The large number of drugs available to lower high blood pressure are grouped into several classes depending on their mechanism of action in the body. The classes of blood pressure lowering drugs include diuretics, beta blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or ACEs, angiotensin receptor blockers or ARBs, calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers, nervous system inhibitors and vasodilators, reports the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.
Diuretics
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, diuretics, or water pills, act to lower blood pressure by eliminating extra water and sodium through the kidneys. The different types of diuretics available include thiazide, potassium-sparing, and loop diuretics, says the American Heart Association.
Commonly available thiazide diuretics include chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide, and metolazone. Available potassium-sparing diuretics include amiloride, spironolactone and triamterene. Loop diuretics consist of bumetanide, furosemide and torsemide. Combination diuretics include amiloride and hydrochlorothiazide; spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide; and triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers help to lower blood pressure by decreasing heart rate, the amount of work done by the heart and the amount of blood pumped by the heart, reports the American Heart Association. Available beta blockers include acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, nadolol, penbutolol, pindolol, propranolol and timolol. Beta blockers that have an additional alpha blocking action are carvedilol and labetalol. A combination product of the beta blocker, bisoprolol, with the diuretic, hydrochlorothiazide, is also available.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or ACEIs
The American Heart Association reports that ACEIs lower blood pressure by helping the body to make less angiotensin II, which is a substance responsible for causing blood vessels to contract. The blood vessels can then open more and blood pressure is lowered. ACEIs drugs include benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril, and trandolapril.
Angiotensin II Antagonists or ARBs
Angiotensin II antagonists work by inhibiting the natural substance, angiotensin II, from acting which results in opening of blood vessels and blood pressure lowering, states the American Heart Association. Angiotensin II antagonist drugs include candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, and valsartan.
Calcium Channel Blockers or CCBs
According to the American Heart Association, the CCBs work to lower blood pressure by blocking calcium from entering the muscle of blood vessels and the heart which opens the blood vessels and lowers heart rate. Drugs in the CCB class consist of amlodipine, bepridil, diltiazem, felodipine, isradipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, nisoldipine, and verapamil.
Other Antihypertensive Drugs
Other drugs used to treat hypertension include alpha blockers, medications acting on the nervous system, and vasodilators, says the American Heart Association.
Alpha blockers help to relax the muscle of blood vessels thereby allowing blood vessels to open more and lowering blood pressure, says the American Heart Association. The alpha blocker drugs include doxazosin, prazosin, and terazosin.
The NHLBI sates that antihypertensive medications acting on the nervous system lower blood pressure by blocking signals from the brain which allows blood vessels to open more. Drugs in this class include alpha methyldopa, clonidine, reserpine , and guanfacine.
According to the NHLB, direct vasodilators act to lower blood pressure by relaxing the muscle of blood vessels and allowing them to open. These drugs consist of hydralazine and minoxidil.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Types of Blood Pressure Medications
- American Heart Association: Types of Blood Pressure Medications
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure
