Digoxin is a cardiac glycoside derived from the purple foxglove flower. In 1785, the English chemist, botanist, and physician Sir William Withering published his findings that Digitalis purpurea could be used to treat cardiac dropsy (congestive heart failure; CHF). Digoxin has been in use for many years, but was not approved by the FDA for treatment of heart failure (HF) until the late 1990s. Another FDA indication for digoxin is atrial fibrillation (AF). Digoxin also has numerous off-label uses, such as in fetal tachycardia, supra-ventricular tachycardia, cor pulmonale, and pulmonary hypertension. Digitoxin inhibits the Na-K-ATPase membrane pump, resulting in an increase in intracellular sodium and calcium concentrations. Increased intracellular concentrations of calcium may promote activation of contractile proteins (e.g., actin, myosin). Digoxin also has Para sympathomimetic properties. By increasing vagal tone in the sinoatrial and atrioventricular (AV) nodes, it slows the heart rate and AV nodal conduction.

Nicotinyl alcohol is a direct-acting vasolidator, that may decrease the blood pressure and it is a cholesterol-lowering agent. Nicotinyl alcohol as a tartrate salt led to the efficiency improvements in patients with intermittent claudication. In addition, nicotinyl alcohol alone or associated with other drugs was studied in the treatment of radicular syndromes; and was shown, that the effect had not been due to mechanical compression.

Mannitol hexanitrate, a sugar alcohol that possesses explosive properties. There are existed mention that this compound had been used for the treatment of hypertension and was effective against an angina attack.

Sparteine is a class 1a antiarrhythmic agent; a sodium channel blocker. It is the predominant alkaloid in Lupinus mutabilis, and is thought to chelate the bivalents calcium and magnesium. It is not FDA approved for human use as an antiarrhythmic agent. It is also used as a chiral base in organic chemistry, and as a ligand in organic chemical synthesis. Marketed under the brand name Spal in Taiwan and Sparteine in Brazil.

Clonitrate (chloroglyceryl dinitrate) is a derivative of nitroglycerin. The compound is identical with glycerol trinitrate with the exception of the replacement of the nitrate radical on the first carbon atom by an atom of chlorine. Clonitrate is equipotent with glycerine trinitrate in increasing coronary flow in Langendorff rabbit heart and appears to evoke a lesser degree of depressor response. In the 1960s, clonitrate was used in the clinics a vasodilator for the treatment of angina pectoris.

Amoproxan (Mederel, Mexderel), a coronary artery dilator and anti-arrhythmic, apparently withdrawn from production, produced pellagroid skin changes and several cases of axial optic neuropathy in France.

An alkaloid found in opium but not closely related to the other opium alkaloids in its structure or pharmacological actions. Papaverine is a vasodilating agent. Papaverine is used for the treating certain conditions that are accompanied by smooth muscle spasms (eg, blood vessel, urinary, gallbladder, or intestinal spasm). Papaverine is a nonxanthine phosphodiesterase inhibitor for the relief of cerebral and peripheral ischemia associated with arterial spasm and myocardial ischemia complicated by arrhythmias. The main actions of Papaverine are exerted on cardiac and smooth muscle. Like qathidine, Papaverine acts directly on the heart muscle to depress conduction and prolong the refractory period. Papaverine relaxes various smooth muscles. This relaxation may be prominent if spasm exists. The muscle cell is not paralyzed by Papaverine and still responds to drugs and other stimuli causing contraction. The antispasmodic effect is a direct one, and unrelated to muscle innervation. Papaverine is practically devoid of effects on the central nervous system. Papaverine relaxes the smooth musculature of the larger blood vessels, especially coronary, systemic peripheral, and pulmonary arteries. Papaverine is a potent, specific inhibitor of PDE10A. Papaverine for treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) is excluded from coverage.

Lorcainide is a class Ic antiarrhythmic medication. It was reported to be highly efficient for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular fibrillation, and tachycardia. The drug was used under the name Remivox. The mechanism of lorcainide action involves the blockage of sodium channels. Lorcainide was withdrawn from the market for a commercial reason, but later it was admitted that the use of the drug is associated with high risk of death.

Eprobemide (brand name Befol/Бефол), a drug used in Russia, is a selective, reversible monoamine oxidase A (MAO) inhibitor, which causes deamination of noradrenaline, serotonin, partially dopamine and β-phenylethylamine, thus increases the content of neurotransmitter monoamines in the central nervous system. Befol does not affect the deaminination of the tyramine and does not cause its accumulation in the body, in contrast to non-selective inhibitors of irreversible action, that is why the drug causes fewer side effects. Befol is used in adults with depression of different nature: endogenous depression in manic-depressive psychosis and various forms of schizophrenia, depression in patients with chronic alcoholism.