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Different Kinds of Blood Pressure Medicine

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), high blood pressure pills are one of the most important medications you can take. High blood pressure may not always reveal itself with symptoms, but patients should take the recommended dosage to avoid what sometimes are fatal consequences.

  1. ACE Inhibitors

    • Angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE inhibitors) are prescribed under a variety of brand and generic names, including Aceon, Ramipril and Zestnil. ACE inhibitors help the muscles surrounding the heart open arterial passageways, which allow blood to flow normally, thereby reducing pressure on the heart. Common side effects include dizziness, rapid heartbeat and coughing. Pregnant women should not take ACE inhibitors, or any blood pressure medicines, because they have been known to cause birth defects.

    Beta-Blockers

    • Beta-blockers block the effects of adrenaline and slow your heartbeat to reduce pressure. People with a slow heart rate should not take beta-blockers. While the medication can help to lower blood pressure, doctors also stress lifestyle changes as a way to a healthier heart. Blood pressure medicines can't overcome poor eating habits, lack of exercise or heavy smoking.

    Combinations

    • Many people with high blood pressure must take two or more prescriptions. Pharmaceutical companies have combined some of the more popular drugs into single-dose medications to reduce the risk of missing a dose or mixing up the various pills. Common brand and generic names for combination blood pressure pills are Exforge, Lotrel and Tanka.

    Calcium Channel Blockers

    • Lower blood pressure also can be achieved with calcium channel blockers. The drug prevents calcium from getting into the cells that lead to the heart. Calcium channel blockers also have been useful in treating migraines and Raynaud's disease, a condition that affects circulation, causing numbness in the hands and feet. Calcium channel blockers are available in a quick-acting formula and in a slower time-released version. Calcium blockers often are prescribed with other blood pressure medications.

    Statins

    • Statins are drugs that lower the levels of cholesterol in the blood, a common cause of high blood pressure. Statins help the body absorb plaque that has built up in the walls of the arteries from too much cholesterol. Popular brands of statins include Lipitor, Zocor and Crestor. Because statins only treat the symptoms of high cholesterol that cause heart disease, they often are prescribed in conjunction with other drugs that help alleviate high blood pressure as well.

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