An Introduction to Antihypertensive Drugs

Antihypertensive Drugs

Antihypertensive drug include:

• Diuretics ("water pills")
• Beta Blockers
• Alpha Blockers
• Alpha-Beta Blockers
• Sympathetic Nerve Inhibitors
• Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker

Calcium channel blockers prevent calcium from flowing into heart muscle cells and muscle cells of the blood vessel walls, resulting in slowing of heart rate and relaxation of blood vessels.
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (formal medical name angiotensin 2 receptor antagonists, known as "sartans" for short). These agents are sometimes prescribed together, for instance an ACE inhibitor along with a calcium channel blocker.
Beta blockers lower high blood pressure by slowing down the heart rate and decreasing the force of contraction of the heart.
Common calcium channel blockers include:

• Amlodipine (Amlodipine )
• Diltiazem (Cardizem)
• Felodipine (Plendil)
• Isradipine (DynaCirc)
• Nicardipine (Cardene)
• Nifedipine (Procardia)
• Verapamil (Calan, Covera-HS, Verelan)

Amlodipine Medication
Amlodipine (generic norvasc) is an antihypertensive type of medicine called a long-acting calcium channel blocker (CCB). Amlodipine medication is used to treat high blood pressure (also called "hypertension"). It is also used to treat a type of chest pain called angina. Angina is often a pain or pressure in your chest that keeps coming back when part of your heart does not get enough blood.
Amlodipine medication works to relax your blood vessels. This lets your blood flow more easily and helps lower your blood pressure. This means that blood pressure can be lower, and angina pain can be reduced or controlled.
In general, antihypertensives work through one or more of the following mechanisms:

• By Decreasing Blood Volume
• By Opening Up Blood Vessels, either by Inhibiting Constriction (narrowing) or Stimulating Dilation (widening), to make it easier for blood to flow through the arteries.
• By Decreasing Rate and/or Force of Contraction of the Heart, thus decreasing the amount of blood pumped through the arteries.

Side Effects of Antihypertensives

Antihypertensives have in common that they can overcompensate for high blood pressure, leading to dangerously low blood pressure.

Lightheadedness, Dizziness, or Fainting would be an initial indication of inadequate blood pressure levels.
Note: Decreased blood pressure in a mother also has the potential to harm her developing baby. Since blood volume determines the amount of blood filtered/urine processed by the kidneys, antihypertensives have effects on that organ as well. Although in general blood-pressure-lowering medicines reduce strain on the kidney, some antihypertensives like sartans can nevertheless worsen kidney disease.

Another major concern with hypertensives is that they can aggravate congestive heart failure. As with most any drug, blood-pressure-lowering medications can have milder side-effects as well. While on an antihypertensive, report any changes in your condition to your health care provider.