Hypertension can lead to severe diseases such as heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney problems. Therefore, early treatment with proper medicines for hypertension is important in preventing these and other issues.
Because dozens of different drugs can help in the treatment of hypertension. So, these medicines for hypertension are therefore called antihypertensive drugs. Hence, they are classified into several different categories, each working differently and with different side effects.
With so many choices available, choosing the right medicines for hypertension will take time and patience. Firstly, your doctor will consult with you to find the best recovery option for you, which could include one or more medicine for hypertension. Secondly, he will check how the medicine is working.
Here are the five medicines for hypertension, and how do they work?
1. Diuretics
These are also known as water pills. So, they are the first form of high blood pressure medication the doctor will try.
Because these medicines for hypertension help your kidneys to get salt and water out of your body. Hence, you have less overall fluid in the blood vessels, decreasing the overall pressure.
Examples of thiazide diuretics:
- Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
- Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
- Hydrochlorothiazide (Hydrodiuril, Microzide)
- Indapamide (Lozol)
- Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
Examples of potassium-sparing diuretics include:
- Amiloride (Midamor)
- Spironolactone (Aldactone)
- Triamterene (Dyrenium)
Examples of loop diuretics include:
- Bumetanide (Bumex)
- Dehydration
- Furosemide (Lasix)
- Torsemide (Demadex)
So Some of The Common side effects of diuretics
- Low blood potassium
- Low blood pressure
- Fatigue
- Increased blood glucose
- Increased level of uric acid
2. Beta-blocker
Beta-blockers are medicines that block the binding of norepinephrine and adrenaline to beta 1 and beta 2 receptors on the organs and muscles. Because this includes the muscles around the blood vessels that allow the blood vessels to narrow and the heart to beat. So by blocking the effects of norepinephrine and adrenaline, beta-blockers reduce blood pressure by dilating blood flow and decreasing heart rate. They can also constrict air passages because activation of beta receptors in the lung allows the air passages’ muscles to contract.
Examples of these medicines include:
- Acebutolol (Sectral)
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Betaxolol (Kerlone)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
- Bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac)
- Metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor)
- Metoprolol succinate (Toprol-XL)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Pindolol (Visken)
- propranolol (Inderal)
- Sotol (Betapace)
- Timolol (Blocadren)
So Some of The Common side effects of beta-blockers
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Impotence
- Low blood pressure
3. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) are medicines used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension. So basically these medicines for hypertension block the action of angiotensin II. As a result, blood vessels increase (dilate), and blood pressure reduces. As a result, reduced blood pressure makes pumping blood easier for the heart and can improve heart disease. Also, the development of kidney failure due to elevated blood pressure or diabetes slows. Similarly, ARBs have the same effects on ACE inhibitors. But ACE inhibitors work by stopping angiotensin II production rather than suppressing the binding of angiotensin II to muscles throughout the blood vessels.
Examples of ARBs may include:
- Candesartan (Atacand)
- Eprosartan (Teveten)
- Irbesartan (Avapro)
- Losartan (Cozaar)
- Telmisartan (Micardis)
- Valsartan (Diovan)
So Some of The Common side effects of ARBs
- Cough
- Low blood pressure (Hypotension)
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Increased blood potassium levels
- Indigestion
- Diarrhea
4. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are blood pressure medicines for hypertension that inhibit the ACE enzyme. As a result, this may prove to be essential for controlling blood pressure.
Whereas, Angiotensin II is a very powerful chemical formed in the blood with angiotensin I ACE. Initially, angiotensin II is produced, it causes the blood vessels’ muscles to contract, narrowing the vessels, and increasing blood pressure. Therefore, ACE inhibitors are medicines for hypertension that inhibit ACE activity. As a result, this reduces the production of angiotensin II causing the blood vessels to enlarge or dilate, which reduces blood pressure. So, this lower blood pressure makes it easier for the heart to pump blood and increases the heart’s function. Also, the development of kidney failure due to hypertension or diabetes is slowing.
Examples of inhibitors of ACE include:
- Benazepril (Lotensin)
- Captopril (Capoten)
- Enalapril (Vasotec)
- Fosinopril (Monopril)
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Moexipril (Univasc)
- Perindopril (Aceon)
- Quinapril (Accupril)
- Ramipril (Altace)
- Trandolapril (Mavik)
So Some of The Common side effects of these ACE inhibitors
- Cough
- Low blood pressure (hypotension)
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Increased blood potassium levels
5. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
All muscle cells, including the heart muscles, and the surrounding arteries, require calcium for the cells to contract. Hence, CCBs prevent the movement of calcium to muscle cells. So, calcium reduction reduces the strength of the heart muscle pumping action and reduces blood pressure. These medicines for hypertension also relax muscle cells across the arteries and further reduce blood pressure. Nevertheless, there are three main forms of calcium channel blockers available. So one type is dihydropyridines, which do not slow down the heart rate or induce other irregular heart rates or rhythms. Because they are widely used to treat hypertension and are very effective in lowering blood pressure in African Americans.
Examples of these medicines include:
- Nisoldipine (Solar)
- Isradipine (DynaCirc, DynaCirc CR)
- Verapamil (Calan SR, Covera HS, Isoptin SR, Verelan)
- Amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel)
- Felodipine (Plendil)
- Nicardipine (Cardene SR)
- Nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL)
- Diltiazem (Cardizem CD, Cardizem SR, Dilacor XR, Tiazac)
So Some of The Common side effects of CCBs:
- Water retention in the arm and legs (peripheral edema)
- Constipation
- Shortness of breath
- Rash
- Headache
Which medication is most suitable?
Different medicines would be more suitable for different patients, depending on different factors. This includes how old you are and if you have any other medical problems, such as coronary artery disease, heart attack, or atrial fibrillation. Your sex and skin tone may also have a role to play.
Nevertheless, patients should take only one type of medicine to decrease their blood pressure successfully. While others may also require a second or third medicinal product. If you take a few antihypertensive drugs, it might be a good idea to take one of them at night, especially if your blood pressure doesn’t dip at night.
Also, keep in mind that the effect of the medicine for hypertension can only be reliable if you take it as prescribed by your doctor. Additionally, a little patience is needed: it might often feel like medicine doesn’t work if the dosage is too low or you didn’t use long enough.
The Bottom Line
If you wanted to stop taking medication for hypertension, for example, because of troubling side effects, even if you often forget to take it, you should be honest with the doctor about it. He or she will then be more able to assess how effective the treatment is and its side effects. So, it is important to make sure that you are taking the right dosage and that you are taking as much medicine as you need.
