Antihypertensive Side Effects

There are various categories of antihypertensive medications, which are usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, beta blockers cause the heart to beat slower and with less force. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors relax blood vessels, allowing them to expand. Alpha blockers allow blood to move freely by diminishing nerve impulses that tighten blood vessels. Like all medications, antihypertensives have potential side effects that may require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

• According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), side effects of antihypertensives that are considered common but not serious include mild fatigue, headache and dry cough. In minor cases, these side effects do not normally require medical attention. In the event that the symptoms become more acute or intolerable, the patient should notify a physician.

Serious Side Effects

• The Mayo Clinic identifies some serious side effects of antihypertensives as difficulty breathing, insomnia, feelings of depression and a decrease in sexual desire. A patient experiencing these symptoms should consult with a physician before continuing doses of any category of antihypertensive medication.

Severe Side Effects

• According to the FDA, severe side effects associated with antihypertensives that require immediate emergency medical attention include irregular heartbeat, fainting, cheat pain and rash. Allergic reactions to antihypertensives are potentially fatal if not immediately treated. Symptoms of allergic reaction include swelling of the lips, tongue, face, fingers or toes, as well as the appearance of hives on any part of the body.

Existing Medical Conditions

• Before using any category of antihypertensive medication, a patient should advise her physician of existing medical conditions such as heart arrhythmia, lupus, depression or kidney malfunction. Certain antihypertensives may disguise signs of low blood sugar in diabetics, and thus patients taking insulin must carefully monitor their blood sugar levels if they are simultaneously taking medication for high blood pressure. Beta blockers can trigger asthma attacks, and thus they should never be taken by asthmatic patients.

Drug Interaction

• According to the FDA medications that may adversely interact with antihypertensives include diuretics (water pills), estrogen, progesterone, insulin, phenytoin, corticosteroids, and blood thinners. Patients taking any of these medications to treat existing conditions should notify their physicians before adding any category of antihypertensive to their medication regimens.