Blood Pressure Drugs List

A blood pressure reading higher than 140/90 is considered hypertension, a medical condition that increases the risk for stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. Hypertension affects one in three Americans. For some, changes in diet, increased activity and better stress management are sufficient to relieve hypertension. For others, one or more medications may be needed to control the condition. The following blood pressure drug list explains the action of each medication on the cardiovascular system.

Beta Blockers

• Beta blockers allow the heart to beat more slowly and with less force. The drug also causes blood vessels to dilate. This means the heart needs less force to move blood through the vessels, which reduces blood pressure. Commonly prescribed beta blockers include acebutolol, atenolol, betaxolol, bisoprolol, carteolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, sotalol and timolol.

ACE Inhibitors

• Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors inhibit production of the hormone angiotensin II, a substance that constricts blood vessels. It helps lower blood pressure because the vessels relax in the absence of angiotensin II. Commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors include benazepril, captopril, enalapril, fosinopril, lisinopril, moexipril, perindopril, quinapril, ramipril and trandolapril.

Angiotensin Antagonists

• This drug has a similar effect as ACE inhibitors. Rather than inhibiting production of angiotensin II, it protects the blood vessels from the constricting effects of the hormone. Commonly prescribed drugs include candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, telmisartan and valsartan.

Calcium Channel Blockers

• Calcium is a vital trigger in the biological processes that cause the pumping action of the heart. In older people and others with constricted blood vessels calcium isn't moved as efficiently. In addition to elevated blood pressure, this also can result in arrhythmias, fibrillations, and angina. Calcium channel blockers make the heart pump more effectively and relax blood vessels. Commonly prescribed drugs are clonidine hydrochloride, guanabenz acetate and methyldopa.

Diuretics

• Diuretics cause more frequent urination so that salt and excess fluid can be eliminated from the body. Diuretics can be used alone or in combination with other medications to enhance the positive effects of the drugs. Commonly prescribed are amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide, chlorthalidone, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide and spironolactone.

Combination Therapies

• In some cases, blood pressure drugs work best in combination with each other. Common pairings, according to the American Heart Association, are ACE inhibitors with calcium channel blockers or diuretics, for example. In certain populations including African Americans, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers don't work as effectively alone, but adding a diuretic often improves the effects of both drugs.

Resistant Hypertension

• When hypertension does not respond to lifestyle changes and combination therapies, additional classes of blood pressure drugs may be employed. These include alpha blockers, which lessen electrical signals from the brain to the blood vessels and inhibit the constriction of vessels; central-acting agents that prevent overstimulation of the nervous system; and vasodilators, which prevent constriction of blood vessels by relaxing arterial muscles.