Are You Confused By The Large Range Of Blood Pressure Reducing Medicines?

By Author: Donald Saunders
Total Articles: 84
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Blood pressure reducing medicines are usually used when diet and exercise has failed to lower your blood pressure to a satisfactory level or to regulate your pressure while you are making the required changes to your lifestyle to get the desired results.

The number of blood pressure lowering medicines available is incredible and, because many of the presently available medicines are often used in combination for treatment, choosing the right medication or combination of drugs gives your physician something of a headache. However, here is a general overview of the different groups of blood pressure lowering medicines presently in everyday use.

Diuretics

The first line of attack for mild cases of high blood pressure are diuretics which are designed to rid the body of excess fluid and, most importantly in terms of high blood pressure, to lower sodium levels.

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

Several diuretic lower potassium levels in the body and might result in weakness, tiredness and leg cramps. This can normally ...
... be effectively countered by eating foods which contain potassium or by taking a potassium supplement in either liquid or tablet form. Diuretics may also produce an increase in blood sugar levels and a change of diet or drug, insulin or oral anti-diabetic medication might be necessary for diabetics.

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors act to enlarge the blood vessels and therefore reduce resistance and pressure in these vessels. As a consequence the heart does not have to work as hard to push blood throughout the body.

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

ACE inhibitors can cause a skin rash, a loss of taste 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 although they have the benefit for many people of not leading to the hacking cough often seen with taking ACE inhibitors.

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

There are normally very few side effects with AT-2 receptor antagonists although in some people they might produce sporadic dizziness.

Beta Blockers

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

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

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

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers assist in lowering blood pressure by impeding the flow of calcium into both the heart and blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers include what is commonly agreed to be the most prescribed blood pressure medication in the world - Norvasc.

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

The side effects differ widely from one calcium blocker to the next but some frequently seen side effects are headache, constipation, palpitations, dizziness and swollen ankles.

As you can see there is a very large number of medicines available to reduce blood pressure and when you remember that these are often used together by combining say ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics or AT-2 receptor antagonists and diuretics then the number of treatments available is almost too high to count.

On the one hand of course this is excellent news as it means that it is possible to tailor treatment to the exact needs of each individual. However, on the other hand it also makes selecting the right treatment somewhat difficult.