Blood pressure reducing drugs are commonly used when a program of diet and exercise has not lowered your blood pressure satisfactorily or to regulate your blood pressure while you are making the necessary changes to your lifestyle to produce the desired results.
The number of blood pressure reducing medications available is amazing and, because a lot of the presently available drugs are often used in combination for treatment, picking the correct medication or combination of drugs gives your doctor something of a headache. However, here is an overview of the different groups of blood pressure reducing drugs presently in everyday use.
Diuretics
The first line of attack are diuretics which are designed to remove excess fluid from the body and, more importantly as far as blood pressure is concerned, to reduce levels of sodium.
Commonly used diuretics include Midamor, Lasix, Hydrodiuril, Hygroton, Esidrix, Lozol, Diuril, Bumex and Aldactone.
Several diuretic reduce potassium levels in the body and might produce weakness, tiredness and leg cramps. This can usually be effectively countered by adding foods that contain potassium to your diet or by taking a potassium supplement in either tablet or liquid form. Diuretics may also result in increased blood sugar levels and a change of drug or changes to diet, oral diabetic medication or insulin may be necessary for diabetics.
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors act to expand the blood vessels and therefore reduce the resistance to blood flow and pressure within these vessels. Consequently the heart does not have to work as hard to pump blood around the body.
Commonly used ACE inhibitors include Lotensin, Mavik, Univasc, Accupril, Altace, Capoten, Monopril, Vasotec, Prinivil, Aceon and Zestril.
ACE inhibitors can cause a loss of taste, a skin rash and in 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 individuals of not resulting in the hacking cough frequently seen from taking ACE inhibitors.
Commonly used AT-2 receptor antagonists include Atacand, Micardis, Cozaar, Avapro and Teveten.
There are generally few side effects experienced with AT-2 receptor antagonists although in a few individuals they might produce occasional dizziness.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers act to reduce blood pressure by decreasing both the heart rate and output.
Commonly used beta blockers include Sectral, Kerlone, Tenormin, Lopressor, Toprol XL, Blocadren, Betapace, Inderal, Corgard, Zebeta, Cartrol and Ziac.
Several beta blockers might cause insomnia, depression, tiredness, cold hands and feet, the symptoms of asthma and in rare cases can result in impotence.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers lower blood pressure by interrupting the flow of calcium into both the heart and blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers include what is generally agreed to be the most popular blood pressure medication in the world - Norvasc.
Other common calcium blockers include Lotrel, Nimotop, Adalat, Plendil, Calan, Cardizem, Tiazac, Vascor, Sular, Procardia, Isoptin and Verelan.
Side effects differ widely across the range of calcium blockers but a few commonly seen side effects are headache, dizziness, constipation, palpitations and swollen ankles.
As you can see there is a very large number of drugs available to reduce blood pressure and when you consider that these are often used together by combining for instance ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics or AT-2 receptor antagonists and diuretics then the number of possible treatments is truly enormous.
On the one hand of course this is very good news because it means that physicians can tailor treatment to the precise needs of each individual. On the other hand however it also makes choosing the best treatment somewhat difficult.