Common Prescription Medications For High Blood Pressure - Fighting Hypertension

If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, your physician will right away recommend prescription medications to control your blood pressure. These prescription medications' role is to reduce blood pressure with people suffering from hypertension.

Hypertension can be defined as a chronic medical condition where the body is experiencing elevated blood pressure. Thus, it is commonly referred to as high blood pressure or high BP.

The first of the groups of prescription medications for high BP is the Angiotensin-converting enzyme or ACE inhibitors. This group prevents the body from making Angiotensin II, the agent that causes our blood vessels to narrow down and stiffen, preventing proper blood flow. Examples of these medications are captopril, enalapril, and fosinopril.

The next popular medications are the Calcium channel blockers. These medications slow down calcium ions from its penetration to the heart's cell and muscles near our blood vessels. This process helps the heart and the blood vessels relax. Common examples are nifedipine (Adalat), amlodipine (Norvasc), and diltiazem.

Diuretics are also used to help lower blood pressure among hypertensive patients. Diuretics drive the kidneys to produce more sodium and water in the urine. In return, this decreases blood volume and pressure. Common examples of diuretics are bendroflumethiazide, chlortalidone, hydrochlorothiazide or HCTZ.

Other medications for hypertension are Alpha Blockers, Beta Blockers, Central-acting agents, and Vasodilators.

The first is Alpha Blockers, stopping the norepinephrine, the hormone responsible for constricting the muscles near the veins and smaller arteries. On the other hand, Beta Blockers block adrenaline, slowing down the heart and letting the blood vessels expand. Central-acting agents block the brain signals that increase heart rate and constrict our blood vessels. Lastly, Vasodilators, like Hydralzine, interfere with the release of calcium ion release with the Minoxidil molecule that can widen blood vessels.