Table 1.
Drugs Identified by Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs (CRBBD) Program as “Best Buy Drugs”
| ACEIs | β-Blockers* | Calcium Channel Blockers | Statins** |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best buy drugs | |||
| Benazepril (HTN, CKD) | Atenolol (AP, AMI) | Diltiazem CR (HTN, ARR) | Lovastatin (CHOL) |
| Captopril (CHF) | Bisoprolol (CHF) | Diltiazem SR (HTN, ARR) | Atorvastatin (CHOL) |
| Enalapril (HTN, CHF) | Carvedilol (CHF) | Felodipine SR (HTN) | Pravastatin (CHOL) |
| Lisinopril (HTN, AMI) | Metoprolol tartrate (HTN, AP, AMI) | Nifedipine SR (HTN, AP) | Simvastatin (CHOL) |
| Ramipril (DM, CKD) | Metoprolol succinate (CHF) | Verapamil SR (ARR, HTN) | |
| Nadolol (HTN, AP) | |||
| Propranolol (HTN, AP, AMI) | |||
| Others | |||
| Fosinopril | Acebutolol | Amlodipine | Ezetimibe, simvastatin |
| Moexipril | Betaxolol | Isradipine | Fluvastatin |
| Perindopril | Carteolol | Nicardipine | Rosuvastatin |
| Quinapril | Labetalol | Nimodipine | |
| Trandolapril | Penbutolol sulfate | Nisoldipine | |
| Pindolol | |||
| Sotalol | |||
| Timolol | |||
Note: Products that are shaded did not have a generic equivalent as of December 2006.
CRBBD identified bisprolol and metoprolol succinate as the BBDs for mild or moderate heart failure and carvedilol for severe heart failure.
CRBBD identified lovastatin and pravastatin as the BBD for patients who need to lower LDL cholesterol by less than 30%. Simvastatin is recommended for those who need 30% or greater LDL reduction and/or have heart disease, diabetes, or have had a heart attack or have acute coronary syndrome with moderate LDL levels. Atorvastatin is recommended for those who have had a heart attack or have ACS and have highly elevated LDL.
CR, continuous release; SR, sustained release; AMI, postacute myocardial infarction; AP, angina pectoris; ARR, heart rhythm abnormalities; CHF, heart failure; CHOL, hyperlipidemia; CKD, chronic kidney disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; HTN, hypertension.