It is a fact that high blood pressure is among the most dangerous diseases that people may suffer today. It can result in heart failure, strokes, kidney disease, or heart attacks. With that, you should treat your high blood pressure as it may affect the other organs of your body, including the heart, brain, and kidneys.
Lifestyle changes can also help to treat hypertension naturally. You may make some modifications to your diet, exercise, and weight. However, if lifestyle changes don’t work, you can take medications. In this post, we will provide you with a list of the drug options you can use for treating your high blood pressure.
Diuretics
Also called water pills, diuretics help your kidneys remove water and sodium from your body. Commonly, these drugs are the first medications for high blood pressure treatment. Diuretics come in various classes, such as loop, thiazide, and potassium-sparing. Your doctor will recommend you based on your blood pressure measurements and other health conditions like heart failure or kidney disease.
The diuretics used for treating hypertension are hydrochlorothiazide ( Microzide), and chlorthalidone. This drug may have a side effect, which is increased urination. So, it can lower your potassium levels. Once your potassium level gets low, your doctor may suggest adding a potassium-sparing diuretic like spironolactone or triamterene for your high blood pressure treatment.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
These drugs can relax your blood vessels by blocking the action instead of forming the natural chemical, which may narrow the blood vessels. These medications include losartan (Cozaar), candesartan (Atacand), and others.
Calcium channel blockers
Calcium channel blockers may include diltiazem (Tiazac, Cardizem, etc.) and amlodipine (Norvasc). These drugs will help relax your blood vessels and muscles. Some calcium channel blockers can slow heart rate. This medication works best for older individuals.
If you’re taking calcium channel blockers, you should not drink or eat grapefruit products. Thus, grapefruits may add to your blood levels with specific calcium channel blockers, which is risky. You can talk to your pharmacist or doctor if you worry about the interactions.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
These drugs may include benazepril (Lotensin), Lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil), and captopril. It can relax your blood vessels by blocking natural chemical formations, which narrow the blood vessels.
Other medications for high blood pressure treatment
The following are other medications for treating hypertension.
Alpha-beta blockers
It helps block nerve signals to your blood vessels and slows your heartbeat, lowering the blood amount pumped through your vessels. The medication includes labetalol (Trandate) and carvedilol (Coreg).
Alpha-blockers
Alpha-blockers can lower nerve signals to your blood vessels. It can reduce the effects of natural chemicals which narrow the blood vessels. These medications include prazosin (Minipress), doxazosin (Cardura), and others.
Aldosterone antagonists
The drug is also considered a diuretic. It may include eplerenone and spironolactone. It blocks the natural chemical effect, resulting in fluid and salt buildup, contributing to high blood pressure. This drug can also use for treating resistant hypertension.
Beta-blockers
The drug lowers your heart’s workload and widens the blood vessels, making your heart beat with less force and slower. It can work well if combined with other medications for blood pressure.
Renin-inhibitors
These drugs can slow renin production. Renin is the enzyme formed by your kidneys, which begins as chemical steps chain that increases your blood pressure. It is not advised to take with ARBs or ACE inhibitors.
Central-acting agents
This drug will prevent your brain from telling the nervous system to increase heart rate and narrow the blood vessels. It can include guanfacine (Intuniv), clonidine (Kapvay, Catapres), and methyldopa.
Vasodilators
The drug may include minoxidil and hydralazine. It directly works on the muscles of your artery walls, preventing the muscles from tightening and narrowing the arteries.
There we go, so that is the list of the drug options for high blood pressure.
Things to consider when finding medicine for high blood pressure
You can consider the tips below for the medication for your hypertension.
Tell your doctor if you’re nursing, pregnant, or plans to get pregnant. Ask the doctor about the risks and advantages of taking medicine for your high blood pressure if you’re pregnant.
Ask your doctor about the potential risks and benefits of taking medications.
It is also essential to discuss with your doctor the problems you may experience. With this, your doctor can find the right medicine that will work for you.
Conclusion
If you look for other treatments for your high blood pressure, you can consider clinical trials at Power. If lifestyle changes don’t work for you, taking medications can be the best way to treat your high blood pressure.
Make sure to talk to your doctor about which drug options are best for your condition.