Types of Blood Pressure Medications
Here's a rundown on the main types of drugs and how they work. Often, two or
more drugs work better than one.
For more information, select the type of medication from the list below:
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Diuretics are sometimes called "water pills" because they work in
the kidney and flush excess water and sodium from the body.
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Beta-blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels. This
makes the heart beat slower and with less force. Blood pressure drops and
the heart works less hard.
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Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors prevent the formation of a
hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow.
The ACE inhibitors cause the vessels to relax and blood pressure goes down.
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Angiotensin antagonists shield blood vessels from angiotensin II. As a result, the vessels become wider
and blood pressure goes down.
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CCBs keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood
vessels. This causes the blood vessels to relax and pressure goes down.
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Alpha-blockers reduce nerve impulses to blood vessels, which allows blood to
pass more easily, causing the blood pressure to go down.
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Alpha-beta-blockers work the same way as alpha-blockers but also slow the
heartbeat, as beta-blockers do. As a result, less blood is pumped through the
vessels and the blood pressure goes down.
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Nervous system inhibitors relax blood vessels by controlling nerve
impulses. This causes the blood vessels to become wider and the blood pressure to
go down.
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Vasodilators directly open blood vessels by relaxing the muscle in the
vessel walls, causing the blood pressure to go down.
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