Blood Pressure Medicine
By Bobby Gill

Blood Pressure Medicine

High (BP) medicines or antihypertensive medicines can help lower your blood pressure.

Some common side effects of these medications include the following:

* Headache

* Dizziness or lightheadedness

* Nausea and/or vomiting

* Extreme tiredness, weakness, drowsiness or lethargy (lack of energy)

* Diarrhea or constipation

* Weight loss or weight gain

* Nervousness or increased anxiety

* Chest pain, heart palpitations (the feeling that your heart is racing) or arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

* Cough, fever, congestion, upper respiratory tract infection or "flu-like" symptoms

* Skin rash

Contact your doctor as soon as possible if the side effects of your BP medication become severe or even bothersome. Be sure to ask your doctor whether any foods or drinks should be avoided while using your BP  medicine. Today's BP medicines can safely help most people control their BP's. Usually, a single drug can be very effective; sometimes, though, a second drug may be needed to achieve the desired outcome.Angiotensin causes blood vessels to constrict, and drives BP up. It is part of the renin-angiotensin system, which is a major target for drugs that lower BP . Angiotensin also stimulates the release of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone promotes sodium retention in the distal nephron, which also drives BP up. Types of angiotensin include:

* 1.1 Angiotensinogen

* 1.2 Angiotensin I

* 1.3 Angiotensin II

* 1.4 Angiotensin III

* 1.5 Angiotensin IV

Various medications affect the different types of angiotensin. For example, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) are newer BP medicines that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II. The medication Norvasc is in a family of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It dilates blood vessels and slows the heart to reduce BP  and the pain of angina. Norvasc is used to treat high BP (hypertension) or angina (chest pain caused by lack of oxygen in the heart muscle due to clogged arteries). NORVASC is the most prescribed brand name high blood pressure medicine worldwide. BP medicines work in different ways to lower BP and there are a wide range of antihypertensives or drugs on the market and are grouped into several "families".

Family - Beta Blockers

Beta blockers limit the effect of the hormone epinephrine (also called adrenaline) and as a resuslt, relievie some of the work done by the cardiovascular system by slowing the heart rate and relaxing blood vessels. Some generic and brand name beta blockers include metoprolol (Lorpressor, Toprol), atenolol (Tenormin) nadolol (Corgard), acebutolol (Sectral), and nebivolol (Bystolic). Common side efftects of beta blockers are fatigue, cold hands, dizziness and weakness.

ACE Inhibitors

An angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) works by blocking production of a hormone that causes blood vessels to constrict. As the vessels relax, BP decreases. Some generic and brand names of ACE inhibitors include benazepril (Lotensin), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril (Monopril), moexipril (Univasc), and ramipril (Altace). Common side effects of ACE inhibitors can include rash, dry cough, higher blood-potassium levels, dizziness and lightheadedness, and diminished appetite.

Calcium Channel Blockers

Diuretics

Diuretics sometimes referred to as "water pills,", rid the body of extra salt and fluid and are considered a primary, "first-line" therapy for most patients. Brand names include Lasix, Esidrix, Bumex, Zaroxolynm and Demadex - there are also many generic (and therefore

inexpensive) versions available. Common side effects of diuretics include frequent urination, dizziness, impotence and dehydration.

Medications

Know the names of your medications and how they work. Always keep a list of your medications and the amounts with you. Take your medications as scheduled, at the same time every day. Even if you begin to feel good over a peroid of time you continue to take your medications. If you stop taking your medications suddenly, it can make your condition worse. When the cost of the medication is a problem, you can talk with your doctor about ways to reduce the costs. Let your doctor know if getting to the pharmacy is a problem or anything that makes it difficult for you to get your medications. When traveling, always keep your medications with you so you can take them as scheduled. On longer trips, take an extra week's supply of medications and copies of your prescriptions, in case you need to get a refill. Did you know that grapefruit juice can directly or indirectly interact in important ways with a number of medications, including high BP medications. Diuretics are among the oldest known medications for treating hypertension. More frequently, however, low doses of diuretics are used in combination with other anti-hypertensive medications to enhance the effect of the other medications. How high your BP is determines if one or a combination of high medications will be prescribed. Your doctory will likely recommend you make lifestyle changes, as well. Lifestyle changes can reduce or eliminate your need for medications to control your BP. You probably won't need to take high BP pressure medications if you have prehypertension but are otherwise healthy. Follow healthy lifestyle habits along with medications to treat high BP . Finding the dose or combination of high BP medications that effectively controls your BP often takes time and patience. It's not unusual to try several different medications or doses before finding what works best for you.

Conclusion

One type of high medicine makes the heartbeat slow down. Another type reduces nerve impulses that tell your vessels to tighten. Another prevents your body from making angiotensin II. Beta-blockers remain useful high BP medicines in treating hypertension, especially in patients with a fast heartbeat while resting, cardiac chest pain, or a recent heart attack. Beta-blockers may be considered as a high medicine because they also may treat co-existing medical problems. The beta-blocker high BP medicines include atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol(Toprol), nadolol (Corgard), betaxolol (Kerlone), acebutolol (Sectral), pindolol (Visken), and bisoprolol (Zebeta). Diuretics are among the oldest known high BP medicines. Diuretics may be used as single high BP medicine. One type of high medicine is verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin, Verelan) and the other high BP pressure medicine is diltiazem (Cardizem, Tiazac, Dilacor, andDiltia). Minoxidil is the most potent of the high BP medicines that lower BP by dilating the peripheral arteries. Labetalol is used alone or in combination with other drugs as a high BP.

It cannot be overstated - take these medications as directed. If you miss a dose, do not simply take it along with the next scheduled does because this could lead to complications. Skip that dose and pick up taking the drug on your next scheduled dose. It is important to take your BP medicines every day. Most people who take high BP medicines do not get any side effects. Like all medicines, high BP medicines can sometimes cause side effects. Tell your doctor if you are taking water pills (diuretics), high BP medicines, heart medicines, or medicines to treat a fungus. While some specific patients may benefit from using a particular family of high BP medicine, there is no single recommendation on which drug should be "the best" or used first. There are pros and cons for the use of each family of high BP medications but this consideration must be weighed against a huge volume of evidence supporting the fact that high BP is deadly, and that lowering BP saves lives. Figuring out how to get off of BP medicine will need to be done through research and the approval of your doctor. You should understand the high medicine side effects before you agree to take any medication.