High Blood Pressure
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Blood-Pressure Medications Chart
Blood-Pressure Medications Chart
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Because high-blood-pressure medication generally needs to be taken indefinitely, cost, convenience and tolerance are extremely important in deciding on the best treatment regimen for you.
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InteliHealth
2011-02-22
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InteliHealth Medical Content
2014-02-22
Blood-Pressure Medications Chart
Because high-blood-pressure medication generally needs to be taken indefinitely, cost, convenience and tolerance are extremely important in deciding on the best treatment regimen for you. Every medication works better when accompanied by lifestyle changes.
Blood-pressure medications are grouped into different categories, or classes, which work in different ways. For information on the different drug classes classes and the most commonly used drugs in each class, refer to the chart below.
| Blood Pressure Medications |
|
Type Of Drug
|
Examples
Generic name first, followed by brand name(s) in parentheses.
|
What These Drugs Do
|
|
Thiazide diuretics
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chlorothiazide (Aldoclor, Diupres, Diuril)
chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, HydroDIURIL, Microzide)
indapamide (Lozol)
metolazone (Mykrox, Zaroxolyn)
|
Reduce the amount of blood fluid.
Cause the kidneys to increase the salt and water that are passed in the urine, thereby lowering the amount of blood fluid and, as a result, lowering the blood pressure.
Cause a loss of potassium from the body.
|
|
Loop diuretics
|
bumetanide (Bumex)
ethacrynic Acid (Edecrin)
furosemide (Lasix)
torsemide (Demadex)
|
Reduce the amount of blood fluid.
Cause the kidneys to increase the salt and water that are passed in the urine, thereby lowering the amount of blood fluid and, as a result, lowering the blood pressure.
Cause a loss of potassium from the body.
|
|
Potassium-sparing diuretics
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amiloride (Midamor)
spironolactone (Aldactone)
triamterene (Dyrenium)
|
Reduce the amount of blood fluid.
Cause the kidneys to increase the salt and water that are passed in the urine, thereby lowering the amount of blood fluid and, as a result, lowering the blood pressure.
Do not cause a loss of potassium from the body.
|
|
Beta-blockers, cardioselective
|
acebutolol (Sectral)
atenolol (Tenormin)
betaxolol (Kerlone)
bisoprolol (Zebeta)
metoprolol succinate (Toprol-XL)
metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor)
|
Reduce the work of the heart.
Block the stimulating effects of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine on the heart, causing the heart to work less hard and pump less frequently.
|
|
Beta-blockers, nonselective
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timolol (Blocadren)
nadolol (Corgard)
pindolol (Visken)
propranolol (Inderal)
|
Block the tightening effects of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine on blood vessels throughout the body.
Block the stimulating effects of the same hormones on the heart, causing the heart to work less hard and pump less frequently.
|
|
Alpha-1 blockers
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prazosin (Minipress)
terazosin (Hytrin)
doxazosin (Cardura)
|
Widen the small arteries.
Make the blood vessels less sensitive to the effects of norepinephrine, a hormone that narrows arteries.
|
|
Medications that act on the brain (centrally acting blood pressure medications)
|
clonidine (Catapres)
methyldopa (Aldomet)
guanabenz (Wytensin)
|
Widen the blood vessels.
Enhance the brain's ability to control whether the small arteries widen or narrow, using signals that it sends through nerves.
|
|
Both alpha- and beta-blockers
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carvedilol (Coreg)
doxazosin (Cardura)
labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate)
|
Widen the small arteries and reduce the work of the heart.
Block the tightening effects of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine on blood vessels throughout the body.
Block the stimulating effects of the same hormones on the heart, causing the heart to work less hard and pump less frequently.
|
|
Peripheral nerve agents
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guanethidine (Ismelin)
reserpine (Serpasil)
|
Widen the small arteries by influencing nerve signals. (Normally, the brain can control whether the small arteries widen or narrow, using signals that it sends through nerves.)
|
|
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
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benazepril (Lotensin)
captopril (Capoten)
enalapril (Vasotec)
fosinopril (Monopril)
lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
moexipril (Univasc)
perindopril (Aceon)
quinapril (Accupril)
ramipril (Altace)
trandolapril (Mavik)
|
Widen the small arteries and reduce the amount of blood fluid by blocking the production of the hormone angiotensin II.
|
|
Angiotensin II receptor blockers
|
candesartan (Atacand)
eprosartan (Teveten)
irbesartan (Avapro)
losartan (Cozaar)
telmisartan (Micardis)
valsartan (Diovan)
|
Widen the small arteries and reduce the amount of blood fluid by blocking the action of the hormone angiotensin II.
|
|
Blood vessel openers (direct vasodilators)
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hydralazine (Apresoline)
minoxidil (Loniten)
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Widen the small arteries through direct effects on the muscle in the wall of the small arteries.
|
|
Calcium channel blockers
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amlodipine (Norvasc)
isradipine (DynaCirc)
nicardipine (Cardene)
nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia)
nimodipine (Nimotop)
nisoldipine (Sular)
felodipine (Plendil)
diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac)
verapamil (Calan, Isoptin, Verelan)
|
Widen the small arteries by blocking calcium entry into the muscle in the wall of the small arteries.
|
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