High Blood Pressure Medications

Q - Are High blood pressure Medications always necessary?

A - If you have high blood pressure that can't be treated by changes to your diet and habits, then you will need drugs for treatment.

Q - What are the types of high blood pressure drugs available?

A - The drugs used to treat high blood pressure are grouped. The commonly used groups of medications include: Diuretics, ACE inhibitors, Beta- blockers, Calcium channel blockers and Centrally acting drugs. Others that are not frequently used are direct vasodilators, angiotensin receptor blockers, and Alpha - blockers.

Q - How do these drugs work?

A -

• Diuretics - This group of drugs work on the kidneys. They are called water pills because they make you pass a lot of urine. Passing a lot of urine reduces the volume of fluid in the body and the blood and so lowers the blood pressure. It's just like reducing the volume of air in a balloon to make the pressure in the balloon go down. It's been found to be more effective in blacks than whites.


• ACE Inhibitors - These drugs act by inhibiting the production of a certain substance that causes a narrowing of our blood vessels. The name of this substance is Angiotensin II and the enzyme inhibited is Angiotensin Converting Enzyme(ACE). Because angiotensin II production is inhibited, the blood vessels are not narrowed and blood pressure decreases. ACE inhibitors have the additional advantage of preventing salt and water retention which has been found to worsen hypertension. They are especially good for people who have both diabetes and high blood pressure because they protect the heart and the kidneys from developing certain complications.


• Beta-blockers - These drugs act on the heart. They reduce the volume and pressure of the blood the heart pumps out. They are very good in treating Caucasians, those with heart diseases like arrhythmias and previous myocardial infarction, and hypertensives with migraine. They can make the symptoms of asthma to get worse and so are not commonly used in asthmatics. Examples of beta blockers include propranolol, atenolol and metoprolol. Consult your physician for more information.


• Calcium channel Blockers - these drugs act directly on the muscles of the heart and the blood vessels. They stop calcium from moving into the cells where it is needed for contraction of these muscles. As a result of the lack of calcium, there is a decrease in the pressure at which the heart pumps blood out and there is also relaxation of the muscles of the blood vessels. Examples of calcium channel blockers include nifedipine, verapamil and Diltiazem.

Q - What are the side effects of these high blood pressure medications?

A - The side effects of high blood pressure medications are varied. They range from mild derangement in the blood electrolytes to severe problems like impotence. Some common side effects include: dizziness, headaches, fatigue, dry cough, rashes, impotence and decrease in sexual interest. It is important to note that these side effects don't happen in all patients, just in a few. But it's good to look out for them. Discuss with your doctor about the side effect profile of whatever drug you are on.

Q - Are there drugs that can prevent complications from arising?

A - Yes. In order to prevent complications from arising, doctors usually prescribe some other drugs for people with high blood pressure. A very common drug used is aspirin which is given in low doses to prevent a stroke from happening.

Q - For how long will I have to take my high blood pressure medications?

A - Treatment for high blood pressure is usually for life. You will always need to take your high blood pressure medications. It is difficult because high blood pressure usually has no (or few) symptoms and the medications may have some unbearable side effects, so there is a big temptation to stop taking the medication. This isn't a wise decision because failure to take your medications can result in complications. My advice is, talk with your doctor about the aspects of your treatment you are finding difficult and together you can come up with a reasonable solution.

Q - Why do I have to take more drugs than my friend?

A - Some people may need just one drug to bring their blood pressure back to normal while some people may need 2 or 3 different drugs. Our bodies are different and they respond differently to medications. Your therapy is specially designed for you to get the best result.

Q - Where Can I get High Blood pressure Medications from?

A - You need to see a doctor to get a prescription. If you already have a prescription, you can get your orders from your hospital or any reliable pharmacy.

Published - June, 2006