Drug Treatments For High Blood Pressure
Most doctors would prefer that patients manage high blood pressure with lifestyle modifications and herbal supplements. This will stop the high blood pressure getting worse over time.
If treatment with drugs is needed then you will usually have to go through a trial and error process to find the best combination for you. You will usually end up on a combination of drugs with side effects to put up with.
Ace Inhibitors
These work to relax (or dilate) your blood vessels. They do this by stopping the formation of chemicals which narrows blood vessels. This allows the blood to flow more freely, so the heart has less work to do. They can also help to protect the kidneys from diabetes and hypertension.
There are some nasty side effects to watch out for – kidney failure and high potassium. So it is important to have regular blood tests when on ACE inhibitors to make sure that neither of these are happening.
Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:
* Severe vomiting or diarrhoea
* Swelling of neck face and tongue
* Numbness or tingling in lips, feet or hands
* Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
* Irregular heartbeat
These symptoms could indicate a serious complication – and an emergency.
Common side effects
* Cough
* Skin rash
* Salty taste
* Metallic taste
* Dizziness
If you get a cough then check with your doctor about which cough medicines you can take as some of them can raise blood pressure. If you get a rash then once again contact your doctor for appropriate medications.
Common drugs of this type:
Drug Name Brand Names
Catopril Capoten Zofenopril Enalapril Vasotec
Renitec Ramipril Altace
Tritace
Ramace
Ramiwin Quinapril Accupril Perindopril Coversyl
Aceon Lisinopril Lisodur
Lopril
Novatec
Prinivil
Zestril Benazepril Lotensin Fosinopril Monopril
Angiotensin II receptor Blockers
If you can’t take ACE inhibitors then you may be prescribed an Angiotensin II receptor blocker. They do the same thing as ACE inhibitors, relax the blood vessels. They do it in a different way.
You will need to have regular blood tests while on this medication to make sure that dangerous side effects are not occurring. You must also allow a few weeks for these drugs to take full effect.
Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:
* Confusion
Common side effects:
* Dizziness or lightheadedness – especially when rising
* Diarrhoea and/or vomiting
* Weakness or muscle cramps in the back or legs
* Insomnia
* Fast, slow or irregular heartbeat
* Upper respiratory infections
* Sinusitis
* Cough
Common drugs of this type:
Drug Name Brand Names
Candesartan Atacand Eprosartan Teveten Irbesartan Avapro Losartan Cozaar Olmesartan Benicar Telmisartan Micardis Valsartan Diovan
Diuretics
Diuretics are also commonly called water pills. They help to control high blood pressure by getting your body to put more salt in your urine. This in turn makes you pass water more. This all means that there is less water in your blood – and so less fluid flowing through your blood vessels. So your heart has less to pump and there is less pressure on your blood vessels.
There are a number of different types of diuretics, and some brands will have more then one type contained in the same pill.
You will need regular blood tests if you are taking these drugs as the drugs may mean your body is getting rid of things it needs as well as things it doesn’t.
Contact your doctor right away if you have any of these side effects:
* Fever
* Sore throat
* Cough
* Ringing in the ears
* Unusual bleeding or bruising
* Rapid and excessive weight loss
* Skin rash
Common side effects:
* Frequent urination
* Abnormal heart beat
* Tiredness
* Weakness
* Muscle cramps
* Dizziness and lightheadedness
* Dehydration
* Extreme thirst
* Dry mouth
* constipation
* Loss of appetite
* Nausea and vomiting
Common drugs of this type:
Drug Name Brand Names
Chlorothiazide Diuril Hydrochlorothiazide Metolazone Zaroxolyn Bumetandine BumexEthacrynic Acid Edecrin Furosemide Lasix Torsemide Demadex Amiloride Triamterene Dyrenium Eplerenone Inspra Sprinonolactone Aldactone
For high blood pressure you are most likely to be prescribed these:
Drug Name Brand Names
Chlorothiazide Diuril Hydrochlorothiazide Metolazone Zaroxolyn
Beta Blockers
These work by blocking some of the signals to the heart. This means that your heart will beat a little slower and with less force. Which means that your blood pressure will fall.
It can be very dangerous to stop taking these drugs. You must only stop or reduce the dosage of beta blockers under medical supervision.
Common side effects
* Depression
* Breathing difficulties (symptoms similar to asthma)
* Swelling for feet, ankles or legs
* Cold hands or feet
* Slow heartbeat
* Tiredness
* Sleeping difficulties and drowsiness
* Dizziness or lightheadedness
* Sexual dysfunction
Common drugs of this type:
Drug Name Brand names
Acebutol Spectral Atenolol Tenormin Bisoprolol Zebeta Carvedilol Coreg Metoprolol Lopressor
Toprol xl Nadol Cogard Nebivolol Bystolic Propranolol Inderal LA
Calcium channel blockers
These drugs work by making it easier for the heart to pump and widening blood vessels.
You must avoid alcohol when taking calcium channel blockers as it will increase the side effects. You might also need to avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice as this can affect the medication.
Common Side Effects:
* Headaches
* Nausea
* Tiredness
* Skin rash
* Diarrhea or constipation
* Heartburn and possible reflux disease
* Dizziness or lightheadedness
* Dry mouth
* Swelling in feet, legs and ankles
* Problems with heart rhythm.
Common drugs of this type:
Drug Name Brand Name
Amlodipine Norvasc
Azor Aranidipine Sapresta Azelnidipine Calblock Barnidipine HypoCaBenidipine Coniel Cilnidipine Atelec
Cinalong
Siscard Clevidipine Cleviprex Efonidipine Landel Felodipine Plendil Lacidipine Motens
Lacipil Lercanidipine Zanidip Manidipine Calslot
Madipine Nicardipine Cardene
Carden SR Nifedipine Procardia
Adalat Nilvadipine Nivadil Nimodipine (Nimotop)Nisoldipine Baymycard
Sular
Syscor Nitrendipine Cardif
Nitrepin
Baylotensin Pranidipine Acalas
Other Drugs
The drugs already covered are the usual drugs that doctors will try first. If you hypertension still does not respond then they may try more aggressive drugs. These will come with more side effects!
Stopping drugs
If you are already taking blood pressure drugs then you must not stop taking them or reduce the dosage without talking to your doctor first. This is because of a potentially deadly effect of “rebound hypertension”. This is where you blood pressure will suddenly shoot up to higher levels than when you first started taking the drugs. In addition there may be many more distressing side effects.
If you make lifestyle changes and start taking herbal supplements then your blood pressure may start to fall. Discuss this with your doctor and if your blood pressure drops to acceptable levels then you doctor will be able to help you make a supervised withdrawal from the drugs.