When blood vessels and arteries narrow or constrict, the heart has a harder time pumping blood throughout the body. This condition is called high blood pressure, or medically hypertension. This is a condition that builds up over the years, often with no significant symptoms. A person may experience a dull headache and slight dizziness, but hypertension often is discovered through a routine medical checkup. Once a high blood-pressure reading is found, the doctor can devise a plan of treatment with medications to bring blood pressure to normal.
Metoprolol
The generically named medication metoprolol is marketed in the United States under the trade names Toprol XL and Lopressor. It is classified as beta-blocker that works by controlling impulses in the heart. This lowers the pressure at which blood is pumped. The prescription medicine comes as a tablet or capsule. Metoprolol can have some serious side effects that should be reported immediately to a physician, the Mayo Clinic recommends. They include abnormal weakness, shortness of breath, mental confusion, blurry vision and chest pain.
Irbesartan
Irbesartan is a type of medication known as an angiotensin II inhibitor. It is marketed in the United States as Avapro. Irbesartan works to prevent the blood vessels from narrowing, which allows blood to flow more easily from the heart to every other part of the body. This medication is classified an anti-hypertensive. It comes in tablet form. Serious side effects occur rarely, but common nonserious side effects can include tiredness, dizziness and diarrhea, particularly at the start of treatment.
Lisinopril
Lisinopril is marketed as Prinivil and Zestril in the United States. This prescription medicine is administered as a pill and is used commonly to lower blood pressure by stopping blood-vessel constriction. It may be prescribed as a treatment in itself, or it may be administered alongside other drugs to help control hypertension when lisinopril alone is not effective. The most common drug prescribed with lisinopril is hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic. Serious side effects of this medication can include blurred vision, a decrease in urine, faintness, dizziness, lightheadedness and tiredness, the Mayo Clinic reports.
Hydrochlorothiazide
Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide decrease the levels of water and salt in a person's body, which helps lower blood pressure. Hydrochlorothiazide is sold as Microzide, Hydrocot, Aquazide H and Zide in the United States. Although no serious side effects have been reported, nonserious and temporary side effects can include diarrhea, constipation, appetite loss, lightheadedness, vision blurring and nausea, Drugs.com reports.
