heart and blood vessel disorders
Medications for Treatment of High Blood Pressure
Introduction
 High Blood Pressure is very common. It often does not cause symptoms; however, high blood pressure can increase the risk of Medications that are used in the treatment of High Blood Pressure are called antihypertensives. With the wide variety of antihypertensives available, high blood pressure can be controlled in almost anyone, but treatment has to be tailored to the individual. (See also Different types of antihypertensives reduce blood pressure by different mechanisms, so many different treatment strategies are possible. For some people, doctors use a stepped approach to treatment with medications: They start with one type of antihypertensive and add others as necessary. For other people, doctors find a sequential approach is preferable: They prescribe one antihypertensive, and if it is ineffective, they stop it and prescribe another type. For people with blood pressure at or above 140/90 mm Hg, usually two medications are started at the same time. In choosing an antihypertensive, doctors consider such factors as The person's age, sex, and sometimes ethnicity The severity of high blood pressure The presence of other conditions, such as diabetes or high blood cholesterol levels Potential side effects, which vary depending on the medication The costs of the medications and of tests needed to check for certain side effects Most people ultimately require two or more medications to reach their blood pressure goal. Most people tolerate their prescribed antihypertensive medications without problems. But any antihypertensive medication can cause side effects. So if side effects develop, a person should tell the doctor, who can adjust the dose or substitute another medication. Usually, an antihypertensive medication must be taken indefinitely to control blood pressure. 