Medications are the cornerstone of heart failure treatment. If you have heart failure, you should expect to be taking at least two different types of drugs and likely more.

Drug classes used to aid heart failure include:

• Diuretics to eliminate excess fluid

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to strengthen the heart

• Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) for people who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors

• Beta-blockers to relax the heart and improve its pumping ability

• Digoxin to help restore a steady heartbeat

• Vasodilators and nitrates to help blood move forward more easily

The heart treatment drug Entresto is a combination pill of valsartan (Diovan), which is an ARB, and sacubitril, which is a neprilysin inhibitor.

Entresto is recommended for heart failure patients with reduced cardiac pumping efficiency.

Research shows that Entresto may save lives, but there are downsides. And it may not work any better than taking the drugs separately.

If you’re considering taking this drug, you should discuss it with your cardiologist first.