mavacamten works by reducing the connections between muscle fibers (motor units) in the heart that are working too hard. This helps lessen the force with which the heart muscle contracts. When taking mavacamten, frequent echocardiograms are needed to monitor heart function. Heart testing will help ensure that the medication is not preventing too many of these fibers (motor units) from working. 

Remember that your medications work only if you take them as prescribed. Some medicines will be started at a low dose (amount), and higher doses may be needed over time.

Work together with your care team to decide on the best treatment path for you. In most cases, medications, and lifestyle changes are all the treatment you need to support your overall health.