The American Heart Association reports one in three adults develop high blood pressure or hypertension in their lifetime. Lifestyle changes and medication therapy form the basis for treatment of hypertension. "Current Diagnosis and Treatment Cardiology" describes seven classes of drugs for high blood pressure treatment.
Diuretics
Diuretics refer to "water pills" that remove fluid from the body to reduce blood pressure. Effective diuretics include the medications, hydrochlorothiazide, or Diuril and furosemide, or Lasix. Diuretics produce frequent urination and may interrupt sleep if taken late in the day. According to "Circulation," hydrochlorothiazide medications are highly effective in reducing blood pressure.
Beta-Blockers
By decreasing the heart rate and the heart pumping mechanism, the beta-blocker drugs such as metoprolol, or Lopressor, and atenolol, or Tenormin, lower the blood pressure. Since beta-blocker drugs also cause the breathing tubes to narrow, the doctor may prefer other classes of medications in individuals with asthma or respiratory diseases.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers produce relaxation of the arteries in the body. The arteries are the vessels that carry oxygen to the organs in the body. Calcium-channel blocker drugs include verapamil, or Calan; diltiazem, or Cardizem; and amlodipine, or Norvasc. Headache may occur in individuals using calcium channel blockers due to dilation of the blood vessels to the brain.
ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors refer to agents that block the compression of the arterial vessels and include the drugs, enalapril, or Vasotec; lisinopril, or Zestril; and captopril, or Capoten. These drugs produce a kidney protective effect in diabetic patients. "Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics" indicates cough occurs as a side effect of this category in five to 15 percent of patients.
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers
Agents in the angiotensin receptor blockers class block the substance, angiotensin, in the kidneys to reduce blood pressure and this class contains the drugs, candesartan, or Atacand, and losartan, or Cozaar. This category of drugs appears to have the same diabetic kidney protection as ACE inhibitors.
Centrally Acting Agents
Centrally acting anti-hypertensive agents produce an effect in the brain to reduce blood pressure. Clonidine, or Catapres, fits in this category of medications. Clonidine may produce drowsiness as a side effect. According to "Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses," if an individual taking clonidine stops the drug abruptly, blood pressure could rise to dangerous levels. When discontinuing use of clonidine, "Davis's Drug Guide for Nurses" recommends following the advice of a healthcare professional and slowly discontinuing the drug.
Peripheral Vasodilators
Hydralazine, or Apresoline, belongs to the peripheral vasodilator group of blood pressure lowering medications. These drugs work by relaxing the vascular smooth muscles in the body. Swelling in the extremities may occur as a side effect of hydralazine.
References
- American Heart Association: Hypertension
- "Circulation"; Treatment of Hypertension; Clive Rosendorff et al.; 2010
- "Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses"; Judith Deglin, et al.; 2010
- "Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton, Ph.D; 2006
