List High Blood Pressure Medications
Below is list high blood pressure medications from the Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide.
The key in having patient stay on their medications is the cost of drugs. Since drugs for high blood pressure are usually taken indefinitely, cost, convenience and tolerance are extremely important in deciding on the best regimen.Review the list high blood pressure medications below. Discuss with your doctor in deciding on which drug is best for you along with lifestyle changes, such as including in your diet fruits and vegetables, eating potassium-rich foods, exercise, reduction of excessive alcohol consumption, practice relaxation techniques, stop smoking and lower salt intake. Being familiar with the most commonly used drugs prescribed for high blood pressure, their benefits, and side effects, is a great conversation to have with your doctor.
Choosing From The List High Blood Pressure Medications | Category | Most Commonly Used Drugs | Demonstrated Benefits | Precautions/Side Effects |
|---|
| Thiazide diuretics | Hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone | Can reduce risk of strokes and heart attacks; relatively inexpensive and convenient | Causes increased urination, can deplete potassium in the body, occasionally causes sexual dysfunction in men | | Beta blockers | Atenolol, propranolol, nadolol, metoprolol, labetalol, acebutolol | Can reduce risk of strokes and heart attacks, protects the heart in people who have coronary artery disease, inexpensive and convenient | Can cause sleep disturbances, fatigue, and/or depression; may cause problems in people with heart block, heart failure or asthma; may cause sexual dysfunction in men | | Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors | Captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril | Protects the kidneys in people who also have diabetes and kidney insufficiency; protects the heart in people after a major heart attack or congestive heart failure | Can sometimes cause deterioration in kidney function, dizziness, or a dry tickling cough, should not be taken by pregnant women, may cause sexual dysfunction in men | | Calcium channel blokers | Verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, felodipine, amlodipine | Useful for people with deteriorating kidney function; useful for people with angina | May cause headache, dizziness, weakness, constipation, edema, or rapid or slow heartbeat; generally not recommended for people with congestive heart failure; may cause sexual dysfunction in men. | | Angiotensin-receptor antagonists | Losartan, irbesartan | Protects the kidneys in people who also have diabetes and kidney insufficiency; protects the heart in people after a major heart attack or congestive heart failure | May cause sexual dysfunction in men; works like ACE inhibitors, but less likely to cause cough | | Methyldopa | Methyldopa | Useful during pregnancy | May cause difficulty thinking in older people; can cause illnesses such as lupus; may cause sexual dysfunction in men | | Hydralazine | Hydralazine | Relative inexpensive | Can cause high fevers; may cause sexual dysfunction in men | | Alpha blockers | Prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin | May improve blood levels of fats | Can cause light headedness, dizziness, headache, or drowsiness | | Reserpine | Reserpine | Convenient an can take just once a day and least expensive | Can cause nasal stuffiness and depression; may cause sexual dysfunction in men |
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