Does the Large Range Of Blood Pressure Lowering Medications Confuse You?

By: Donald Saunders

Blood pressure lowering medicines are commonly used when exercise and diet has not lowered your blood pressure to a satisfactory level or to control your blood pressure while you are making the necessary lifestyle changes to produce the desired results.

The number of blood pressure lowering drugs available today is astounding and, as a lot of the presently available medicines are frequently used in combination for treatment, picking the correct medication or combination of medicines gives your doctor something of a headache. However, here is a general overview of the various different groups of blood pressure lowering drugs presently in everyday use.

Diuretics

The first line of attack are diuretics which are designed to remove excess fluid from the body and, most importantly as far as blood pressure is concerned, to lower sodium levels.

Commonly used diuretics include Midamor, Lozol, Diuril, Hygroton, Bumex, Esidrix, Lasix, Hydrodiuril and Aldactone.

Several diuretic lower potassium levels in the body and may lead to tiredness, weakness and leg cramps. This can usually be countered effectively by adding foods that contain potassium to your meals or by taking a potassium supplement in either liquid or tablet form. Diuretics can also produce raised blood sugar levels and a change of diet or drug, oral diabetic medication or insulin might be necessary for diabetics.

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors enlarge the blood vessels and so reduce resistance and pressure within these vessels. As a result the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood around the body.

Commonly used ACE inhibitors include Lotensin, Capoten, Prinivil, Monopril, Mavik, Altace, Vasotec, Accupril, Univasc, Aceon and Zestril.

ACE inhibitors can cause a loss of taste, a chronic hacking cough and in very rare cases kidney damage.

AT-2 Receptor Antagonists

Angiotensin-2 (AT-2) receptor antagonists work in a similar manner to ACE inhibitors but they have the benefit for many patients of not leading to the hacking cough frequently experienced from taking ACE inhibitors.

Commonly used AT-2 receptor antagonists include Atacand, Avapro, Micardis, Cozaar and Teveten.

There are usually very few side effects experienced with AT-2 receptor antagonists although in a few patients they may produce occasional dizziness.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers lower blood pressure by decreasing both the heart rate and output.

Commonly used beta blockers include Sectral, Corgard, Betapace, Toprol XL, Inderal, Blocadren, Cartrol, Tenormin, Zebeta, Lopressor, Kerlone and Ziac.

Several beta blockers may cause insomnia, cold hands and feet, depression, the symptoms of asthma, tiredness and in very rare cases can produce impotence.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers help to lower blood pressure by interrupting the flow of calcium into the heart and blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers include what is generally agreed to be the world's most prescribed blood pressure medication - Norvasc.

Other common calcium blockers include Lotrel, Sular, Tiazac, Isoptin, Adalat, Vascor, Nimotop, Plendil, Cardizem, Procardia, Calan and Verelan.

The side effects differ considerably from one calcium blocker to the next but a few commonly experienced side effects are headache, constipation, palpitations, dizziness and swollen ankles.

As can be seen there is a huge number of medicines available to lower blood pressure and when you remember that these are frequently used together by combining for example ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics or AT-2 receptor antagonists and diuretics then the number of possible treatments is almost too high to count.

On the one hand of course this is good news as it means that physicians are able to tailor treatment to the exact needs of each individual. On the other hand however it also makes selecting the correct treatment somewhat difficult.