High Blood Pressure Drugs

High blood pressure is a common disease in which blood flows through blood vessels (arteries) at higher than normal pressures. Anti-hypertensive medicines are used to bring back down  the high pressure to a normal range.

There are few class of Anti-hypertensive drugs.

• Diuretics
• Beta-Blockers
• Alpha-Blockers
• ACE Inhibitors
• ARBs
• Calcium Channel Blockers
• Central Agonists
• Peripheral Adrenergic Blockers
• Vasodilators

Diuretics

These are often called "water pills." Diuretics help the body get rid of excess sodium (salt) and water and help control blood pressure.

Beta-Blockers

Beta-blockers reduce the heart rate, the heart's workload and the heart's output of blood, which lowers blood pressure. This makes blood go through vessels with less force.

Alpha-Blockers

Alpha-Blockers stop nerve signals which tell blood vessels to tighten. Vessels stay relaxed, giving the blood more room to move and lowering overall blood pressure.

ACE Inhibitors

Angiotensin is a chemical that causes the arteries to become narrow. ACE stands for Angiotensin-converting enzyme. ACE inhibitors help the body produce less angiotensin, which helps the blood vessels relax and open up, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure.

ARBs

These drugs block the effects of angiotensin, a chemical that causes the arteries to become narrow. Angiotensin needs a receptor- like a chemical "slot" to fit into or bind with- in order to constrict the blood vessel. ARBs block the receptors so the angiotensin fails to constrict the blood vessel. This means blood vessels stay open and blood pressure is reduced.

Calcium Channel Blockers

They're sometimes called CCBs for short, or calcium antagonists. This drug prevents calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and arteries. When calcium enters these cells, it causes a stronger and harder contraction, so by decreasing the calcium, the hearts' contraction is not as forceful. Calcium channel blockers relax and open up narrowed blood vessels, reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure. 

Central Agonists

They stop your brain from sending signals that speed up your heart rate and narrow your blood vessels. These drugs are also called central-acting agents, central adrenergic inhibitors, and central alpha agonists. Central agonists

Peripheral adrenergic inhibitors

These medications reduce blood pressure by blocking neurotransmitters in the brain. This blocks the smooth muscles from getting the "message" to constrict. Peripheral adrenergic inhibitors are rarely used unless other medications don't help.

Vasodilators

Blood vessel dilators, or vasodilators, can cause the muscle in the walls of the blood vessels (especially the arterioles) to relax, allowing the vessel to dilate (widen). This allows blood to flow through better.