What Are the 4 Worst Blood Pressure Medicines?
Many individuals require multiple medications in order to maintain healthy blood pressure, but adherence can be challenging due to side effects.
Finding the appropriate combination can take some trial-and-error, while it is essential to also keep an eye out for any interactions between medicines such as herbal remedies or cold remedies.
1. ACE Inhibitors
ACE inhibitors are medications used to lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels and helping the kidneys remove sodium and regulate potassium levels in the body. ACE inhibitors have long been a staple drug in treating high blood pressure; some popular examples include Zestril/Prinivil, Enalapril (Vasotec), and Benazepril (Lotensin).
These drugs work by inhibiting an enzyme known as ACE in your body. ACE produces angiotensin II, a substance which narrows your blood vessels and increases your blood pressure, by blocking ACE inhibitors your body will have more bradykinin to relax blood vessels and assist the heart beat better – decreasing your blood pressure while simultaneously decreasing sodium and water retention in kidneys thereby helping prevent kidney failure.
Studies suggest that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), while less commonly prescribed than ACE inhibitors for treating high blood pressure, could be just as effective for newcomers beginning treatment for their condition. Furthermore, ARBs tend to cause less of the side effects commonly experienced when starting treatment for high blood pressure such as tissue swelling and dry cough.
Some doctors may prescribe ACE inhibitors alone while others combine them with other medicines to treat high blood pressure. Combining an ACE inhibitor with diuretics or calcium channel blockers may further control your blood pressure more effectively, though taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) increases your risk of serious side effects, including dangerously low blood pressure levels.
ACE inhibitors may cause several side effects, although most are minor. This may include dry coughing, dizziness or an unusual taste in the mouth; pregnant and breastfeeding mothers should notify their healthcare provider. On rare occasions, angioedema (swelling of certain areas of throat) can occur from taking these drugs.
Hydralazine is another ACE inhibitor medication, but due to more side effects it should not be considered the primary choice for treating high blood pressure. Hydralazine works by relaxing blood vessels but doesn’t appear to be as effective in lowering high blood pressure than other drugs.
2. Diuretics
Blood pressure medications help your body regulate your blood pressure by acting upon nerves and hormones to relax or widen blood vessels, while others encourage kidneys to rid their systems of excess salt and water. You will likely require multiple types of medication until one meets your individual needs – however a physician or nurse can gradually increase doses until finding what suits.
Some people may be more sensitive to blood pressure medications and experience side effects; the good news is that these usually improve as your body adjusts. You may also find combination medicines available which make taking them simpler – ask your pharmacist if there is such a product available.
At any point when taking new medication, be sure to inform both your physician or nurse of any problems or side effects you experience. They can check that it’s suitable for you if pregnant/breastfeeding; has other health conditions/allergies; as well as inform them about other otc/prx drugs (including herbal or natural alternatives ) you are taking.
Sometimes food, vitamins or supplements can interfere with how your medicines work and you should avoid them. You should inform your provider if you smoke, drink alcohol or take other drugs which could react with blood pressure medications, so they can advise you how best to handle this situation or find alternatives which provide similar effects.
3. Calcium Channel Blockers
When lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to reduce your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medications. There are various kinds of medicines available – diuretics can flush away excess water and salt through urine; angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE) help relax blood vessels; angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) widen and improve blood flow; while calcium channel blockers stop voltage-gated calcium channels from opening in heart cells.
Medication may cause side effects, though they should usually be mild and pass over time. It’s important to inform your healthcare provider of any difficulties while taking blood pressure medicine so they can ensure it’s safe and effective for you. Also inform them of all other medications, vitamins, or herbs you are taking; some can interfere with blood pressure medication and cause serious interactions that could potentially result in more side effects than expected.
Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) has been used as an ACE inhibitor for over 50 years, making it one of the most frequently prescribed blood pressure medicines today. Generally well tolerated by most people and highly effective, Lisinopril also comes as a generic option that makes it extremely affordable.
Candesartan (Atorvastatin), one of the first generic versions of its class of drugs to become widely available. Like lisinopril, candesartan works similarly but has milder and less frequent side effects compared to lisinopril – this makes it a suitable replacement choice if lisinopril doesn’t seem to be working effectively for you.
Hydralazine (Apresoline), is one medication that works differently to lower blood pressure than others; however, this older drug with more side effects should only be used as a last resort. Hydralazine works by increasing fluid retention within your body; this method has proven highly effective when other therapies do not work or cannot be taken. Unfortunately it should not be taken during pregnancy, breastfeeding, children under 5 or the elderly; although studies have demonstrated some potential harm.
4. Aldosterone Receptor Antagonists
Aldosterone receptor antagonists (or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, MRAs), are medications commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. As weak diuretics, aldosterone antagonists help reduce fluid buildup in the body while simultaneously lowering blood pressure by blocking aldosterone’s action on kidneys which are holding onto salt and water from your system; aldosterone antagonists allow kidneys to release this excess salt via pee and flush it from your system while protecting potassium stores necessary for heart health – providing essential care when taken as needed for heart health!
Direct Renin Inhibitors (DRIs), an emerging type of blood pressure medicine, work by inhibiting your kidneys from producing aldosterone and widening blood vessels while decreasing your blood pressure by decreasing how much salt your body contains.
DRIs may increase survival for patients with advanced heart failure and decrease hospitalizations while simultaneously helping reduce blood pressure levels. There are currently two DRIs available in the US – spironolactone and eplerenone; both provide similar effects when taken in combination with other medications to relieve heart failure symptoms.
The global aldosterone receptor antagonists market is expanding quickly. This trend is expected to accelerate further as more doctors prescribe these drugs for treating heart failure and related conditions, along with rising hypertension rates that will further drive market expansion.
Steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists occupy the largest share in the global market due to their effectiveness in reducing mortality and morbidity from heart failure and hypertension, while also becoming popular as treatment options for various other conditions like edema, primary aldosteronism, and hirsutism.
Tablets are often the preferred method of medication administration, due to their ease of swallowing, long shelf life and wide availability in medical stores and pharmacies. Patients and healthcare providers alike find them very convenient; however, tablets may occasionally cause side effects like weakness or dry cough.