Help
Your Medications Work
For some,
lifestyle changes lower high blood pressure enough. For
others--and especially those with heart disease--medication
may also be needed.
Even if you
need medication, be sure to continue your lifestyle changes.
The changes help the drug work better. Over time, you
may be able to reduce the medication.
Fortunately,
there are many blood pressure drugs today. Although you
may have to take the drug for a long time, you will get
big health benefits from controlling your high blood pressure.
When the doctor
prescribes a high blood pressure drug, be sure you understand
the instructions. Know the amount you should take, if
you should take it each day, and what times you should
take it during the day.
If you are
not sure about the instructions, ask while you are at
the doctor's office or clinic. Write down the instructions.
Later, if you do not remember something or are confused,
call back and ask. Even if you are having the prescription
filled and are unsure about the instructions, call. Do
not be embarrassed. You cannot take the drug properly
if you don't understand the instructions.
As with all
drugs, those for high blood pressure can cause side effects.
For example, some can make you sleepy or tired; others
can cause a rash or cough.
Pay attention
to how you feel. If you think you have a side effect,
do not stop taking the drug. That can cause trouble.
Instead, tell your doctor as soon as possible about what
you feel. The doctor will see if the drug is the cause.
If the drug
is causing a side effect, your doctor will probably change
its dose or give you a different drug. It may take some
adjustments to find the best amount or drug for you.
High Blood Pressure Drugs
High blood
pressure drugs work in various ways. They can affect:
- How hard
the heart pumps
- How much
the blood vessels widen and narrow
- How much
fluid is in the body
Your doctor
will choose the drug that best suits you. Often, two or
more drugs work better than one drug.
The main types
of high blood pressure drugs are:
Diuretics--These
are sometimes called "water pills" because they work in
the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from the
body through urine. This reduces the amount of fluid in
the blood. And, since sodium is flushed out of blood vessel
walls, the vessels open wider. Pressure goes down. There
are different types of diuretics. They are often used
with other high blood pressure drugs.
Beta
blockers--These
reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels.
This makes the heart beat less often and with less force.
Blood pressure drops and the heart works less hard.
Angiotensin
antagonists--These
are a new type of high blood pressure drug. They shield
blood vessels from a hormone called angiotensin II, which
normally causes vessels to narrow. As a result, the vessels
are wider and pressure lowers.
Angiotensin
converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors--These
prevent angiotensin II from being formed. They relax blood
vessels and pressure goes down.
Calcium
channel blockers (CCBs)--These
keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart
and blood vessels. Blood vessels relax and pressure goes
down.
One short-acting
type of CCB has been found to increase the chance of a
repeat heart attack. Short-acting CCBs are taken several
times a day. If you are on such a drug, you should talk
with your doctor about other medication choices. The finding
does not apply to the longer-acting types of CCB, which
are taken once a day.
Alpha
blockers--These
work on the nervous system to relax blood vessels, which
allows blood to pass more easily.
Alpha-beta
blockers--These
work the same way as alpha blockers but also slow the
heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. As a result, less blood
is pumped through the vessels.
Nervous
system inhibitors--These
relax blood vessels by controlling nerve impulses.
Vasodilators--These
open blood vessels by relaxing the muscle in the vessel
walls.
|
If You Need A High Blood
Pressure Drug, Speak Up and Ask:
|
When
it should be taken
-
What you can eat or drink with the drug, or
how long you must wait before and after a meal
to take it
-
What other drugs can or cannot be used at the
same time--this includes both prescription drugs
and over-the-counter items, such as pain relievers,
vitamins, and skin-protection products
-
What to do if you run out of your drug
-
What to do if you forget to take a dose
-
If there are any special instructions
|
|
Generic Names of High Blood
Pressure Drugs
|
| Type
of Medicine |
Generic
Name |
| Diuretics |
amiloride
bendroflumethiazide
benzthiazide
bumetanide
chlorothiazide
chlorthalidone
furosemide
hydrochlorothiazide
hydroflumethiazide
indapamide
methyclothiazide
metolazone
polythiazide
spironolactone
torsemide
triamterene
trichlormethiazide
|
| Beta
Blockers |
acebutolol
atenolol
betaxolol
bisoprolol
carteolol
metoprolol
nadolol
penbutolol
pindolol
propranolol
timolol
|
| ACE
Inhibitors |
benazepril
captopril
enalapril
fosinopril
lisinopril
moexipril
quinapril
ramipril
trandolapril
|
| Angiotensin |
losartan |
| Antagonists
|
valsartan |
| Calcium
Channel |
amlodipine |
| Blockers |
diltiazam
felodipine
isradipine
nicardipine
nifedipine
nisoldipine
verapamil
|
| Alpha
Blockers |
doxazosin
prazosin
terazosin
|
| Alpha-Beta
Blockers |
labetalol
carvedilol
|
| Nervous
System |
lonidine |
| Inhibitors |
guanabenz
guanadrel
guanethidine
guanfacine
methyldopa
reserpine
|
| Vasodilators |
hydralazine
minoxidil |
|
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