Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure. Hypertension frequently has no symptoms, but if it is left untreated it can lead to complications such as kidney failure, stroke or vision loss. According to Medline Plus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, the objective of any treatment plan is to lower blood pressure in order to keep the patient from suffering complications. There are many types of hypertension drugs, each formulated to control high blood pressure via a unique mechanism of action.
Calcium Channel Blockers
According to Healthscout.com, calcium channel blockers are a class of drugs that have the ability to reduce the heart rate and relax blood vessels. These actions result in a lowering of blood pressure, and therefore calcium channel blockers represent one type of treatment for hypertension. These drugs work by restricting the flow of calcium ions into the cells of the heart muscle and the muscles of the walls of the arteries. The concentration of calcium ions in the cells of the heart muscle determines how strongly the heart responds to the electrical impulses that control the heartbeat, says Healthscout.com. Lower calcium concentration means a slower heart rate and less forceful response to the impulses, and these effects lead to lower blood pressure. Examples of calcium channel blockers are amlodipine and diltiazem.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers are a class of prescription medications that can treat high blood pressure, says MayoClinic.com. These drugs work by blocking the action of a hormone called adrenaline which is produced by the adrenal glands. Blocking the action of adrenaline lowers blood pressure by decreasing both the heart rate and the force of the blood flow out of the heart. Some examples of beta blockers are acebutolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol and propranolol. Common side effects of beta blockers may include fatigue, cold hands, dizziness and weakness.
Diuretics
According to the Texas Heart Institute, diuretics are a type of hypertension medication that can lower a patient's blood pressure by decreasing the amount of sodium and water retained by the body. Thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide and trichlormethiazide stimulate the elimination of sodium and water and act to dilate blood vessels. Potassium-sparing diuretics are the only diuretic drugs that lower blood pressure by lessening the amount of retained water without lowering blood levels of potassium. Examples include amiloride and spironolactone, says the Texas Heart Institute. The loop-acting diuretics represented by furosemide and bumetanide stimulate the kidneys to produce an increased volume of urine thereby helping to lower blood pressure. Common side effects of diuretic medications include weakness, muscle cramps, skin rash, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and joint pain.
