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The number of blood pressure lowering drugs available is almost unbelievable and, as many of the presently available medications are often used in combination for treatment, picking the right drug or combination of drugs presents your physician with something of a headache. Here however is a general overview of the various different groups of blood pressure lowering medications presently in common use.
Diuretics
The first line of attack are diuretics which are designed to remove excess fluid from the body and, most importantly as far as blood pressure is concerned, to lower levels of salt.
Commonly used diuretics include Midamor, Lozol, Hydrodiuril, Hygroton, Lasix, Bumex, Esidrix, Diuril and Aldactone.
Several diuretic lower the levels of potassium in the body and can produce weakness, tiredness and leg cramps. This can usually be countered effectively by adding foods that contain potassium to your diet or by taking potassium supplements in either tablet or liquid form. Diuretics may also result in increased blood sugar levels and a change of diet or drug, oral diabetic medication or insulin might be needed for diabetics.
ACE Inhibitors
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors act to widen the blood vessels and thus reduce resistance and pressure within these vessels. Consequently the heart does not need to work as much to pump blood throughout the body.
Commonly used ACE inhibitors include Lotensin, Monopril, Accupril, Univasc, Capoten, Prinivil, Mavik, Aceon, Altace, Vasotec and Zestril.
ACE inhibitors can cause a chronic hacking cough, a loss of taste and in rare cases kidney damage.
AT-2 Receptor Antagonists
Angiotensin-2 (AT-2) receptor antagonists work in much the same ways as ACE inhibitors but they have the benefit for many individuals of not resulting in the hacking cough often seen with taking ACE inhibitors.
Common AT-2 receptor antagonists include Atacand, Cozaar, Avapro, Micardis and Teveten.
There are usually few side effects with AT-2 receptor antagonists although in a few individuals they can produce sporadic dizziness.
Beta Blockers
Beta blockers act to lower blood pressure by decreasing both the heart rate and output.
Common beta blockers include Sectral, Zebeta, Kerlone, Lopressor, Betapace, Tenormin, Cartrol, Corgard, Inderal, Blocadren, Toprol XL and Ziac.
Some beta blockers can cause insomnia, the symptoms of asthma, depression, cold hands and feet, tiredness and in rare cases can result in impotence.
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers assist in lowering blood pressure by interrupting the flow of calcium into the heart and blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers include what is generally agreed to be the world's most popular blood pressure medication - Norvasc.
Other frequently used calcium blockers include Lotrel, Calan, Sular, Nimotop, Procardia, Vascor, Adalat, Tiazac, Cardizem, Isoptin, Plendil and Verelan.
Side effects differ widely from one calcium blocker to the next but a few commonly seen side effects include headache, dizziness, constipation, palpitations and swollen ankles.
As you can see there is an enormous number of medications available to reduce blood pressure and when you remember that these are often used together by combining for example ACE inhibitors and diuretics, ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers or AT-2 receptor antagonists and diuretics then the number of treatments available is almost too high to count.
On the one hand of course this is very good news as it means that it is possible to tailor treatment to the specific needs of each patient. However, on the other hand it also makes choosing the best treatment somewhat hard.