Medication are used to control
the blood pressure which prescribed by your doctor.
Note: Generic name is the common
name of the drug. For example, Panadol is the brand name while its generic name
is paracetamol.
Basically, there are 8 classes of
drugs.
Alpha
Blocker
Have vasodilating effect means
will cause the widening of the blood vessels. This will eventually reduce the
arteries’ (one of the 3 main blood vessel in our body) resistance, and cause
rapid reduction in blood pressure.
Side effect:
· Nausea
·
Urinary
frequency
·
Tachycardia
( rapid or accelerated heartbeat)
·
Dizziness
·
Headache
·
Palpitations
( the feeling of abnormality in the normal beating of heart)
·
Postural
hypotension ( Drop in blood pressure due to a change in body position)
Avoid using on children <12
years old and also person that have congestive heart failure (the heart unable
to provide enough pump action)
Example of medication in their
generic name: Doxazosin, Prazosin, Terasozin
 |
| Examples of Alpha Blocker Drugs in the Market |
Angiotensin-converting
enzyme inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors)
These drugs will block the
effects of angiotensin which will causes the arteries to become narrow
especially in the kidneys but also throughout the body. This drug will help the
body to produce less angiotensin since the enzyme is blocked to produce this
chemical. Less angiotensin means arteries are less becoming narrows which help
the blood vessels relax and open up which then lowers blood pressure.
Side Effects:
·
Dizziness
·
Headache
·
Fatigue
·
Gastrointestinal
irritation and abdominal pain
·
Cough
·
Rash
·
Flushing
·
Nausea
·
Diarrhea
·
Hypotension
·
Tachycardia
(rapid heartbeat)
Avoid using on person who having
edema, women that pregnant and breastfeeding, hypersensitivity (allergy) and
children are not recommended to this drug.
Example of Drugs in generic name:
Captopril, Ramipril, Enalapril, Lisinopril, Fosinopril.
Angiotension
Receptor Blockers (ARB)
The narrowing effect of
angiotensin will be blocked by this drug. This is because angiotensin needs a
receptor-like to bind with in order to constrict the blood vessel. ARB blocks
the receptors, no binding of angiotensin with the receptors mean no constriction
of blood vessel. Blood vessels remained open and blood pressure is reduced.
Side effects:
·
Flushing
·
Headache
·
Back
pain
·
Dizziness
·
Anxiety
·
Gastrointestinal
disturbances (feeling discomfort on your digestive system)
·
Fatigue
Avoid using on person that having
kidney and liver problem, pregnant and breastfeeding mother also avoid from
using this drug.
Example of drugs in its generic
name: Losartan, Valsartan, Candesartan, Telmisartan
 |
| An Example of ARB drugs product in the market |
Beta
blockers
This drug will reduce the heart
rate, heart’s workload and the output of blood which then lowers the blood
pressure.
Side effect:
·
Dizziness
·
Nausea
·
Fatigue
·
Diarrhea
·
Gastrointestinal
and sleep disturbances
·
Hallucinations
·
Lethargy
·
Cold
extremities (feeling of cold at the hand and leg)
·
Cramps
and muscle weakness
·
Hypotension
(low blood pressure)
Avoid using for person that have
metabolic acidosis (a condition where body produce too much acid or the kidney failed to remove the excess acid from our body) , obstructive airway disease, broncospasm, woman that
pregnant and breastfeeding.
Note: Dosage reduction is needed
in kidney failure patient as it is excreted by the kidney.
Examples of drugs in its generic
name: Metoprolol, Propanolol, Acebutolol, Atenolol, Bisoprolol, Sotalol.
Calcium
Channel Blockers
This medicine will prevents
calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and arteries. This
is because the entering of calcium will causes a stronger and harder
contraction, so the blocking the entering of calcium into the muscle cells will
cause the hearts’ contraction is not as forceful. Calcium channel blockers
relax and open up narrowed blood vessels, reduce heart rate and lower blood
pressure.
Side effect:
·
Dizziness
·
Fatigue
·
Headache
·
Bradycardia
(slow heart rate)
·
Nausea
·
Gastrointestinal
disturbances
·
Constipation
·
Skin
flushing
People who have low blood
pressure associated with heart damaged that it is unable to supply enough blood
to the organs of the body cannot take this drug. Allergy patient and pregnant
woman also cannot take this drug same goes to breastfeeding mother.
There are 3 types of calcium
channel blockers, they having the same function, only that the mechanism of
action are different:
1.
Dihydropiridine
a. Amlodipine
b. Felodipine
c. Nicardipine
d. Nifedipine
e. Lacidipine
2.
Verapamil
3.
Diltiazem
Centrally
Acting Drugs
Or sometime you may find it as
Peripheral Adrenergic Inhibitors in the internet. This drug is now rarely used
unless other medications couldn’t help and in pregnancy. This drug will reduce
the blood pressure by blocking the neurotransmitters in the brain where the
smooth muscles will not get “message” to constrict. No constriction of blood
vessels, blood pressure reduced.
Side effect:
·
Depression
·
Dry
mouth
·
Sedation
·
Fluid
retention
·
Rashes
·
Nausea
Patients that have depression and
kidney or liver problem should not take this drug. Active hepatitis patient
also should omit from taking this drug.
Examples of drugs: Methyldopa,
Reserpine, Clonidine
Direct
Vasodilators
Nowadays, this class of drugs
mostly used in hypertensive crisis only. Direct vasodilators will cause the
muscle in the walls of the blood vessels to relax and allowing it to dilate.
This will allows blood to flow through better.
Side effect:
·
Tachycardia
·
Fluid
retention
·
Nausea
·
Vomiting
·
Headache
·
Abdominal
pain
·
Palpitations
Patient with severe tachycardia,
severe liver impairment should not prescribe with this drug.
Examples of drug: Hydralazine,
sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin. Minoxidil should be reserved for treatment
of severe hypertension resistant to other drugs.
 |
| Product that available in market |
Diuretics
This drug helps the body to get
rid of excess sodium (salt) and water and help control blood pressure. They are
often used in combination with additional prescription therapies.
Side Effect:
·
Electrolyte
disturbances
Exampls of drugs are divided into
three groups:
1.
Loop
Diuretics
a. Bumetanide
b. Frusemide
2.
Potassium-sparing
diuretics
a. Amiloride
b. Triamterene
3.
Thiazides
and related diuretics
a. Chlorothiazide
b. Hydrochlorothiazide
c. Indapamide
Tekanan darah saya tinggi kerana saya minum kopi/ nescafe
dengan banyak. 
