Blood pressure reducing medicines are often used when exercise and diet has not reduced your blood pressure satisfactorily or to regulate your pressure while you are making the necessary lifestyle changes to produce the desired results. The number of blood pressure lowering drugs available today is amazing and, as many of the currently available medicines are often used in combination, choosing the right drug or combination of medicines gives your doctor something of a headache. However, here is an overview of the various different groups of blood pressure lowering medications currently in day-to-day use.

Diuretics

The first line of attack for reasonably mild cases of hypertension are diuretics which are simply designed to remove excess fluid from the body and, most importantly as far as blood pressure is concerned, to lower salt levels. Commonly used diuretics include Midamor, Diuril, Hydrodiuril, Lozol, Lasix, Bumex, Esidrix, Hygroton and Aldactone. A number of diuretic lower the levels of potassium in the body and can result in weakness, tiredness and leg cramps. This can usually be effectively countered by eating foods that contain potassium or by taking a potassium supplement in either tablet or liquid form. Diuretics can also result in raised blood sugar levels and a change of drug or changes to diet, oral diabetic medication or insulin may be needed for diabetics.

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors expand the blood vessels and thus reduce the resistance to blood flow and pressure in these vessels. Consequently the heart does not have to work as much to push blood throughout the body. Commonly used ACE inhibitors include Lotensin, Mavik, Univasc, Altace, Capoten, Aceon, Vasotec, Accupril, Monopril, Prinivil and Zestril. ACE inhibitors can cause a skin rash, a chronic hacking cough and in rare cases kidney damage.

AT-2 Receptor Antagonists

Angiotensin-2 (AT-2) receptor antagonists work in a similar manner to ACE inhibitors but they have the benefit for many individuals of not leading to the hacking cough often experienced from taking ACE inhibitors. Frequently used AT-2 receptor antagonists include Atacand, Micardis, Cozaar, Avapro and Teveten. There are generally few side effects seen with AT-2 receptor antagonists although in a few individuals they can produce occasional dizziness.

Beta Blockers

Beta blockers lower blood pressure by decreasing both the heart rate and output. Frequently used beta blockers include Sectral, Cartrol, Blocadren, Corgard, Inderal, Kerlone, Zebeta, Lopressor, Tenormin, Betapace, Toprol XL and Ziac. A number of beta blockers can cause insomnia, tiredness, cold hands and feet, depression, the symptoms of asthma and in rare cases can result in impotence.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Calcium channel blockers help to lower blood pressure by impeding the flow of calcium into both the heart and blood vessels. Calcium channel blockers include what is commonly agreed to be the world's most popular blood pressure medication - Norvasc.

Other commonly used calcium blockers include Lotrel, Sular, Tiazac, Plendil, Adalat, Isoptin, Calan, Nimotop, Vascor, Cardizem, Procardia and Verelan. Side effects differ considerably from one calcium blocker to the next but a few frequently experienced side effects are headache, constipation, palpitations, dizziness and swollen ankles.

As can be seen there is a very large number of medicines available to reduce blood pressure and when you take into account that these are often used together by combining for instance ACE inhibitors and calcium blockers, ACE inhibitors and diuretics or AT-2 receptor antagonists and diuretics then the range of treatments available is truly enormous.

On the one hand of course this is good news as it means that it is possible to tailor treatment to the exact needs of each patient. However, on the other hand it also makes selecting the best treatment somewhat difficult.

TheBloodPressureCenter.com provides information on blood pressure medicine including information about Norvasc and incidence of orthostatic hypotension