heart and blood vessel disorders
Medications for Treatment of High Blood Pressure
Diuretics
A thiazide or thiazide-like diuretic (such aschlorthalidoneorindapamide) may be the first medication given to treat high blood pressure. Diuretics can cause blood vessels to widen (dilate). Diuretics also help the kidneys eliminate sodium and water, decreasing fluid volume throughout the body and thus lowering blood pressure. Thiazide diuretics cause potassium to be excreted in the urine, so people sometimes must also take potassium supplements or a diuretic that does not cause potassium loss or that causes potassium levels to increase (a potassium-sparing diuretic). Usually, potassium-sparing diuretics are not used alone because they do not control blood pressure as well as thiazide diuretics do. However, the potassium-sparing diureticspironolactoneis sometimes used alone. Diuretics are particularly useful for people of African ancestry, older people, people with obesity, and people with heart failure or chronic kidney disease. 