What kind of medication is used for high blood pressure?

Answer 1

Diuretics (water tablets): Diuretics are often referred to as water tablets because they increase the output of water in the urine. Diuretics also increase the excretion of salt in the urine.

They are one of the most tried and tested types of high blood pressure medication available and are both cheap, effective and well tolerated. They are most often the first prescribed drugs and are good for treating elderly patients.

Beta blockers: Beta blockers block the effects of body chemicals that increase blood pressure by making the heart beat stronger and faster (adrenaline / epinephrine). Beta blockers are good for patients who have had a heart attack or who have angina.

Calcium antagonists, (calcium channel blockers): These drugs are very effective at making blood vessels relax. They also benefits the heart by relaxing the arteries that supply blood to the heart itself thus improving blood flow to the heart.

ACE inhibitors: These are very effective drugs that interfere with yet another body mechanism that constricts blood vessels, (the A stands for Angiotensin which makes blood vessels constrict). They also have a useful protective effect on the kidneys. This makes them a preferred drug for people showing the unwanted effects of blood pressure on the kidneys, something which is especially common in diabetics.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs): these work in a similar way to the ACE inhibitors..

Other less commonly used types include alpha blockers and methyldopa, which is commonly used in pregnancy.

Answer 2

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects millions of people throughout the world. Having hypertension can put a person at an increased risk for strokes and heart attacks. Fortunately, the treatment of hypertension through medication has provided a relatively easy way for millions of people to manage their blood pressures and to minimize their risks of cardiovascular problems. Below are some of the common kinds of medications used for the treatment of hypertension.

Diuretics

Diuretics are a class of drugs that increase the excretion of salt by the kidneys. Research has shown that there is a direct correlation between hypertension and the concentration of salt within the body. Increased salt in the body can cause the body to retain water. This retained fluid increases the blood volume, which makes the heart have to pump harder to compensate for the increase amount. As the heart pumps with more force, the blood pressure rises. Diuretics work by increasing the excretion of salt in the urine. The most common type of diuretic is the thyazide diuretic. More powerful diuretics called loop diuretics are also used to treat hypertension.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers are another commonly used drug to treat hypertension. They work by blocking certain receptors in the sympathetic nervous system. Not only do they help to decrease the blood pressure directly, but they also make the heart work less hard by slowing it down. Beta blockers are not for everyone though, as they have many side effects like dizziness and fatigue.

ACE Inhibitors and ARBs

This class of drugs works on the angiotensin-renin system of the body, which is controlled largely by the kidneys. The kidneys produce a hormone called renin, which is transformed into another hormone called Angiotensin I. When Angiotensin I reaches the lungs, it is converted into Angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a powerful vasoconstrictor, which means that it causes the blood vessels to narrow. This can increase the blood pressure. Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or ACE inhibitors work by breaking this cycle. Angiotensin Receptor blockers are similar, except that they prevent Angiotensin II from causing vasoconstriction. ACE inhibitors have few side effects, although some people may experience a persistent cough. These two classes of drugs may also help to prevent the decline of kidney function in patients with kidney disease

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers are a newer class of drugs that work by slowing down the heart and the strength of its contractions by blocking the electrical impulses that drive the heart.

Direct Vasodilators

Direct Vasodilators work directly on the blood vessels by causing them to open up widely, lowering blood pressure. One problem with vasodilators is that they may cause the blood pressure to drop too quickly, which can result in fainting.

Many of these drugs are sold individually and as part of combination pills. For example, one brand of hypertension medication may combine an ACE inhibitor with a beta blocker.

Answer 3

Typically two types of medicines are used, either ACE-inhibitors or Aldosteron-receptor antagonists.

Answer 4

1. ACE inhibitors 2. Ca channel blockers 3. Thiazide type diuretics.

Answer 5

There are several class of drugs for treating hypertension like calcium channel blockers, angiotensin, antagonist, ace inhibitors etc.

Answer 6

There are actually several different types of high blood pressure medications available. These include: diuretics, beta-blockers and ACE Inhibitors.