Blood Pressure Drugs OTC
Nifedipine
Adalat is indicated for treatment of high blood pressure and other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Spironolactone
Aldactone is used for treatment of edema (swelling), hypertension (high blood pressure), potassium deficiency and hyperaldosteronism.
Ramipril
Altace is used for treatment of high blood pressure and decreases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death in certain patients.
Irbesartan
Avapro is indicated for treatment of high blood pressure. It is also used for treatment of kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Clonidine
Combipres is indicated for treatment of high blood pressure. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Carvedilol
Coreg is used for treatment of high blood pressure and mild to severe heart failure. Coreg may be used alone or with other medications.
Perindopril
Coversyl is indicated for treatment of high blood pressure. Coversyl may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Losartan
Cozaar is used for treatment of high blood pressure. It is also used to reduce the risk of stroke in certain patients with high blood.
Valsartan
Diovan is used for treatment of high blood pressure. It is also used for treating heart failure in patients who do not ACE inhibitors.
Amiloride
Frumil is used to treat high blood pressure or congestive heart failure. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Terazosin
Hytrin is indicated for treating high blood pressure and treating signs and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Losartan
Hyzaar is indicated for treatment of high blood pressure. It may be used to decrease the risk of stroke in certain patients with high blood pressure.
Propranolol
Inderal is used for treatment of high blood pressure, prevention of angina. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Metoprolol
Lopressor is used to treat high blood pressure, alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Indapamide
Lozol is used for treating high blood pressure, swelling or congestive heart failure due to excess fluid in the body.
Hydrochlorothiazide
Microzide is indicated to treat edema, and high blood pressure. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Prazosin
Minipress is used for treatment of high blood pressure and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It may also be used to treat other conditions.
Amlodipine
Norvasc is used to treat hypertension and angina. Norvasc widens the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump and lowering its workload.
Enalapril
Vasotec is indicated to treating high blood pressure, heart failure, and other heart problems. It may be used alone or with other medicines.
Bisoprolol
Zebeta is used for treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions.
Lisinopril
Zestoretic is indicated for treatment of hypertension. It may be used alone or with other medicines. It may also be used for other conditions.
Blood Pressure Medications
Have you ever wandered into a medicine store and looked around? If you do, you will be amazed after seeing the number of prescription drugs of all kinds of diseases present there. The same amazement will turn into confusion when you walk into a store and ask for hypertension drugs. A sly retailer might even trick you into buying an ineffective drug in order to garner more profit for himself. However, cardiologists always provide best solutions catering to your specific needs. Here are some general remedies for hypertension in various stages. Please note that these might differ from doctor’s instructions and these factors are stated based on the assumption that the patient has no other disease.
Stage 1: Pre-Hypertension
This is the preliminary stage when the blood pressure is just above the mark of 120/80. Some doctors address it to be near 140/90 mark. This marks the period for awareness and the patient should initiate making healthy adjustments to his or her lifestyle. Regular exercise for about an hour is a must, accompanied by a balanced intake of salt, and other dietary changes as advised by the physician. Also, it’s the most ideal time to quit smoking and alcoholism. If the high pressure goes unnoticed and untreated in these stages, then it advances to the dangerous stages of the actual disease.
Stage 2: Moderately High Blood Pressure
About 40% cases of pre-hypertension advance to this stage due to lack of diagnosis or treatment. This stage range is attained when the pressure stays above the pre-hypertension limit, but below 160/100. During this stage, it becomes necessary to have strict lifestyle control norms, as well as limited medication, as per doctor’s guidance. Generally doctors administer diuretics in such cases, as it becomes essential to flush out the excess water and maintain the sodium-potassium balance in blood. Some doctors might also recommend calcium channel blockers for reducing the rigidness of blood vessels, thus enabling reduction in blood pressure.
Stage 3: Chronic Hypertension
This is the last and ultimate challenge which features blood pressures shooting past 160/100. It is a situation of extreme caution where medicines prescribed by cardiologists are the only way out. Generally, doctors supplement diuretics with beta blockers to reduce the heartbeat rate by controlling nerve impulses or ACE inhibitors which work on constricting the blood vessels (induced vasoconstriction). These medicines are generally given in specific ratios in combination with other drugs. Some drugs are also given to block the secretion and activity of the Angiotensin hormone in the blood stream. Some doctors might also recommend calcium channel blockers for reducing the rigidness of blood vessels, thus enabling reduction in blood pressure.
The last stage is the most dangerous stage where only emergency treatment and stringent control over lifestyle can save a patient. If neglected, hypertension can cause renal failure and cardiovascular problems which can be life threatening.
All the hypertension controlling drugs have their own limited time of side effects. Such effects should be taken care of while administering drug dosages.
One thing should always be kept in mind- prevention is always better than cure.
