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Medications for High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Other names: Drug-Induced Hypertension

High blood pressure is a term that is used to acknowledge that a person’s blood pressure is above what is considered normal. High blood pressure is also called hypertension.

Measuring somebody's blood pressure gives us an indication of how effectively their heart is working to pump blood around their body. If their heart and blood vessels are working efficiently, then their blood pressure will be normal or slightly below normal. If their heart is having to work very hard to pump blood around their body, then their blood pressure will be high.

Blood pressure is composed of two measurements.

  • The first recording is called the systolic pressure and it measures the force the heart must pump against to get blood to flow around the body. It can indicate how flexible or stiff the blood vessels are. During this measurement, the blood pressure cuff inflates to a certain extent and records what pressure around the arm stops blood flow.
  • The second recording is called diastolic pressure. This measures the resting pressure when the heart relaxes between heartbeats. It is recorded while the blood pressure cuff is deflating.

Most experts consider a normal blood pressure to be 120/80 mm Hg. Ideally, everybody’s blood pressure should be below 130/80 mm Hg. If the first number is above 130 or the second number is above 80 then a person is said to have high blood pressure.

What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?

Most people experience no symptoms when their blood pressure is high. Sometimes people may develop a headache or feel unwell; however, most do not connect these vague symptoms as having to do with their heart.

If high blood pressure is left untreated, it can damage the blood vessels and increase a person’s risk of having a stroke or a heart attack. It also causes the heart to enlarge and weaken because it essentially wears itself out from having to work so hard to push blood around the body. People with high blood pressure are also more likely to develop high cholesterol, kidney and eye problems, and have poor circulation in the legs and feet.

How is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?

It is not uncommon for your blood pressure to go high occasionally; however, it is persistently high blood pressure that is a concern. For this reason, if a doctor or nurse takes your blood pressure and it is high but you don’t have any risk factors or symptoms, then at least two other separate measurements should be taken before you are diagnosed with high blood pressure.

Before getting your blood pressure taken you should avoid the following for at least an hour before the measurement:

  • Strenuous exercise
  • Smoking
  • Caffeine
  • Eating
  • Stressful situations.

Sit down for at least five minutes before the reading is taken and don’t talk while it is being measured.

Other tests may be ordered if your doctor concludes you have high blood pressure. These may include blood tests, an electrocardiogram, and sometimes a chest x-ray.

How is High Blood Pressure Treated?

Treatment depends on how high your blood pressure is. For people whose systolic reading falls in the range 120 to 129 and the diastolic reading is equal to or less than 80, lifestyle changes are usually recommended over medications. These may include:

  • Losing weight if you are overweight
  • Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables
  • Eating less salt
  • Eating less saturated fats
  • Increased physical activity
  • More physical activity
  • Limiting alcohol.

If treatment is considered necessary, sometimes more than one medication is prescribed. Medications for high blood pressure include:

  • Diuretics
  • Beta-blockers
  • ACE inhibitors
  • Angiotensin-receptor blockers
  • Calcium channel blockers
  • Alpha-blockers.

See also: sub-topics

Drugs used to treat High Blood Pressure

The following list of medications are in some way related to or used in the treatment of this condition.

Filter
Drug name Rating Reviews Activity ? Rx/OTC Pregnancy CSA Alcohol
lisinopril 4.8 548 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: lisinopril systemic

Brand names:  Prinivil, Zestril, Qbrelis

Drug class: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

amlodipine 3.6 704 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: amlodipine systemic

Brand names:  Norvasc, Katerzia, Norliqva

Drug class: calcium channel blocking agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

losartan 4.4 552 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: losartan systemic

Brand name:  Cozaar

Drug class: angiotensin receptor blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

hydrochlorothiazide 4.9 158 reviews
Rx B N X

Generic name: hydrochlorothiazide systemic

Brand names:  Aquazide H, Esidrix, Microzide

Drug class: thiazide diuretics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

metoprolol 5.1 279 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: metoprolol systemic

Brand names:  Lopressor, Toprol-XL, Kapspargo Sprinkle

Drug class: cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

atenolol 6.6 128 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: atenolol systemic

Brand name:  Tenormin

Drug class: cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Norvasc 4.0 93 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: amlodipine systemic

Drug class: calcium channel blocking agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

carvedilol 4.1 102 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: carvedilol systemic

Brand names:  Coreg, Coreg CR

Drug class: non-cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Benicar 7.2 110 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: olmesartan systemic

Drug class: angiotensin receptor blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

furosemide 4.4 15 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: furosemide systemic

Brand name:  Lasix

Drug class: loop diuretics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

clonidine 5.7 111 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: clonidine systemic

Brand names:  Catapres, Catapres-TTS, Nexiclon XR

Drug class: antiadrenergic agents, centrally acting

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Cozaar 6.1 56 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: losartan systemic

Drug class: angiotensin receptor blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril 5.6 77 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: hydrochlorothiazide / lisinopril systemic

Brand name:  Zestoretic

Drug class: ACE inhibitors with thiazides

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Bystolic 6.2 215 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: nebivolol systemic

Drug class: cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Diovan 6.6 64 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: valsartan systemic

Drug class: angiotensin receptor blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Lopressor 6.2 10 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: metoprolol systemic

Drug class: cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Toprol-XL 6.3 37 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: metoprolol systemic

Drug class: cardioselective beta blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

valsartan 5.4 139 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: valsartan systemic

Brand name:  Diovan

Drug class: angiotensin receptor blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

spironolactone 4.9 48 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: spironolactone systemic

Brand names:  Aldactone, CaroSpir

Drug class: potassium-sparing diuretics, aldosterone receptor antagonists

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

enalapril 4.9 21 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: enalapril systemic

Brand names:  Vasotec, Epaned

Drug class: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

hydralazine 2.7 81 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: hydralazine systemic

Brand name:  Apresoline

Drug class: vasodilators

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Lasix 4.2 10 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: furosemide systemic

Drug class: loop diuretics

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Avapro 5.0 39 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: irbesartan systemic

Drug class: angiotensin receptor blockers

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

nifedipine 3.9 101 reviews
Rx C N X

Generic name: nifedipine systemic

Brand names:  Procardia XL, Adalat CC, Afeditab CR, Procardia …show all

Drug class: calcium channel blocking agents

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: AHFS DI Monograph, Prescribing Information

Prinivil 5.5 10 reviews
Rx D N X

Generic name: lisinopril systemic

Drug class: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors

For consumers: dosage, interactions, side effects

For professionals: Prescribing Information

Frequently asked questions

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Topics under High Blood Pressure

Alternative treatments for High Blood Pressure

The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for High Blood Pressure. Their efficacy may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However there may be historical, cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of High Blood Pressure.

Legend

Rating For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx Prescription only.
OTC Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U CSA Schedule is unknown.
N Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1 Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2 Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3 Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5 Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X Interacts with Alcohol.

Further information

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