Reduce Your Pill Bill - Features - High Blood Pressure

Some of the most effective blood pressure drugs are quite inexpensive. Generally, new blood- pressure drugs — those made by only one company until the patent runs out — are the most expensive. If expense is a concern for you, tell your doctor. (Sometimes doctors do not consider expense when prescribing medications.)

Here is a list of the most widely used blood pressure medications that tend to be lower in price:

Diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone, are usually the first choice for most people with high blood pressure. Not only are they the most effective, they are also the cheapest. Your cost will be less than $5 per month. If you split the higher dose pills in one-half, you can make each 30 day supply last 2 months.
Calcium channel-blockers, such as long acting nifedipine, amlodipine, diltiazem and verapamil, are now available as generics. They tend to be a little more expensive than the generic diuretics. Shop around. If you find a good deal, your doctor may be able to switch the type of calcium channel blocker to better fit your budget.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, such as captopril and lisinopril, are now old enough that many of them have become available as generics, which means they cost less than brand-name drugs. Currently, benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, quinapril, and trandolapril are available generically.

Points To Consider

Your choice of medication will depend, in part, on its effectiveness. Finding the right medication is a trial and error process. You may discover that lower-priced choices are not as effective for you, and you may need to try a higher-priced medication for better results.

If you use diuretics or certain calcium-channel blockers or ACE inhibitors, and they reduce your blood pressure without causing unwanted side effects, you are fortunate. This should be an inexpensive treatment plan for your blood pressure. If you experience side effects that cause you discomfort, however, or if the drugs you are taking are not effectively reducing your blood pressure, talk with your doctor about trying a different drug or combination of drugs.

Last updated February 21, 2011

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