In hypertension all the five major drug classes (low-dose thiazides, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists) are efficacious in reducing blood pressure and cardiovascular events.
- Diuretics.
- Beta-blockers.
- ACE inhibitors.
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers.
- Calcium channel blockers.
- Alpha blockers.
- Alpha-2 Receptor Agonists.
- Combined alpha and beta-blockers.
What are the first line medications used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure)?
First-line medications used in the treatment of hypertension include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Some patients will require 2 or more antihypertensive medications to achieve their BP target.
What types of interventions are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure)?
Types of interventions Treatment was to be clearly defined as a specific class of first‐line antihypertensive therapy in one of the following classes: thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, or alpha adrenergic blockers.
When are different antihypertensive drug classes used as the first‐line drug?
Secondary objectives: when different antihypertensive drug classes are used as the first‐line drug, to quantify the blood pressure lowering effect and the rate of withdrawal due to adverse drug effects, compared to placebo or no treatment. Search methods
What are the different types of antihypertensive therapy?
Treatment was to be clearly defined as a specific class of first‐line antihypertensive therapy in one of the following classes: thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, or alpha adrenergic blockers.
What is the drug class for the medication indicated for hypertension?
There are three classes of diuretic drugs that are used to treat hypertension. Most commonly used are thiazide diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide or chlorthalidone. There is not usually an increased urine flow after the first one or two days of taking these medications.
What are the five categories of medications used to treat hypertension?
There are five major categories of medications that have been proven effective in treating hypertension:Thiazide diuretics.Calcium channel blockers.Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors.Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)Beta blockers.
What is the first drug of choice for hypertension treatment?
Generally, ACE inhibitors should remain the initial treatment of choice for hypertension. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are used for patients who are unable to tolerate ACE inhibitors.
What is the best treatment for hypertension?
The two classes of medication are both recommended as "first-line" treatments for high blood pressure: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). ACE inhibitors have been around longer and studied more extensively, so doctors prescribe them more often.
What is the most common drug for hypertension?
the ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) tops the list, followed by amlodipine besylate (Norvasc), a calcium channel blocker, and. generic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ).
When is medication used to treat hypertension?
Patients should be considered to be in hypertensive crisis if their systolic exceeds 180 or their diastolic is over 120 mm Hg. Crisis indicates an immediate need for a change in medication, if asymptomatic, and hospitalization if accompanied by signs of organ damage.
What is the HTN stage?
The 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC) and American Heart Association (AHA) definition of HTN stages is: Normal blood pressure (BP): systolic BP is less than 120, and diastolic BP is less than 80. Elevated BP: systolic BP 120 to 130 ...
What is the target BP for kidney disease?
In patients with chronic kidney disease, the target BP is 130/80. For patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), it is recommended to start on antihypertensive medications if BP is more than 130/80 with a goal of BP lower than 130/80.
Which is better, chlorthalidone or doxazosin mesylate?
Chlorthalidone, when compared with doxazosin mesylate, was better in preventing cardiovascular disease, when compared with lisinopril was found to be better in preventing cardiovascular disease, including strokes and heart failure incidence, and when compared with amlodipine was better in preventing heart failure.
How do beta blockers work?
Beta-blockers work by inhibiting the catecholamines from binding to the Beta 1,2, and 3 receptors. Beta-1 receptors are found primarily in the heart muscle, beta-2 receptors are located in the bronchial and peripheral vascular smooth muscles, and beta-3 receptors appear in adipose tissue of the heart.
Does hydrochlorothiazide lower blood pressure?
Switching to chlorthalidone from hydrochlorothiazide decreases systolic blood pressure by 7 to 8 mm Hg.
Is chlorthalidone better than hydrochlorothiazide?
They are better at decreasing the risk of cardiovascular disease comparing to hydrochlorothiazide. [4][5] Chlorthalidone is the drug of choice to start as monotherapy for hypertension. Studies show it to be the best diuretic to control blood pressure and to prevent mortality and morbidity.
Is spironolactone a good antihypertensive?
Spironolactone is superior to doxazosin and bisoprolol in lowering blood pressure when added to first-line antihypertensive agents in treating resistant hypertension. [28] Hydralazine can be added for the treatment of resistant hypertension, either alone or in combination with nitrates, in case of heart failure.
What is the first line of medication for hypertension?
First-line medications used in the treatment of hypertension include diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs). Some patients will require 2 or more antihypertensive medications to achieve their BP target.
What are the main goals of a medical history and physical examination for hypertension?
The main goals are to look for reversible precipitating factors, the presence and/or extent of end-organ damage, and the presence of additional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, such as diabetes or smoking.
How do CCBs affect BP?
CCBs lower BP by preventing the entry of calcium into vascular smooth muscles, resulting in vasodilation and reduced vascular contract ility. The 2 types of CCBs are (1) dihydropyridines, which act on peripheral blood vessels, and (2) nondihydropyridines, which act on cardiac muscles and peripheral blood vessels.
How much did hypertension cost in 2009?
The total direct and indirect costs of hypertension in 2009 are estimated at $73.4 billion. ▸ Despite the many therapeutic options, most patients are still not at blood pressure goals. Instituting early preventive measures is essential to minimize complications associated with this costly condition.
What causes elevated BP?
Despite the prevalence of hypertension, approximately 90% to 95% of American adults with elevated BP are found to have no identifiable cause for their condition. Of the 5% with known causes, renal parenchymal and renovascular diseases are the most common culprits.1Other notable etiologies for hypertension include1: 1 Chronic kidney disease 2 Coarctation of the aorta 3 Cushing syndrome 4 Obstructive sleep apnea 5 Medications 6 Pheochromocytoma 7 Primary hyperaldosteronism 8 Renovascular disease 9 Thyroid/parathyroid disease.
Is hypertension a public health problem?
Hypertension is a significant and costly public health problem. It is a major, but modifiable contributor for the development of cardiovascular disease.
Interactions
- Diuretics increase the effectiveness or all other classes of antihypertensive agents. Therefore, almost any subject, except those with a contraindication, should receive a diuretic if their blood pressure requires more than one drug for its management.
Adverse effects
- Adverse Effects: Diuretics increase the excretion of potassium and can lead to hypokalemia (low blood potassium concentration) which predisposes to irregular heart beats, and muscular weakness. However, a combination of a thiazide or loop diuretic with a distal, potassium sparing agent (such as in the combined medications, Maxzide or Moduretic), prevents potassium loss a…
Types
- Different Drugs: Thiazide diuretics include: hydrochlorothiazide (usual starting dose 12.5 to 25 mg daily) or chlorthalidone (similar dose range). Loop diuretics include: furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), and torsemide (Demadex), torsemide has a rather longer duration and is preferred in patients with heart failure. Ethacrinic acid (Edecrin) is used in the rare patients who …
Medical uses
- ACEIs are widely used to treat hypertension because they are effective, have relatively few side effects and in reduce the complications of hypertension such as heart attacks and strokes. They have a special use in patients with diabetes mellitus who have protein the urine (diabetic nephropathy) and in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in whom they appeared to have …
Examples
- Individual Drugs: The following are examples of ACEIs in clinical practice: benazepril (Mylan), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), Lisinopril (Prinivil), moexipril (Univasc), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace) and trandolapril (Mavik). There are some small differences in how long these drugs act in the circulation, they are relatively small and, with the e…
Side effects
- Biochemical changes with ACEIs are usually insignificant in patients with normal kidney function. However, in those with impaired kidneys, they can raise the serum potassium concentration to levels that are dangerous and require either a change in therapy, or increasing thiazide or loop diuretic dosage to promote potassium loss. Such patients should discuss with their physician o…
Contraindications
- Special Indications: As these include patients with chronic kidney disease (but see the adverse effects above), early diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, or left ventricular hypertrophy. These drugs will not be discussed in detail since they are used infrequently.
Mechanism of action
- This group of drugs was introduced next after diuretics, to be used for hypertension. They act on a part of the nervous system that controls blood pressure, known as the sympathetic nervous system. Blockade of the sympathetic nervous system reduces blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, and decreasing the rate and force of contraction of the heart. Therefore, beta blockers a…
Pharmacology
- The actions of these agents are enhanced in patients taking diuretic drugs and therefore are a good second or third line selection in those patients who are not controlled with a diuretic and an ACEI or ARB. Unfortunately, alpha blockers have been shown to be less affective than other groups of blood pressure lowering agents in preventing the complications of heart failure and he…
Categories
- Individual drugs: They fall into two categories. The first are called dihydropyridine CCBs and include amlodipine (Norvasc), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia), and nicardipine (Cardene). The second, termed nondihydropyridine CCBs include two drugs, diltiazem (Dilacor, Cardizem, Cartia, and Tiazac), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan). Both groups are e…
Effects
- Non-dihydropyridine CCBs cause cardiac slowing. This typically reduces the heart rate by about 10%. It can be beneficial in some patients with a fast heart rate or who have irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation), but in those with a slow initial heart rate, it can cause symptoms of decreased cardiac output (tiredness, lethargy, and dizziness on exertion). This group of drugs also can cau…
Research
- This is a rapidly developing field with extensive research, both by Centre scientists in the laboratory and clinical investigators in patients with hypertension. The following outlines some of the areas of research conducted at the Centre at Georgetown. Research at the Hypertension, Kidney and Vascular Research Centre at Georgetown has focused on a different path, namely dr…
Pathophysiology
- Oxidative stress occurs in cells and tissues of the body when oxygen reacts to form toxic molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These can inactivate the normal signaling pathways between cells, damage cell membranes and proteins, and alter the DNA that forms the basis of our genes. Therefore, oxidative stress has widespread effects in the body. Increasing ev…
Cause
- Amongst those factors that are under our control which influence the probability of developing hypertension, an excessive dietary salt intake is probably the most important. Research in animal models at Georgetown at the Center for Hypertension, Kidney, and Vascular Research has linked dietary salt intake with oxidative stress that may underlie the hypertension and adverse consequ…
Resources
- For further information about how to support the research in Georgetown Universitys Center for Hypertension, Kidney, and Vascular Research, please see Georgetown Universitys Office of Advancement.