According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 74.5 million people in the U.S. have hypertension with a cost of $76.6 billion (in 2010). High blood pressure means a systolic pressure or top number over 140 mmHg and a diastolic pressure or lower number over 90 mmHg. Hypertension drugs lower the systolic and diastolic numbers to a normal level around 120/80 mmHg. Drug Information Online compiles information on medications using Micromedix, a large medicine database owned by Thomson Reuters and from Cerner Multum, a professionall consulting firm. Durg Information Online obtained a listing of the recent top 10 hypertension medications from these sources.
Amlodipine/Olmesartan
Azor is one of the new combination drugs with amlodipine and olmesartan. Amlodipine falls under the classification of a calcium channel blocker. According to "Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics," calcium channel blockers relax the arteries in the body. The arteries carry oxygen to the heart and other organs in the body. Olmesartan belongs to the class of angiotensin receptor blockers. The drug blocks the substance, angiotensin, in the kidneys to reduce blood pressure. The dosage ranges from 5 mg/20 mg to 10 mg/40 mg.
A second combination drug using a calcium channel blocker is Exforge. Exforge combines the two drugs of amlodipine, a calcium channel blocker, and valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. The valsartan lowers blood pressure by blocking angiotensin II, a strong vasocontractor in the body. The pill is supplied in ranges from 5 mg/160 mg to 10 mg/320 mg.
Olmesartan
"Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses" describes olmesartan as lowering blood pressure by its angiotensin II receptor antagonist. The olmesartan's brand name is Benicar. The drug comes as a white pill in 20 mg and 40 mg dosages. A second angiotensin II receptor antagonist is telmisartan. Telmisartan or Micardis also belongs to the class of anti-hypertensives called angiotensin II receptor inhibitors. The drug acts on the angiotensin II receptors in the kidney to lower blood pressure. MIcardis is supplied as a white pill in a range of 20 mg to 80 mg. Valsartan or Diovan produces the same action of an angiotensin II receptor as Benicar and Micardis previously discussed. Food markedly decreases valsartan, and it should be taken on an empty stomach. Diovan tablets range in dose from 40 to 320 mg.
Diltiazem
Diltiazem or Cardizem acts as a calcium channel blocking agent to lower blood pressure. The calcium channel blocking agents dilate the arteries and lower blood pressure. The dosages of Cardizem range from 120 to 420 mg in capsule form. Since the drug's action produces artery relaxation, headache may occur.
Hydrochlorothiazide/Losartan
Hyzaar combines the two drugs, hydrochlorothiazide and losartan. The hydrochlorothiazide produces a "water pill" or diuretic action to lower blood pressure. The losartan acts on the kidneys as an angiotensin receptor blocker to block angiotensin and lower blood pressure. Hyzaar pill is supplied in a 50mg/12.5mg size or a 100mg/25mg size pill.
Metoprolol
Metoprolol, as a beta blocker, lowers blood pressure via the action on the heart. The brand name is Toprol-XL. Beta-adrenergic blocking agents decrease heart rate and the heart-pumping mechanism. The dose range of the round tablet is 25 to 100 mg.
Aliskiren
Aliskiren or Tekturna acts a renin inhibitor to target the renin-angiotensin system to lower blood pressure. "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology" describes this newer class of drugs as eliminating the rise in renin when given with ACE inhibitors and diuretics. It produces an excellent synergistic approach with other classes of drugs. Tekturna dosage is in 150 or 300 mg tablets.
Nebivolol
Beta-blocking agents decrease heart rate and the heart pumping mechanism such as metopolol (listed previously). Nebivolol, as a beta-blocker, lowers blood pressure. "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology" indicate that nebivolol is unlike other beta-blockers as it relaxes the arteries in the body. The brand name of nebivolol is Bystolic. It is supplied in tablets ranging from 2.5 to 20 mg.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: May is High Blood Pressure Month
- Drug Information Online: High Blood Pressure Medications
- "Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacologic Basis of Therapeutics"; Laurence Brunton, Ph.D; 2006
- "Davis' Drug Guide for Nurses"; Judith Deglin, et al.; 2011
- "Basic and Clinical Pharmacology"; Renin Inhibitors; B. Katzung, M.D. et al; 2009
