Types of Blood Pressure Medicines

There are many different types of medications available to treat high blood pressure. Each medication has a similar goal, to help the blood vessels open up, but each has a different method to tackle the job. Different people will find more effective treatment with different medications as they may be more susceptible to one method over another.

Diuretics

• These are often called "water pills," because they help the kidney flush away excess water and sodium from the body. The reduction in body fluids takes away the pressure from the blood vessels and heart.

Blockers

• There are four types of blocker medications: beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, alpha blockers and alpha beta blockers. Even though each inhibit different nerve impulses, they all slow the heart rate and relax the blood vessels.

ACE Inhibitors

• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors prevent the production of the angiotensin II hormone, which restricts blood vessels and causes them to narrow.

Angiotensin Antagonists

• Unlike ACE inhibitors, angiotensin antagonists do not prevent hormone production. Instead, the antagonists protect the blood vessels from angiotensin II, which as a result also widens the vessels.

Vasodilators

• Vasodilators force the muscles in the vessel walls to relax to open up and widen the blood vessels.