In this post, we discuss the various blood pressure medications currently available. It’s essential to talk with your doctor about all your existing medications and understand their potential side effects before beginning any new treatment. Equally vital, do not stop or adjust the dose or schedule of your prescription without professional guidance.
Types of Blood Pressure Medications
Here is an overview of the different types of blood pressure medications that will be covered:
- Diuretics
- Beta-Blockers
- ACE Inhibitors
- Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Alpha-Blockers
- Alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
- Combined Alpha and Beta-Blockers
- Central Agonists
- Peripheral Adrenergic Inhibitors
- Vasodilators
Note: Always consult your doctor before starting any of these medications. Being informed about these drugs is crucial before beginning any treatment.
Diuretics
Diuretics help lower blood pressure by enabling the body to expel excess water and salt. These are often used together with other medications.
Beta-Blockers
Beta-blockers reduce blood pressure by lowering the heart’s workload, slowing the heart rate, and decreasing the heart’s output of blood.
ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors stand for angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. They decrease the production of angiotensin, a substance that constricts blood vessels. By lowering angiotensin levels, these medications allow blood vessels to relax and widen, thereby reducing blood pressure.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
These medications block the action of angiotensin, which tightens blood vessels. ARBs hinder the receptors required for angiotensin to bind, keeping blood vessels open and lowering blood pressure.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers stop calcium from entering heart and arterial muscle cells. Reducing calcium lessens the strength of heart contractions. Normally, calcium enhances contraction strength, so these drugs help lower heart rate, relax blood vessels, and lower blood pressure.
Alpha-Blockers
Alpha-blockers decrease resistance in the arteries by relaxing the muscle tone in the arterial walls.
Combined Alpha and Beta-Blockers
Combined alpha and beta-blockers may be administered intravenously in a hypertensive emergency. They are also prescribed for ongoing high blood pressure control, especially for patients at risk of heart failure.
Central Agonists
Central agonists reduce the capability of blood vessels to contract by acting on a different neural pathway than alpha and beta-blockers, effectively lowering blood pressure.
Peripheral Adrenergic Inhibitors
These drugs lower blood pressure by blocking neurotransmitters in the brain, stopping smooth muscles from receiving the signal to tighten. They are generally prescribed when other treatments have not been effective.
Vasodilators
Vasodilators, also known as blood vessel dilators, relax the muscles in the blood vessel walls, particularly in the arterioles. This relaxation enlarges the vessels, improves blood flow, and consequently lowers blood pressure.