What is the best drug to lower blood pressure?
If you're unable to reach your blood pressure goal with one or more of the above medications, other drugs that lower blood pressure include: Alpha blockers. Alpha-beta blockers. Central-acting agents. Vasodilators. Aldosterone antagonists.
What type of blood pressure medications do doctors prescribe?
The type of blood pressure medication your doctor prescribes may depend on what other health problems you have. For example, if you have coronary artery disease (CAD) and high blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe a beta-blocker.
What is the first line of treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure)?
For this reason, the Joint National Commission on Hypertension Detection Evaluation and Treatment (JNCVII) recommended thiazide diuretics as first line therapy for patients with hypertension, unless there were special reasons to select another type of drug.
What are the most commonly used antihypertensives?
The following are the most commonly used antihypertensives: ACE inhibitors Beta blockers Diuretics Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) Sartans (angiotensin receptor blockers, or ARBs) All of these medications can prevent long-term effects of high blood pressure.
What is the best medication for hypertension?
Diuretics. 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. Nevertheless, it is best to take them in ...
How do sympathetic agents work?
Sympatholytic agents act in the brain to decrease the drive to the sympathetic nerves. In this sense, the effects are somewhat similar to beta blockers, but because of their action in the brain, they have a different, and often rather worse, spectrum of adverse effects.
What are the different types of diuretics?
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 are allergic to diuretics. Loop diuretics are not as effective as thiazides in lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension. They are used especially to treat edema (swelling of the ankles) or heart failure. However, unlike thiazides, they effective in patients with poor kidney function in lowering blood pressure or treating edema.
Why are diuretics important?
Diuretics increase the effectiveness of all other categories of antihypertensives. That is why they are an essential part of almost any multidrug regimen for hypertension. Special Points: Diuretics are the original antihypertensives. Therefore, their efficacy and adverse effects are very well understood.
Why are ACEIs used for hypertension?
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 beneficial actions in slowing the loss of kidney function above that achieved by other agents.
How often do you give captopril?
There are some small differences in how long these drugs act in the circulation, they are relatively small and, with the exception of the very short acting captopril, any of these agents are usually affective when given once or sometimes twice daily as antihypertensive agents.
Does Tempol lower blood pressure?
In so doing, tempol lowers blood pressure in animals and protects the blood vessels, kidneys, heart, and brain from damage. It is being developed as a potential therapy by the Hypertension, Kidney, and Vascular Research Center in collaboration with the Georgetown Drug Development Program.
What is the best way to reduce blood pressure?
Diuretics . Diuretics , sometimes called water pills, help the kidneys get rid of excess water and salt (sodium). This reduces the volume of blood that needs to pass through the blood vessels. As a result, blood pressure goes down. There are three major types of diuretics defined by how they work.
What is the purpose of beta blockers?
Beta-blockers help the heart to beat with less speed and force. The heart pumps less blood through the blood vessels with each beat, so blood pressure decreases. There are many drugs within this classification, including:
How does catecholamine affect blood pressure?
The muscles around some blood vessels have what are known as alpha-1 or alpha adrenergic receptors. When a catecholamine binds to an alpha-1 receptor, the muscle contracts, the blood vessel narrows, and blood pressure rises.
How many types of diuretics are there?
There are three major types of diuretics defined by how they work. They include:
What is the systolic pressure of a person with hypertension?
Hypertension (or high blood pressure) is present once the systolic pressure is 130 or higher, or the diastolic pressure is 80 or higher.
What is considered high blood pressure?
The goal is to get your blood pressure below the high range. If normal is less than 120/80 mm Hg, what’s high? When the systolic blood pressure — the top number — is between 120 and 129, and the diastolic blood pressure — the bottom number — is less than 80, this is considered elevated blood pressure.
How does ACE inhibitor work?
ACE inhibitors help the body produce less of a hormone called angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to narrow. These medications decrease blood pressure by helping blood vessels expand and let more blood through.
What is angiotensin II blocker?
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) This class of drugs also protects the blood vessels from angiotensin II. In order to tighten blood vessels, angiotensin II must bind with a receptor site. ARBs prevent that from happening. As a result, blood pressure is lowered.
How does beta blocker work?
Beta-blockers work by blocking the actions of chemicals in your body that stimulate your heart. This allows your heart to beat with less speed and force. Your heart pumps less blood through the blood vessels with each beat, so blood pressure decreases.
Why do calcium channel blockers work?
Calcium channel blockers help block calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels. This makes the heart beat with less force and helps blood vessels relax. As a result, blood pressure decreases.
How does aldosterone work?
Aldosterone receptor antagonists. Aldosterone receptor antagonists work by blocking a chemical called aldosterone. This action reduces the amount of fluids your body retains, which helps lower your blood pressure.
What are the different types of diuretics?
There are three major types of diuretics: thiazide, potassium-sparing, and loop diuretics. Thiazide diuretics generally have fewer side effects than the others. This is especially true when they’re prescribed in the low doses that are generally used in treating early high blood pressure.
What is the purpose of ACE inhibitors?
ACE inhibitors keep the body from making a hormone called angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to narrow . These medications lower blood pressure by helping constricted blood vessels expand to let more blood through.
What is the function of a vasodilator?
Vasodilators. Vasodilators relax the muscles in the walls of blood vessels, especially in small arteries called arterioles. This widens the blood vessels and allows blood to flow through them more easily. As a result, blood pressure falls.
What is the role of central agonists in blood pressure?
Central agonists also help decrease the blood vessels' ability to tense up or contract. The central agonists follow a different nerve pathway than the alpha and beta-blockers, but accomplish the same goal of blood pressure reduction.
What is a combined alpha and beta blocker?
Combined alpha and beta-blockers are used as an IV drip for those patients experiencing a hypertensive crisis. They may be prescribed for outpatient high blood pressure use if the patient is at risk for heart failure.
What is the effect of angiotensin on the blood vessels?
ARBs block the receptors so the angiotensin fails to constrict the blood vessel. This means blood vessels stay open and blood pressure is reduced .
What is the chemical that causes the arteries to become narrow, especially in the kidneys but also throughout the body?
Angiotensin is a chemical that causes the arteries to become narrow, especially in the kidneys but also throughout the body. ACE stands for Angiotensin -converting enzyme. ACE inhibitors help the body produce less angiotensin, which helps the blood vessels relax and open up, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure.
Why does angiotensin need a receptor?
Angiotensin needs a receptor- like a chemical "slot" to fit into or bind with- in order to constrict the blood vessel. ARBs block the receptors so the angiotensin fails to constrict the blood vessel. This means blood vessels stay open and blood pressure is reduced. Generic name. Common brand names.
What is the drug that prevents calcium from entering the heart?
Calcium channel blockers. This drug prevents calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and arteries. When calcium enters these cells, it causes a stronger and harder contraction, so by decreasing the calcium, the hearts' contraction is not as forceful. Calcium channel blockers relax and open up narrowed blood vessels, ...
Why is it important to discuss all of the drugs you take with your doctor?
It's important to discuss all of the drugs you take with your doctor and understand their desired effects and possible side effects.
How to control high blood pressure?
Try these lifestyle changes to help lower and control your blood pressure. Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. ...
How to keep blood pressure under control?
But you might need medication too. Taking your medications as prescribed, monitoring your blood pressure and making lifestyle changes can help you reach and maintain a healthy blood pressure.
What are some examples of ACE inhibitors?
There are several ACE inhibitors available. Examples include enalapril (Vasotec, Epaned), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, Qbrelis) and ramipril (Altace). Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These drugs block the action of angiotensin, a chemical in your body that narrows your arteries and veins.
What are some examples of beta blockers?
Examples of beta blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol-XL), nadolol (Corgard) and atenolol (Tenormin). Renin inhibitors. Renin is a substance produced by your kidneys that triggers a series of steps that increases blood pressure.
What is the best medicine for a relaxed heart?
Alpha blockers. Alpha blockers prevent the hormone norepinephrine (noradrenaline) from tightening the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins, which causes the vessels to remain open and relaxed. Commonly prescribed alpha blockers include doxazosin (Cardura), prazosin (Minipress) and terazosin.
What are some examples of calcium channel blockers?
Examples of calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, others), nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia) and verapamil (Verelan, Calan). Beta blockers. These drugs work by blocking the effects of the hormone epinephrine, also known as adrenaline.
What is the best medication to relax the arteries?
Calcium channel blockers. These medications prevent calcium from entering the cells of your heart and arteries, allowing your arteries to relax and open.
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- 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, ...
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