Best treatments for heart failure
72 products may treat heart failure, spanning FDA drug classes such as recombinant human growth hormone, thiazide diuretic, thiazide-like diuretic. The current highest-rated option is bio-tropin. Ranked below by our independent recall-safety rating (rated where FDA data exists) — not medical advice; always consult a professional.
Quick answer: Of the 72 drugs we list for heart failure, 52 are available as lower-cost generics, spanning classes such as recombinant human growth hormone, thiazide diuretic, thiazide-like diuretic. They’re ranked by each drug’s FDA recall-safety record — not clinical effectiveness for heart failure — so confirm the right choice with your prescriber.
Understanding heart failure
Heart failure (sometimes called congestive heart failure) is a long-term condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. It does not mean the heart has stopped. According to the NHLBI, more than 6 million U.S. adults have heart failure. It usually develops when another condition damages or overworks the heart, such as coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, heart inflammation, cardiomyopathy, or an irregular heartbeat. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid buildup that causes swelling in the lower body or around the abdomen. Heart failure is often described by ejection fraction, either reduced (HFrEF) or preserved (HFpEF), which helps guide treatment. There is no cure, but per NHLBI and MedlinePlus, treatment can help many people live longer and feel better. Management combines heart-healthy lifestyle changes (lowering sodium, staying active as advised, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and controlling blood pressure and other risk factors) with medicines, and in some cases devices such as pacemakers or defibrillators. This is general information, not medical advice; treatment should be individualized by a licensed healthcare professional.
First-line treatment
For heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), the 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA guideline recommends foundational, guideline-directed medical therapy built on four medication classes: a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor, a beta-blocker, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), and an SGLT2 inhibitor. Among renin-angiotensin system inhibitors, an angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) is recommended as first-line, with an ACE inhibitor used when an ARNI is not feasible and an ARB when an ACE inhibitor is not tolerated. SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended in symptomatic chronic HFrEF regardless of whether the person has type 2 diabetes, and may also benefit preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Diuretics are commonly used to relieve fluid buildup and symptoms; a clinician determines the specific medicines and sets and adjusts all dosing.
Top-rated picks for heart failure: 1. Bio-Tropin · 2. Hydrochlorothiazide · 3. Metolazone
| # | Drug | Rating | Type | Form | Class | Generic? | Pharmacy pays | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72/100 | Prescription | Kit | Recombinant Human Growth Hormone | No data | — | View → | |
| 2 | 72/100 | Prescription | Capsule | Thiazide Diuretic | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 3 | 72/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Thiazide-like Diuretic | Generic | $9 | View → | |
| 4 | 72/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Generic | $5 | View → | |
| 5 | 72/100 | Prescription | Kit | Recombinant Human Growth Hormone | No data | — | View → | |
| 6 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Generic | $16 | View → | |
| 7 | 70/100 | Prescription | Tablet | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Generic | $2 | View → | |
| 8 | 70/100 | Prescription | Drops | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Generic | $1 | View → | |
| 9 | 70/100 | Prescription | Solution | Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor | Generic | $0 | View → | |
| 10 | 70/100 | Prescription | Capsule | beta-Adrenergic Blocker | Generic | $2 | View → |
Narrow by drug class
Explore the class hubs: beta-adrenergic blocker · recombinant human growth hormone · nitrate vasodilator · angiotensin 2 receptor blocker · loop diuretic · angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor · thiazide diuretic · thiazide-like diuretic
Full ranking · 72 treatments
bio-tropin
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Bio-Tropin (Somatropin) is a recombinant human growth hormone used to treat Cachexia, Dwarfism, Heart Failure, Noonan Syndrome.
Price varies
hydrochlorothiazide
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic used to treat Edema, Heart Failure, Hypertension, Nephrotic Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$0.36/30· 4 formsmetolazone
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Metolazone is a thiazide-like diuretic used to treat Edema, Heart Failure, Hypertension, Nephrotic Syndrome.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$6.70/30· 3 forms Save up to 70% in classmicardis
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Micardis (Telmisartan) is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker used to treat Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure, Hypertension, Left Ventricular Dysfunction.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$3.15/30· 3 forms Save up to 78% in classzomacton
PrescriptionFDA-sourced
Zomacton (Somatropin) is a recombinant human growth hormone used to treat Cachexia, Dwarfism, Heart Failure, Noonan Syndrome.
Price varies
atacand
Boxed warningPrescriptionFDA-sourced
Atacand (Candesartan Cilexetil) is an angiotensin 2 receptor blocker used to treat Diabetic Nephropathies, Heart Failure, Hypertension, Left Ventricular Dysfunction.
Pharmacy pays
From ~$14.66/30· 4 forms Save up to 94% in class- Benicar
- Betimol
- Epaned
- Inderal La
- Innopran XL
- Inzirqo
- Lanoxin Pediatric
- Midamor
- Nitrostat
- Norditropin
- Norditropin Flexpro
- Norditropin Nordiflex
- Nutropin Aq
- Nutropin Aq Nuspin
- Qbrelis
- Saizen
- Serostim
- Serostim Lq
- Valsartan
- Omnitrope
- Atenolol
- Amiloride Hydrochloride
- Arbli
- Brevibloc
- Brevibloc Double Strength in Plastic Container
- Bumetanide
- Bumex
- Carospir
- Coreg
- Coreg CR
- Edecrin
- Enbumyst
- Ethacrynate Sodium
- Furoscix
- Genotropin
- Hemangeol
- Hemiclor
- Isordil
- Isosorbide Mononitrate
- Istalol
- Kapspargo Sprinkle
- Lanoxin
- Lasix Onyu
- Lopressor
- Lotensin
- Metoprolol Succinate
- Microzide
- Milrinone Lactate
- Monoket
- Nipride Rtu in Sodium Chloride 0.9%
- Nitro-Dur
- Nitroglycerin
- Nitrolingual
- Nitrolingual Pumpspray
- Nitromist
- Quinapril Hydrochloride
- Soaanz
- Spironolactone
- Telmisartan
- Tenormin
- Thalitone
- Timoptic
- Timoptic in Ocudose
- Timoptic-Xe
- Toprol-XL
- Vasotec
Frequently asked
- What treats heart failure?
- Our catalog lists 72 products that may treat heart failure, based on NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. They're rated where FDA recall-safety data exists; the current top-rated option is bio-tropin.
- What is the best-rated treatment for heart failure?
- By our independent recall-safety rating — not an efficacy measure — bio-tropin ranks highest among the products we list for heart failure. Always consult a professional.
- How are these treatments ranked?
- By our independent score, currently based on FDA regulatory recall-safety data (the methodology blends additional sources as they come online). See the How we rate page.
- What types of drugs treat heart failure?
- Treatments for heart failure span FDA drug classes including recombinant human growth hormone, thiazide diuretic, thiazide-like diuretic, angiotensin 2 receptor blocker, beta-adrenergic blocker. Compare every option side by side, ranked by independent rating, above.
Treatment associations are derived from NIH RxClass (MED-RT “may treat”) drug-classification data — not the verbatim FDA label. This is general reference, not medical advice — always consult a licensed professional.
Sources
The clinical overview above is written from these authoritative public-health and medical-society sources, independently reviewed against each.
- Heart Failure - What Is Heart Failure? — NHLBI (NIH) ↗
- Heart Failure - Treatment — NHLBI (NIH) ↗
- Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) — MedlinePlus (NLM) ↗
- 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Heart Failure Guideline: Key Perspectives — American College of Cardiology ↗
- 2022 AHA/ACC/HFSA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure — Circulation ↗