High Blood Pressure Drugs and Medications

For some people, lifestyle changes are enough to lower blood pressure. For others, particularly those with heart disease, medication may also be required. If you do require medication, make sure you continue your lifestyle changes. These changes help the medications work better, and over time, you may be able to reduce the medication.

There are many different types of blood pressure medications that work in different ways. You may be prescribed one or a combination of several drugs to help lower your blood pressure. Diuretics (or water pills) reduce the amount of fluid in the body. Beta blockers help the heart to beat less often and with less force. Alpha blockers relax blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more easily. Alpha-beta blockers work the same way alpha blockers do but also slow the heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. Vasodilators open blood vessels by relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) prevent calcium from getting into the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, relaxing the blood vessels. A somewhat new type of high blood pressure drug, called angiotensin antagonists, helps prevent the blood vessels from narrowing.

When you are prescribed medication, you may need to take it for a short or long time period. Be sure that you understand your health care provider's directions on how to take the drug. Know the amount you should take, if you should take it each day, and what time(s) you should take it during the day. If you are not sure about how to take the medicine, contact your health care provider. Write down the directions and keep them in a handy place.

Bear in mind that blood pressure medications may not work the same for everyone, so you may need to try a few of them before you find the one that works best for you. Likewise, different dosages (or amounts) of a drug can affect people differently. Your health care provider may also need to adjust, or change, the drug's dosage for you. It may take some time to find the best medication and best dosage for you.

Some over-the-counter medications or natural supplements may worsen blood pressure or interfere with prescription medications. You should inform your health care provider if you are regularly taking any over-the-counter medications. If you have any questions about whether you can take an over-the-counter medication when you are taking blood pressure medication, talk with your health care provider before you take the drug. Also, be sure to inform your health care provider about any other prescribed medications you are taking.

It is important to talk with your health care provider right away if you are having any problems with your medication. If you think you are having a side effect, do not stop taking the drug. Talk with your health care provider right away and she or he will give you advice about what to do.