What are high blood pressure medications?
High blood pressure (HBP, high BP) medications, also known as antihypertensives, are prescribed medications to treat high blood pressure. Antihypertensive medications do not cure hypertension but may lower and/or maintain the blood pressure at normal levels.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a condition when blood flow exerts higher pressure on the arteries than normal. Blood pressure is measured in two values in mg Hg:
- Systolic: Blood pressure when the heart pumps out blood
- Diastolic: Blood pressure when the heart relaxes between two beats
Blood pressure (BP) is written as systolic/diastolic pressure. Blood pressure is considered to be high (elevated) if either one or both of the two values are higher than the normal range (adults’ normal range, <120/80). Early treatment of high blood pressure can prevent damage to the arteries and heart, and the resultant life-threatening conditions such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.
What are the types of high blood pressure medications?
There are many types of high blood pressure medications and each type of medication works in a different way to bring down the blood pressure. Some patients may need to take more than one type of high BP medication. The type and dosage of medication depend on factors such as:
- How high is the BP
- The reason for the high BP
- Response to the medication
- Other co-existing conditions
The common classes of high blood pressure medications include:
- Diuretics
- Beta-blockers
- ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Calcium channel blockers
- Alpha-blockers
- Alpha-2 receptor agonist
- Central agonists
- Alpha-beta blockers
- Vasodilators
How do high blood pressure medications work?
Diuretics
Diuretics, also known as water pills, increase urination by reducing sodium reabsorption in the kidneys. This reduces the blood volume and lowers blood pressure. Mild hypertension may sometimes be treated with only diuretics, but they are most often prescribed in combination with other high blood pressure medications.
A primary side effect of diuretics is a loss of potassium, and patients are advised to take potassium-rich food such as bananas or orange juice with their medications. Potassium-sparing diuretics have subsequently been developed.
There are different types of diuretics, the difference being mainly in their potency and the site of their action in the kidney. Combinations of two diuretics in a single pill are also available. The three major types of diuretics prescribed for hypertension are:
Thiazide diuretics are usually the first-line treatment for hypertension. Following are some of the commonly prescribed thiazide diuretics:
- Chlorthalidone
- Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
- Hydrochlorothiazide or HCTZ (Microzide)
- Indapamide
- Metolazone (Zaroxolyn)
Loop diuretics
Loop diuretics are more potent than thiazides and are used primarily to treat patients with impaired kidney function or patients who are allergic to thiazides. Loop diuretics are so-called because they may prevent water reabsorption in the ascending loop of Henle in the nephron. Nephrons are functional units of kidneys, which help regulate the body’s fluid balance.
Loop diuretics include:
- Bumetanide (Bumex)
- Furosemide (Lasix)
- Ethacrynate (Edecrin)
- Torsemide
Potassium-sparing diuretics
Potassium-sparing diuretics are less potent than the other types, but reduce the reabsorption of only sodium. Potassium-sparing diuretics include:
- Amiloride hydrochloride (Midamor)
- Spironolactone (Aldactone)
- Triamterene (Dyrenium)
Combination diuretics include:
- Amiloride hydrochloride/hydrochlorothiazide
- Spironolactone/hydrochlorothiazide (Aldactazide)
- Triamterene/hydrochlorothiazide (Dyazide, Maxzide)
Beta-blockers
Norepinephrine and epinephrine (adrenaline) are hormones known as catecholamines produced by the adrenal gland. These hormones bind to proteins known as beta receptors on muscle cells, which results in more forceful contraction of heart muscles, and consequently a rise in the heart rate and blood pressure.
Beta-blockers block or reduce the effect of these hormones and as a result, the heart contracts with less force, arteries dilate, and blood pressure comes down. Beta-blockers should not be stopped suddenly as that can result in a heart attack or sudden death.
Beta-blockers include:
- Acebutolol
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Betaxolol hydrochloride
- Bisoprolol fumarate
- Carteolol hydrochloride
- Esmolol hydrochloride (Brevibloc)
- Metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor)
- Metoprolol succinate (Toprol-XL)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Nebivolol hydrochloride (Bystolic)
- Pindolol
- Propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal)
- Sotalol hydrochloride (Betapace)
- Timolol maleate
Combination of beta-blocker and diuretic:
- Bisoprolol/hydrochlorothiazide (Ziac)
The kidneys secrete an enzyme known as renin when they detect low blood pressure. Renin activates angiotensin I, a hormone produced in the liver, which is converted into angiotensin II by the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Angiotensin II is a powerful chemical that makes the smooth muscles around the blood vessels contract, increasing blood pressure.
ACE inhibitors prevent the formation of angiotensin II by inhibiting ACE, which keeps blood vessels relaxed and the blood pressure low. Following are commonly prescribed ACE inhibitors:
- Benazepril hydrochloride (Lotensin)
- Captopril (Capoten)
- Enalapril Maleate (Vasotec)
- Fosinopril sodium
- Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Moexipril hydrochloride
- Perindopril erbumine
- Quinapril hydrochloride (Accupril)
- Ramipril (Altace)
- Aliskiren hemifumarate (Tekturna) -- renin inhibitor
Combination of ACE inhibitors and calcium channel blockers include:
- Perindopril arginine/amlodipine besylate (Prestalia)
- Trandolapril/verapamil hydrochloride (Tarka)
Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)
Angiotensin II hormone must bind with receptor sites on blood vessels to make them contract. ARBs help lower blood pressure by preventing angiotensin from binding to the receptor sites.
Examples of ARBs include:
- Azilsartan medoxomil (Edarbi)
- Candesartan (Atacand)
- Irbesartan (Avapro)
- Losartan potassium (Cozaar)
- Olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar)
- Telmisartan (Micardis)
- Valsartan (Diovan)
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
The smooth muscles of the heart and blood vessels require calcium to contract. Calcium channel blockers reduce the calcium flow into the muscle cells, making the heart pump with less force and blood vessels relax, resulting in lower blood pressure.
Calcium channel blockers are of three classes:
- Dihydropyridines: Primary effect on the blood vessels
- Benzothiazines: Primary effect on the heart muscles
- Phenylalkylamines: Effect on both heart and blood vessels
Following is a list of calcium channel blockers:
- Dihydropyridines
- Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)
- Amlodipine combination drugs:
- Amlodipine and atorvastatin (Caduet)
- Amlodipine and benazepril (Lotrel)
- Amlodipine and valsartan (Exforge)
- Amlodipine and telmisartan (Twynsta)
- Amlodipine and olmesartan (Azor)
- Amlodipine, olmesartan and hydrochlorothiazide (Tribenzor)
- Amlodipine and perindopril (Prestalia)
- Clevidipine (Cleviprex)
- Felodipine
- Isradipine
- Nicardipine hydrochloride (Cardene)
- Nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat CC)
- Nimodipine
- Nisoldipine (Sular)
- Benzothiazine
- Phenylalkylamine
Alpha-blockers
Catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine also stimulate alpha-1 receptors in the smooth muscles of blood vessels making them contract. Alpha-blockers block their effect, which results in dilation of blood vessels and lower blood pressure. Alpha-blockers are not usually first-line treatment. Alpha-blockers include:
- Doxazosin mesylate (Cardura)
- Prazosin hydrochloride (Minipress)
- Terazosin hydrochloride
Alpha-beta blockers
Alpha-beta blockers affect both alpha and beta receptors, resulting in slowing of the heart’s pumping as well as preventing blood vessel contraction. Alpha-beta blockers include:
Alpha-2 receptor agonist
Alpha-2 receptors inhibit the transmission of nerve signals by neurotransmitters that stimulate the release of norepinephrine. Alpha-2 receptor agonists boost the activity of alpha-2 receptors. The alpha-2 receptor agonist, which is particularly used to treat hypertension during pregnancy is:
Central agonists
Central agonists work on the central nervous system to decrease the constriction of blood vessels and help lower blood pressure. Central agonists include:
- Clonidine hydrochloride (Catapres)
- Guanfacine hydrochloride
Vasodilators
Vasodilators relax the arterial muscles which allow the blood vessels to dilate, decreasing the blood pressure. Vasodilators include:
- Hydralazine hydrochloride
- Minoxidil

SLIDESHOW
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips See SlideshowWhat is the most popular medication for high blood pressure?
According to recent statistics, the most popular high blood pressure medications in terms of dollar sales include:
- Angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan (Diovan)
- Beta-blocker metoprolol
- Generic combination of valsartan and diuretic HCTZ
- Angiotensin II receptor blocker Olmesartan (Benicar)
- Combination of olmesartan and HCTZ (Benicar HCT)
In terms of prescriptions, the most common high blood pressure medications include:
- ACE inhibitor lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
- Calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)
- Diuretic hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
What is the best high blood pressure medication?
The choice of high blood pressure medication depends on several factors such as a patient’s general health, age, ethnicity, drug sensitivity, and co-existing conditions if any. For instance:
- Beta-blockers may not be suitable for a hypertensive patient with asthma because they can aggravate respiratory conditions.
- Calcium channel blockers and diuretics may not suit patients prone to constipation.
- A combination of two types of low dose medications instead of a high dose of a single medication may be preferable for an elderly patient.
- African-Americans respond better to some medications than others, and diuretics or calcium channel blockers are recommended as first-line treatment, with a possible additional class of drug.
Additional information
- Please visit our medication section of each drug within its class for more detailed information.
- If your prescription medication isn’t on this list, remember to look in our medication section or discuss it with your healthcare provider and pharmacist.
- It is important to discuss all the drugs you take with your doctor and understand their effects and possible side effects.
- Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting with your doctor.
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Related Disease Conditions
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High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a disease in which pressure within the arteries of the body is elevated. About 75 million people in the US have hypertension (1 in 3 adults), and only half of them are able to manage it. Many people do not know that they have high blood pressure because it often has no has no warning signs or symptoms. Systolic and diastolic are the two readings in which blood pressure is measured. The American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure in 2017. The guidelines now state that blood normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. If either one of those numbers is higher, you have high blood pressure. The American Academy of Cardiology defines high blood pressure slightly differently. The AAC considers 130/80 mm Hg. or greater (either number) stage 1 hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is considered 140/90 mm Hg. or greater. If you have high blood pressure you are at risk of developing life threatening diseases like stroke and heart attack.REFERENCE: CDC. High Blood Pressure. Updated: Nov 13, 2017.
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What Does it Mean When the Bottom Number of Your Blood Pressure is Over 100?
Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries when the heart muscle relaxes between beats. When the bottom number of blood pressure (diastole) is over 100 mmHg, it may be called diastolic hypertension (DHT). Diastolic blood pressure means the blood pressure reading during the phase when your heart relaxes (diastole). Force of the blood against the walls of the arteries (the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other sites) in the body is called blood pressure. The heart pumps the blood into the arteries as it contracts (systole).
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What Does It Mean When the Diastolic Number is High?
A high diastolic reading (equal to or greater than 120 mmHg) is linked to a higher risk of heart disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and other cardiovascular problems.
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How Do You Check Your Blood Pressure With Fingers?
Most doctors recommend the use of a blood pressure machine to check blood pressure. An individual may check heart rate with their fingers, but not blood pressure.
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Is A Manual Blood Pressure More Accurate?
Manual blood pressure gives accurate results when used correctly by a trained person. However, manual blood pressure measurement is not the recommended type of blood pressure monitoring for home use because it requires some training.
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Things to Know About High Blood Pressure Treatment
High blood pressure (hypertension) means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Treatment for high blood pressure include lifestyle modifications (alcohol, smoking, coffee, salt, diet, exercise), drugs and medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), alpha blockers, clonidine, minoxidil, and Exforge.
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How Do I Know If I Have High or Low Blood Pressure Numbers?
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What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?
High blood pressure or hypertension is when the blood pressure readings consistently range from 140 or higher for systolic or 90 or higher for diastolic. Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are dangerously high and require immediate medical attention.
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High Blood Pressure Symptoms
Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. In some patients, symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion, sweating, chest pain and vision problems.

SLIDESHOW
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips See SlideshowTreatment & Diagnosis
- High Blood Pressure FAQs
- High Blood Pressure Symptoms
- High Blood Pressure: Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Inherited High Blood Pressure in a Teenager
- Hypertension In The Elderly - Deserves More Attention
- Salt, DASH, High Blood Pressure
- High Blood Pressure and Exercise
- Does Menopause Cause High Blood Pressure?
- Can I Lift Weights with High Blood Pressure?
- Pain Relievers and High Blood Pressure
Medications & Supplements
- ACE Inhibitors
- Beta Blockers
- Vasodilators
- labetalol
- furosemide
- Types of High Blood Pressure Medications
- Thiazides (Diuretics)
- hydrochlorothiazide
- hawthorn
- midodrine
- anamu
- atenolol
- phenylephrine
- guanfacine
- lemon balm
- eplerenone
- trimagnesium citrate anhydrous
- prazosin
- chlorella
- Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil)
- Letairis (ambrisentan)
- Benicar HCT (olmesartan medoxomil-hydrochlorothiazide)
- Lumason (sulfur hexafluoride lipid-type A microspheres)
- Consensi (amlodipine and celecoxib)
- Tekturna HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and aliskiren)
Prevention & Wellness

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
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