High Blood Pressure
Patient Education

Patient Guide

Common Medications and Treatments for High Blood Pressure

Chart I: Medications for Control of Hypertension

Category	Common Drugs	How It Works
ACE Inhibitors	Accupril (quinapril) Aceon (perindopril) Altace( ramipril) Capoten (captopril) Lotensin (benazepril) Mavik (trandolapril) Monopril (fosinopril) Prinivil (lisinopril) Univasc (moexipril) Vasotec (enalapril) Zestril (lisinopril)	Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors stop production of the angiotensin II hormone, which makesvessels relax and lowers pressure.
Alpha beta blockers	Coreg (carvedilol) Normodyne (labetalol) Trandaate (labetalol)	Helps to slow the heartbeat so blood pumped through vessels declines. Decreases nerve impulses to vessels.
Alpha-Blockers (Alpha Adrenergic-Antagonists)	Flomax (Tamsulosin) Cardura (Doxazosin) Minipress (Prazosin) Terazsin Uroxatral (Alfuzosin)	Decreases nerve stimulation to the blood vessels. Reduces pressure of blood flow through the vessels
Angiotensin Antagonists (Angiotensin Blockers)	Atacand (Candesartan) Avapro (Irbesartan) Benicar (Olmesartan) Cozaar (Losartan) Diovan (Valsartan) Edarbi (Azilsartan) Micardis (Telmisartan) Teveten (Eprosartan)	Protects blood vessels from affects of Angitensin II - this widens blood vessels thereby decreasing pressure.
Calcium Channel Blockers (CCBs)	Amlodipine-Norvasc Aranidipine (Sapresta) Azelnidipine (Calblock) Barnidipine (HypoCa) Benidipine (Coniel) Cilnidipine (Atelec,Cinalong) Clevidipine (Cleviprex) Isradipine (DynaCirck,Prescal) Efonidipine (Landel) Felodipine (Plendil) Lacidipine (Motens) Lercanidipine (Zanidipip) Manidipine (Calslot,Madipine) Nicardipine (Cardene) Nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat) Nilvadipine (Nivadil) Nimodipine (Nimotop) Nisoldipine(Baymycard,Sular,Syscor) Nitrendipine (Cardif,Nitrepin) Pranidipine (Acalas) Veerapamil (Calan,Verelan)	Prevents calcium entry into muscle cells of vessels and heart. Relaxes blood vessels.
Diuretics	Thiazides-Esidrix, Zaroxolyn While there are many diuretics, only the above two are used to lower blood pressure	Rids the body of excess water and sodium Often called "water pills." Works to help the function of kidneys.
Nervous System Inhibitors	Clonidine Guanabenz (Wytensin) Guanfacine Methyldopa (Aldomet,Aldoril,Dopamet Dopegyt)	Moderates nerve impulses to relax blood vessels- dilates vessels to decrease pressure Alpha-adrenergic agonist
Vaso-Dilators	Diamox (acetazolamide) Thalitone(chlorthalildone) Lozol (Indapamide) Metolazone (zaroxolyn) Hydralazine Sodium Nitropruside (Minoxidil)	Relaxes vessel wall musculature to wide the blood vessels and thereby decrease pressure.