07/04/2026
🫀💊 Heart Failure – Stepwise Drug Therapy & Target Doses 💊🫀
Step 1: Beta-Blocker + SGLT2 Inhibitor
💓 Beta-Blocker (start low, double every 2 weeks if tolerated)
Carvedilol → 3.125 mg BID → Target: 25 mg BID (85 kg)
Bisoprolol → 1.25 mg daily → Target: 10 mg daily
Metoprolol succinate → 12.5–25 mg daily → Target: 200 mg daily
🍬 SGLT2 Inhibitor (fixed dose)
Dapagliflozin → 10 mg daily
Empagliflozin → 10 mg daily
💡 Tip: Start both as soon as patient is stable
Step 2: Add ARNI (Sacubitril/Valsartan)
💥 Start: 24/26 mg BID (low dose)
💪 Up-titrate: Double every 2–4 weeks
🎯 Target: 97/103 mg BID
⚠️ Monitor BP, potassium, and renal function
Step 3: Add MRA
💎 Spironolactone: 12.5–25 mg daily → Target 50 mg daily
💎 Eplerenone: 25 mg daily → Target 50 mg daily
⚠️ Monitor potassium and renal function
🫀💊 Step 4 – Target / Max Doses for HFrEF Drugs 💊🫀
1️⃣ Beta-Blockers – Evidence-Based 💓
💊 Carvedilol: 25 mg twice daily if 85 kg
💊 Bisoprolol: 10 mg daily
💊 Metoprolol succinate (CR/XL): 200 mg daily
💡 Tip: Double the dose every 2 weeks if tolerated ✅ (HR >50 bpm, SBP >90–100 mmHg)
2️⃣ SGLT2 Inhibitors – Fixed Dose 🍬
💊 Dapagliflozin: 10 mg daily
💊 Empagliflozin: 10 mg daily
💡 Note: No need to up-titrate, continue as long-term therapy 🔒
3️⃣ ARNI – Sacubitril/Valsartan 💥
💊 Start: 24/26 mg twice daily (low dose if previously on ACEi/ARB or hypotensive)
💊 Target: 97/103 mg twice daily
💡 Titration: Double every 2–4 weeks as tolerated
⚠️ Monitor: BP, potassium, renal function
🩺
4️⃣ Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists (MRA) 💎
💊 Spironolactone: 25–50 mg daily
💊 Eplerenone: 25–50 mg daily
⚠️ Monitor: potassium & renal function regularly 🩺
⏱ Timeline: Complete all 3 steps in ~4–6 weeks if tolerated
✅ Reach target doses for beta-blocker, ARNI, MRA
💊 Continue SGLT2 inhibitor at standard dose
🩺 Reassess symptoms, BP, renal function, HR, potassium
💡 Memory Hack:
“Step 1: Beta + SGLT2 → Step 2: ARNI → Step 3: MRA → Step 4: Up-titrate”
⚡ Rapid initiation = better survival & symptom control