<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related prospectus of CV
Therapeutics, Inc. for the registration of 118,932 shares of its common stock
and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated March 2, 2000
with respect to the consolidated financial statements of CV Therapeutics, Inc.
included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1999,
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
---------------------
Palo Alto, California
October 20, 2000
