Blood pressure medications

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Blood Pressure Medications

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There are many different types of blood pressure medications. Some common types are listed below with a description of the actions and a list of common medications for the particular type.

ACE inhibitors (ACE = angiotension converting enzyme) work by inhibiting the formation of an enzyme (angiotension II) that causes narrowing of blood vessels.  The vessels then widen and the blood pressure goes down.

ACE inhibitor medications include: captopril (Capoten), benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), fosinopril (Monopril), ramipril (Altace), perindopril (Aceon), quinapril (Accupril), moexipril (Univasc), and trandolapril (Mavik).
 

Alpha-blockers block nerve impulses to blood vessels, resulting in less constriction and a reduction in blood pressure.

Alpha-blocking medications include: terazosin (Hytrin), doxazosin (Cardura), tamsulosin (Flomax), methyldopa (Aldomet), clonidine (Catapres).
 

Alpha-beta-blockers have a combined action of alpha-blockers and beta-blockers.

Alpha-beta-blocking medications include: carvedilol (Coreg),  lebaetalol HCL (Normodyne), and labetalol HCL (Trandate).

Angiotensin antagonists block the effect of angiotensin II, causing a widening of the blood vessels and a lowering of the blood pressure.

Angiotension antagonist medications include: losartan (Cozaar), irbesartan (Avapro), valsartan (Diovan), candesartan (Atacand), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and eprosartan (Teveten).

Beta-blockers work by reducing nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels, causing the heart to beat slower.  Beta-blocking glaucoma medications are contraindicated for patients already taking another beta-blocking medication.

Beta-blocker medications include: acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), bisoprolol (Zebeta), metoprolol (Lopressor, Lopressor LA, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and timolol (Blocadren).

Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) block calcium from entering cells of the heart and blood vessels,  which causes the vessels to relax and the blood pressure to go down.

Calcium channel blocker medications include: nisoldipine (Sular), nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia), nicardipine (Cardene), bepridil (Vascor), isradipine (Dynacirc), nimodipine (Nimotop), felodipine (Plendil), amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem), and verapamil (Calan, Isoptin).


Diuretics (water pills) work by removing water from the body.

Diuretic medications:  There are over 150 medications with diuretic action.  Some common diuretics used to treat high blood pressure are hydrochlorothiazide (Avalide, Hyzaar, Diovan), furosemide (Lasix), spironolacton (Aldactazide, Aldactone), and triamterene (Dyazide, Maxzide).

Vasodilators work by relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls, causing the blood pressure to go down.

Vasodilator medications include: doxazosin (Cardura), hydralazine (Apresoline), methyldopa (Aldomet), prazosin (Minipress), reserpine (Diupres), and terazosin (Hytrin).