Generic Drugs for High Blood Pressure

While generic blood pressure drugs will not cure high blood pressure, they may delay the development of heart disease and decrease the risk of having complications from high blood pressure. People using generic drugs for high blood pressure should have regular medical exams to determine the effectiveness of the medications and keep note of any side effects.

Significance

• According to the American Heart Association, generic drugs are just as effective at treating high blood pressure as the name brand medications but have lower costs than brand-name drugs.

Function

• The function of generic blood pressure drugs is to control high blood pressure. Generic blood pressure drugs come in pill form and are prescribed by a physician.

Hydrochlorothiazide

• According to the Mayo Clinic, generic diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide function in the kidneys rather than the heart, have few side effects and work well for people with mildly elevated blood pressure.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme

• According to the American Heart Association, generic angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors such as benazepril
  hydrochloride and captopril lower blood pressure by widening blood vessels.

Beta-blockers

• According to the Mayo Clinic, generic beta-blockers such as metoprolol succinate and propranolol hydrochloride lower the heart rate and decrease the workload on the heart.

Calcium channel blockers

• According to the Mayo Clinic, generic calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem hydrochloride and verapamil hydrochloride relax muscle cells in the heart.

Vasodilators

• According to the Mayo Clinic, generic vasodilators such as minoxidil and hydralazine hydrocholoride work by making the openings of heart vessels wider.