What are antihypertensive medications?
Doctors may give you medicine to help lower your blood pressure. Taking medicine for high blood pressure, also called antihypertensive medications, helps lower your blood pressure. It also helps keep you healthy and prevents problems like strokes and heart attacks. Doctors may prescribe more than one kind of medicine for you or switch you to a new kind that works better. Here are some common types of blood pressure medicines and what they do:
Types of Blood Pressure Medicines
Medication | Examples | How they work |
---|---|---|
Calcium-channel blockers |
Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Felodipine |
Relaxes blood vessels and lowers blood pressure by stopping calcium from getting into heart cells and arteries. |
Angiotensin II receptor blockers |
Losartan, Candesartan, Eprosartan |
Blocks the effects of the chemical angiotensin in the body, lowering blood pressure. May be used to treat heart failure. |
Diuretics |
Chlorthalidone, Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide |
Often prescribed as first-line treatment to lower blood pressure by helping the kidneys remove excess sodium and water. |
Beta-blockers |
Atenolol, Metoprolol, Bisoprolol |
Decreases the force and rate of heart contractions, thereby decreasing blood pressure. |
Angiotensin-converting enzymes (ACE) inhibitors |
Benazepril, Lisinopril, Captopril |
Prevents conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II (a blood vessel constrictor) which stops blood vessels from narrowing. |
Vasodilators |
Hydralazine, Minoxidil, |
Relaxes the muscles in the walls of blood vessels which allows blood to flow through them easier. |
Alpha blockers |
Prazosin, Doxazosin, Terazosin Hydrochloride |
Blocks stress-related hormones from binding to and constricting blood vessel walls. This causes blood to flow through vessels more freely, resulting in normal heartbeats. |
Alpha-beta blockers |
Carvedilol, Labetalol Hydrochloride |
These combined blockers are administered as IV drips for patients during a hypertensive crisis (blood pressure readings greater than 180/120 mm Hg). |
What can help you take your medicine?
It’s important to take the correct dose of medicine every day at the right times. But remembering can be hard.
Here are some things that can help you remember:
- Use a pill box with sections for morning, noon, night
- Set reminders on your phone or tablet
- Download medicine reminder apps
- Refill your prescriptions at the same time each month
- Write notes, use a checklist or a calendar
- Ask the pharmacy to pre-pack your pills
- Use timer caps that beep when it’s time
- Take medicine when you do something else, like brushing your teeth
Why is it important to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider?
It is very important to talk openly with your doctor or other healthcare worker about having high blood pressure. You need to tell them if any medicines are causing problems or side effects. Be sure to share if you are having trouble taking your medicines as prescribed.
Here are some tips for talking to your doctor:
- Write down your questions before your appointment.
- You can bring a parent, friend, or other family member with you.
- Take notes about what the doctor tells you.
- Speak up and don’t keep problems to yourself. Describe your symptoms as clearly as you can. Tell when they started, how often you have them, and what makes them better or worse. Ask follow up questions like:
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- Are there other medicines I can try instead of the one I’m taking now?
- What can I do about side effects from my medicine?
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- Call your doctor if you have health issues after your appointment.
Medication Quiz
References
Note. Adapted from Types of blood pressure medication. (2023, June 7). American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/changes-you-can-make-to-manage-high-blood-pressure/types-of-blood-pressure-medications
Adapted from Blood pressure medication. (2022, April 04). Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/21811-antihypertensives
Adapted from Complementary and alternative medicine: high blood pressure. (2015, March 23). St Luke’s Hospital. https://www.stlukes-stl.com/health-content/medicine/33/000087.htm
National Institute of Health. Clear Communication. (2022, April 25). Talking with your doctor or healthcare provider.https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/talking-your-doctor
Apeles, Linda. (2022). Race-based prescribing for black people with high blood pressure shows no benefit. University of California San Francisco. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2022/01/422151/race-based-prescribing-black-people-high-blood-pressure-shows-no-benefit
Million Hearts. Medication Adherence. (2020, May 8). Improving Medication Adherence Among Patients with Hypertension.
https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/files/TipSheet_HCP_MedAdherence.pdf