# Heart failure (chronic stable, reduced ejection fraction)

- Category: chronic
- Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page)
- Sources: ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure 2021 · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (carvedilol monograph) · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (spironolactone monograph) · Forxiga 10 mg film-coated tablets SmPC sections 4.1 and 4.2 (eMC product 7607) · UK eMC Furosemide 20 mg Tablets SmPC, product id 14911 · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (sacubitril and valsartan monograph)
- Verified date: 2026-08

## Verified against

- ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure 2021
- Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (carvedilol monograph)
- Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (spironolactone monograph)
- Forxiga 10 mg film-coated tablets SmPC sections 4.1 and 4.2 (eMC product 7607)
- UK eMC Furosemide 20 mg Tablets SmPC, product id 14911
- Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) - disease-level clinical article (heart-failure-clinical.txt)
- Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular
- Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (sacubitril and valsartan monograph)

## Treatment metadata

- Bisoprolol — 2.5 mg — oral.solid
- Enalapril — 5 mg — oral.solid
- Carvedilol — 6.25 mg — oral.solid
- Spironolactone — 25 mg — oral.solid
- Dapagliflozin — 10 mg — oral.solid
- Referral & safety-netting (no drug therapy)
- Valsartan — 40 mg — oral.solid
- Sacubitril + Valsartan — 100 mg — oral.solid
- Furosemide — 40 mg — oral.solid
- Ivabradine — 5 mg — oral.solid

## Complete treatment card

```text
HEART FAILURE (CHRONIC STABLE, REDUCED EJECTION FRACTION)
Sources: ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure 2021 · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular
         2024 (carvedilol monograph) · Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024
         (spironolactone monograph) · Forxiga 10 mg film-coated tablets SmPC sections 4.1 and 4.2
         (eMC product 7607) · UK eMC Furosemide 20 mg Tablets SmPC, product id 14911 · Egyptian
         National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (sacubitril and valsartan monograph)
Review status: REVIEWED against ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure 2021, Egyptian National Drug
               Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (carvedilol monograph), Egyptian
               National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (spironolactone
               monograph), Forxiga 10 mg film-coated tablets SmPC sections 4.1 and
               4.2 (eMC product 7607), UK eMC Furosemide 20 mg Tablets SmPC,
               product id 14911, Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) -
               disease-level clinical article (heart-failure-clinical.txt),
               Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular, Egyptian National
               Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (sacubitril and valsartan
               monograph)  (2026-08)

IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination
  SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (9)
    - Breathlessness is the most reported symptom and should be classed as exertional, positional,
      or acute versus chronic  [breathlessness]
    - Chest pain, poor appetite, and fatigue on exertion are also commonly reported  [chest pain ·
      fatigue · poor appetite]
    - Poor appetite stems from liver congestion, gut swelling, and reduced blood flow to the
      abdominal organs  [poor appetite]
    - A cough that occurs while lying down can reflect orthopnea  [cough · orthopnoea]
    - Abdominal discomfort can result from liver congestion or fluid in the abdomen  [abdominal
      pain]
    - Palpitations, near-fainting, or fainting point to an underlying arrhythmia  [arrhythmia ·
      palpitations · syncope]
    - Leg swelling can impair mobility and balance, with weight gain over 20 lbs sometimes seen
      [leg swelling · weight gain]
    - Acute heart failure brings overt breathlessness, orthopnea, and sudden nighttime
      breathlessness  [breathlessness · orthopnoea]
    - Chronic heart failure symptoms can be masked because patients scale back their activity
  SIGNS - what you find (11)
    - Severe or acutely decompensated heart failure shows an anxious, sweaty, fast heart rate and
      fast breathing  [anxiety · sweating · tachycardia · tachypnoea]
    - Chronic decompensated heart failure can leave patients looking wasted
    - Lung crackles signal heart failure of moderate to severe intensity  [crackles]
    - Absent lung crackles do not rule out fluid in the lungs
    - Wheeze can appear in acute decompensated heart failure, with frothy, blood-tinged sputum as
      congestion worsens  [sputum · wheeze]
    - Distended neck veins should be checked in every patient with heart failure  [raised JVP]
    - A sustained rise of over 4 cm in neck vein pressure after pressing on the liver points to
      raised left heart filling pressure
    - Advanced heart failure can show low blood pressure, slow capillary refill, cold limbs,
      confusion, and reduced urine output  [cold peripheries · confusion · hypotension]
    - An alternating strong-and-weak pulse points to severe ventricular dysfunction
    - A third heart sound is the earliest and most telling finding of heart failure
    - Valvular murmurs can accompany heart failure: pansystolic mitral or tricuspid regurgitation,
      an aortic stenosis ejection murmur, or an aortic regurgitation early diastolic murmur  [heart
      murmur · stricture]
  TESTS (12)
    - A complete blood count may show anaemia or a raised white count pointing to an infection
      behind the decompensation
    - Kidney function is checked to set a baseline before starting RAAS inhibitors, SGLT2
      inhibitors, or diuretics
    - Low blood sodium predicts higher in-hospital and 30-day mortality in heart failure
    - Liver congestion from heart failure can raise GGT, AST, and ALT
    - BNP or NT-proBNP helps separate a cardiac from a non-cardiac cause of breathlessness when the
      picture is unclear
    - BNP results can read misleadingly low in obesity, an underactive thyroid, or advanced disease
    - A QRS duration over 120 msec on ECG predicts response to device therapy
    - Chest x-ray signs of heart failure include an enlarged heart shadow, fluid at the lung bases,
      and vascular congestion
    - A normal chest x-ray does not exclude heart failure
    - Echocardiography is the first-choice bedside test for suspected heart failure
    - Cardiac catheterisation helps diagnose ischaemic cardiomyopathy and measure heart chamber
      pressures
    - Persistently raised troponin signals ongoing heart muscle injury and predicts worse outcomes
  IF NOT THIS - what else fits (8)
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from valvular heart disease
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from renal failure
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from acute respiratory distress
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from pulmonary fibrosis
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from nephrotic syndrome
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from pulmonary embolism
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from pericardial disease
    - Heart failure must be differentiated from cirrhosis
  Source  StatPearls "Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure)" - disease-level clinical article
  Status  traced to the source above

Rx: Beta-blocker  |  Renin-angiotensin blocker  |  Mineralocorticoid antagonist  |  SGLT2 inhibitor
    |  Main treatment  |  ARNI - renin-angiotensin agent for HFrEF  |  Congestion

BETA-BLOCKER - choose one
1. BISOPROLOL                                             [1st line]
   Adult    1.25 mg once daily, titrate slowly (doubling every 2+ weeks) to target 10 mg once daily
            - long-term
   Peds     Specialist pediatric cardiology management required
   Choice   Sourced preference. The entry's rationale names bisoprolol the beta-blocker of choice in
            the Egyptian formulary for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.
   Source   ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure 2021
   Why      Beta-blocker of choice in Egyptian formulary for HFrEF
   Caution  CONTRAINDICATED in acute decompensated heart failure or cardiogenic shock.
            Avoid in severe asthma or second/third-degree AV block.
            Monitor blood pressure, heart rate, and fluid status during titration.
   Egypt    BISTOL 2.5MG 20 F.C.TAB.         HIKMA PHARMA        28.00 EGP (1.40/unit)
            BISOLOCK 2.5 MG 30 F.C.TABS.     PHARCO              48.00 EGP (1.60/unit)
            BISOCARD 2.5 MG 30 F.C.TAB.      GLOBAL NAPI P...    51.00 EGP (1.70/unit)
            NORMOCARD 2.5 MG 30 TAB.         PHARMA CURE         51.00 EGP (1.70/unit)
            CONCOR COR 2.5 MG 30 F.C. TABS.  AMOUN > MERCK...    60.00 EGP (2.00/unit)

2. CARVEDILOL                                             [1st line]
   Adult    3.125 mg twice daily initially, doubled at intervals of at least 2 weeks as tolerated.
            Maximum 25 mg twice daily if 85 kg or less or in severe heart failure; 50 mg twice daily
            if over 85 kg - Long-term
   Peds     Effectiveness in patients under 18 years has not been established.
   Source   Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (carvedilol monograph)
   Why      25 live products. Chronic heart failure is the formulary's first listed indication.
            Combined alpha and beta blockade lowers blood pressure more than the bisoprolol already
            listed, which suits the very common Egyptian patient who has heart failure and
            uncontrolled hypertension together.
   Caution  Use one beta-blocker only - carvedilol is an alternative to the bisoprolol in this row,
            never an addition.
            CONTRAINDICATED in bronchial asthma, acute or decompensated heart failure requiring
            intravenous inotropes, second- or third-degree AV block, severe bradycardia without a
            pacemaker, sick sinus syndrome, cardiogenic shock and severe hepatic disease.
            Expect transient worsening of symptoms and hypotension in the first 2 weeks - warn the
            patient, do not abandon the drug, and increase the diuretic temporarily if needed.
            Never start during an acute decompensation and never stop abruptly.
            Avoid in severe hepatic impairment; moderate impairment may need a dose reduction.
            Masks the adrenergic warning signs of hypoglycaemia in an insulin-treated patient.
   Egypt    VIDILOL 6.25 MG 10 TABS.         MEMPHIS              3.50 EGP (0.35/unit)
            CARLOL-V 6.25MG 30 F.C.TAB       AMOUN               19.50 EGP (0.65/unit)
            KARVEX 6.25MG 30 TAB.            SIGMA               19.50 EGP (0.65/unit)
            CARDILOL 6.25MG 30 TAB.          MARCYRL PHARM...    39.00 EGP (1.30/unit)
            CARVID 6.25MG 20 TAB.            MULTI-APEX          30.00 EGP (1.50/unit)
            CARVID 6.25MG 30 TAB.            MULTI-APEX          45.00 EGP (1.50/unit)
            DILATROL 6.25MG 30 TAB.          CHEMIPHARM          48.00 EGP (1.60/unit)
            CARVIPRESS 6.25MG 20 SCORED TAB. GLOBAL NAPI P...    13.00 EGP


RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN BLOCKER
3. ENALAPRIL                                              [1st line]
   Adult    2.5 mg BID initially, titrate to target 10-20 mg BID - long-term
   Peds     Specialist pediatric cardiology management required
   Source   ESC Guidelines for Heart Failure 2021
   Why      ACE inhibitor combined with beta-blocker to reduce mortality
   Caution  CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy.
            Check serum creatinine and potassium within 1-2 weeks of initiation.
            Caution in renal artery stenosis or eGFR < 30 mL/min.
            If a RAAS agent cannot be used at all, the article offers a combination this card does
            NOT carry: "For patients with HFrEF and intolerance to RAASI or in whom RAASI is
            contraindicated due to renal insufficiency, the use of a combination of hydralazine and
            nitrate might be effective."
            Hydralazine is deliberately not offered here. The Egyptian formulary indicates it for
            "Hypertension, chronic: Management of moderate to severe hypertension." only, states no
            heart-failure dose anywhere, and contraindicates it outright: "Cardiovascular disease:
            Use is contraindicated in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD)." - adding that
            "myocardial stimulation produced by hydralazine can cause anginal attacks and
            electrocardiogram (ECG) changes of myocardial ischemia; has been implicated in the
            production of myocardial infarction." Ischaemic heart disease is the commonest cause of
            the heart failure on this card, so that contraindication is not a rare edge case.
   Egypt    ACAPRIL 5 MG 10 TAB.             ALFACURE PHAR...     6.75 EGP (0.68/unit)
            PRESSLIGHT 5 MG 10 TAB.          EL-OBOUR             7.00 EGP (0.70/unit)
            RENITEC 5MG 28 TAB.              GLOBAL NAPI P...    30.60 EGP (1.09/unit)


MINERALOCORTICOID ANTAGONIST
4. SPIRONOLACTONE                                         [1st line]
   Adult    12.5-25 mg once daily, adjusted every 4 weeks if potassium and kidney function are
            stable, to a maximum of 50 mg/day - long-term
   Peds     Specialist paediatric cardiology management. The formulary's paediatric spironolactone
            doses are for oedema, hypertension and primary aldosteronism, not for HFrEF.
   Source   Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (spironolactone monograph)
   Why      One of the four drugs NICE says to offer together in HFrEF. Note the dose: 25 mg, not
            the 100 mg used for cirrhotic ascites. Writing the ascites dose in heart failure is a
            hyperkalaemia admission.
   Caution  Given WITH the beta-blocker, the ACE inhibitor and the SGLT2 inhibitor, not instead of
            any of them - NICE offers all four.
            Check potassium and creatinine before starting, at 1 and 4 weeks after each dose change,
            then regularly. Stop if potassium exceeds 6.0 mmol/L.
            Avoid the combination of spironolactone with an ACE inhibitor plus a potassium
            supplement or a potassium-containing salt substitute - that is the classic route to a
            fatal potassium.
            Painful gynaecomastia in men is common and is the usual reason for stopping.
            The heart failure dose is 25 mg. The ascites dose is 100 mg. They are not
            interchangeable.
   Egypt    SPIRONOLACTONE (DELTA) 25MG 10 TAB. GLOBAL NAPI PHARMACEUTIC...     3.00 EGP (0.30/unit)
            EPILACTONE 25MG 10 TAB.          EIPICO               4.00 EGP (0.40/unit)
            POTASAVE 25 MG 20 TAB.           ALFACURE PHAR...    11.00 EGP (0.55/unit)
            ALDACTONE 25MG 20 TAB            KAHIRA > SEAR...    18.00 EGP (0.90/unit)
            POTASPIRONO 25 MG 20 TAB.        UNIPHARMA           36.00 EGP (1.80/unit)
            SPECTONE 25 MG 20 TABS.          KAHIRA              36.00 EGP (1.80/unit)


SGLT2 INHIBITOR
5. DAPAGLIFLOZIN                                          [1st line]
   Adult    10 mg once daily - long-term
   Peds     Not established in children for heart failure.
   Source   Forxiga 10 mg film-coated tablets SmPC sections 4.1 and 4.2 (eMC product 7607)
   Why      The fourth pillar, and the one most often left off an Egyptian heart-failure
            prescription. It is licensed for symptomatic chronic heart failure in its own right -
            the patient does not need to be diabetic.
   Caution  Not a diabetes drug here. It is given for the heart failure whether or not the patient
            has diabetes, and it is licensed for that.
            No dose titration - 10 mg once daily is the dose.
            Genital mycotic infection and urinary tract infection are common; counsel on hygiene at
            the first prescription.
            Euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis is rare but is missed because the glucose looks normal
            - think of it in any unwell patient on an SGLT2 inhibitor with acidosis.
            Sick-day rules: hold it during vomiting, diarrhoea or any dehydrating illness,
            especially alongside the ACE inhibitor and the diuretic.
            Expect a small early fall in eGFR. That is not a reason to stop.
   Egypt    DAPABLIX 10 MG 30 F.C. TABS.     AL ESRAA PHAR...   186.00 EGP (6.20/unit)
            DEXIGLOFOZIN 10 MG 30 F.C. TABS. ZETA PHARMA        195.00 EGP (6.50/unit)
            GLIFLOZINO 10 MG 30 F.C.TABS     INSPIRE PHARM...   214.50 EGP (7.15/unit)
            DAPAGLIFLOZIN-EVA 10 MG 30 F.C. TABS. EVA PHARMA                  271.50 EGP (9.05/unit)
            ZEGAPETS 10 MG 28 F.C. TABS.     OCTOBER PHARMA     280.00 EGP (10.00/unit)
            DIGLIFLOZ 10 MG 30 F.C. TABS.    MARCYRL            318.00 EGP (10.60/unit)
            DAPAVELDACTIN 10 MG 28 F.C. TABS. LIPTIS                         368.00 EGP (13.14/unit)
            FORXIGA 10 MG 28 TABS.           ASTRA ZENECA       602.00 EGP (21.50/unit)


MAIN TREATMENT - choose one, plus any add-on marked below
6. REFERRAL & SAFETY-NETTING (NO DRUG THERAPY)            [1st line]
   Adult    
   Source   Heart Failure (Congestive Heart Failure) - disease-level clinical article (heart-
            failure-clinical.txt)
   Why      Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply
            whichever treatment is chosen.
   Caution  RED FLAG - Recognize the common triggers of acute decompensation in a chronic HFrEF
            patient (infection, medication noncompliance, NSAID use, increased salt intake), which
            need to prompt a different response than routine chronic management.

7. VALSARTAN                                              [1st line]
   Adult    Initial: 20 to 40 mg twice daily; increase dose after at least 2 weeks based on response
            and tolerability up to a 160 mg twice daily. - long-term
   Peds     No paediatric heart failure dose in the monograph. For hypertension (6 months to 16
            years): 1 to 2 mg/kg/dose once daily initially; max 4 mg/kg/day (not to exceed 160
            mg/day).
   Source   Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular
   Why      Angiotensin II receptor blocker used as a first-line alternative agent in HFrEF for
            patients unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors.
   Caution  CONTRAINDICATED in pregnancy.
            Monitor blood pressure, serum potassium, and kidney function closely following
            initiation and dose increases.
   Egypt    VALSATENS 40MG 30 F.C. TAB.      AMOUN               45.00 EGP (1.50/unit)
            LASAROMEP 40MG 10 F.C. TAB.      MEPACO              17.50 EGP (1.75/unit)
            TAREG 40MG 15 F.C.TAB.           NOVARTIS           150.00 EGP (10.00/unit)
            VASOTEC 40 MG 14 SCORED F.C. TABS. EIPICO                                      32.00 EGP

8. IVABRADINE                                             [add-on - not a substitute]
   Adult    Initial: 5 mg twice daily or 2.5 mg twice daily in patients with a history of conduction
            defects or who may experience hemodynamic compromise due to bradycardia. Adjust dose
            every ≥2 weeks as needed. - long-term
   Peds     0.05-0.3 mg/kg/dose  [child max 7.5 mg]
            (Children ≥6 months (heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy): <40
            kg: 0.05 mg/kg/dose twice daily initially, titrate by 0.05
            mg/kg/dose every 2 weeks; max 0.2 mg/kg/dose twice daily (<1 year)
            or 0.3 mg/kg/dose twice daily (≥1 year, max 7.5 mg/dose). ≥40 kg:
            2.5 mg twice daily, titrate by 2.5 mg every 2 weeks; max 7.5 mg
            twice daily.)
            3kg -> 0.15-0.9 mg/dose                 4kg -> 0.2-1.2 mg/dose
            5kg -> 0.25-1.5 mg/dose                 6kg -> 0.3-1.8 mg/dose
            7kg -> 0.35-2.1 mg/dose                 8kg -> 0.4-2.4 mg/dose
            9kg -> 0.45-2.7 mg/dose                 10kg -> 0.5-3 mg/dose
            11kg -> 0.55-3.3 mg/dose                12kg -> 0.6-3.6 mg/dose
            13kg -> 0.65-3.9 mg/dose                14kg -> 0.7-4.2 mg/dose
            15kg -> 0.75-4.5 mg/dose                16kg -> 0.8-4.8 mg/dose
            17kg -> 0.85-5.1 mg/dose                18kg -> 0.9-5.4 mg/dose
            19kg -> 0.95-5.7 mg/dose                20kg -> 1-6 mg/dose
            21kg -> 1.1-6.3 mg/dose                 22kg -> 1.1-6.6 mg/dose
            23kg -> 1.2-6.9 mg/dose                 24kg -> 1.2-7.2 mg/dose
            25kg -> 1.2-7.5 mg/dose                 26kg -> 1.3-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            27kg -> 1.4-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  28kg -> 1.4-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            29kg -> 1.5-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  30kg -> 1.5-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            31kg -> 1.6-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  32kg -> 1.6-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            33kg -> 1.7-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  34kg -> 1.7-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            35kg -> 1.8-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  36kg -> 1.8-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            37kg -> 1.9-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  38kg -> 1.9-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            39kg -> 2-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)    40kg -> 2-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            41kg -> 2.1-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  42kg -> 2.1-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            43kg -> 2.1-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  44kg -> 2.2-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            45kg -> 2.2-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  46kg -> 2.3-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            47kg -> 2.4-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  48kg -> 2.4-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
            49kg -> 2.5-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)  50kg -> 2.5-7.5 mg/dose (upper capped)
   Source   Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular
   Why      Selective sinus node I(f) inhibitor added to reduce heart failure hospitalizations in
            patients in sinus rhythm with resting HR >= 70 bpm on maximum beta-blocker.
   Caution  Use increases the risk of atrial fibrillation; monitor cardiac rhythm.
            Bradycardia, sinus arrest, and heart block may occur; monitor heart rate prior to
            initiation and with any dosage adjustment.
   Egypt    SAVAPRAN 5 MG 20 F.C. TABS.      HORUS FOR PHA...    98.66 EGP (4.93/unit)
            WADIBRADIN 5 MG 20 F.C. TABS.    WADI ELNEEL B...   116.00 EGP (5.80/unit)
            BRADIPECT 5 MG 28 F.C.TABS.      OCTOBER PHARMA     168.00 EGP (6.00/unit)
            IVABRAGIN 5 MG 30 F.C. TABS.     P & C LABS         234.00 EGP (7.80/unit)
            NAPIBRADINE 5 MG 30 F.C. TABS.   GLOBAL NAPI P...   234.00 EGP (7.80/unit)
            PROCORALAN 5MG 28 F.C. TABS.     SERVIER            352.00 EGP (12.57/unit)
            ANGIOBRADINE 5 MG 30 SCORED F.C.TABS. FUTURE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRIES (...   166.00 EGP
            ADWISTADINE 5 MG 30 SCORED F.C.TABS. ADWIA                                    178.50 EGP


ARNI - RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN AGENT FOR HFREF
9. SACUBITRIL + VALSARTAN                                 [1st line]
   Adult    Initially 50 mg twice daily for 3 to 4 weeks if not already on an ACE inhibitor or ARB,
            or 100 mg twice daily if stabilised on one; doubled at 3 to 4 week intervals if
            tolerated, up to 200 mg twice daily. Start at 50 mg twice daily if the systolic blood
            pressure is below 110 mmHg
   Peds     Not applicable - the ENDF gives no paediatric dose for this combination.
   Source   Egyptian National Drug Formulary - Cardiovascular 2024 (sacubitril and valsartan
            monograph)
   Why      The article makes an ARNI the recommended renin-angiotensin agent in HFrEF, ahead of an
            ACE inhibitor, with an ACE inhibitor or ARB kept for patients who cannot afford it - and
            the card's valsartan row is an ARB, not an ARNI. The ENDF monograph names symptomatic
            chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction as its indication and doses it.
            This REPLACES the card's enalapril or valsartan; it is never added to them.
   Caution  Concomitant use with an ACE inhibitor (do not initiate until at least 36 hours after
            discontinuing ACE inhibitor - risk of angioedema). Concomitant use with an angiotensin
            II receptor antagonist.
            This card also carries enalapril and valsartan: sacubitril + valsartan replaces either
            of them and must never be given alongside one.
            History of angioedema related to previous ACE inhibitor or ARB (angiotensin receptor
            blocker) therapy; systolic blood pressure less than 100 mmHg
            Concomitant use of aliskiren in patients with diabetes or renal disease; pregnancy;
            lactation
            Severe hepatic impairment, biliary cirrhosis or cholestasis: avoid (has not been
            studied).
   Egypt    ENTRESTO 100 MG (49/51 MG) 28 F.C.TABS. NOVARTIS                1700.00 EGP (60.71/unit)


CONGESTION - give alongside
10. FUROSEMIDE                                            [add-on - not a substitute]
   Adult    20-40 mg once daily in the morning (or divided BID), titrate based on fluid overload and
            symptom response - long-term
   Peds     Specialist pediatric cardiology management required
   Source   UK eMC Furosemide 20 mg Tablets SmPC, product id 14911
   Why      Loop diuretic added for symptomatic relief of congestion
   Caution  Monitor electrolytes (potassium, sodium) and renal function regularly.
            Caution in gout or severe hepatic impairment.
            There is a risk of hypotension and hypovolaemia.
   Egypt    ODEMENT 40MG 10 TAB.             EL NASR              1.30 EGP (0.13/unit)
            FRUZEX 40MG 12 TAB.              MISR                 3.25 EGP (0.27/unit)
            FUROSEMIDE 40MG 20 TAB.          SEDICO               7.50 EGP (0.38/unit)
            FURORETIC 40 MG 30 TABS.         DEBEIKY > VET...    14.25 EGP (0.47/unit)
            LAFUREX 40MG 20 TAB.             AMOUN                9.50 EGP (0.47/unit)
            SALEX 40 MG 20 TABS.             ARAB DRUG COM...    10.00 EGP (0.50/unit)
            FUROSEMIDE-ALEX 40MG 20 TAB.     ALEXANDRIA          19.00 EGP (0.95/unit)
            LASIX 40 MG 24 TABS.             SANOFI              30.00 EGP (1.25/unit)
            GENESEMIDE 20MG/5ML SYRUP 120 ML MEDIZEN PHARM...    56.00 EGP
                -> ? strength differs, ? different route - not oral solid

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.
```

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