Diuretics as an Antihypertensive Agent

There are many antihypertensive agents, or medications that can help reduce high blood pressure symptoms. Depending upon ease of use, side effects and coexisting medical conditions that might dictate preferential use of one agent over another would be the deciding factor of which agent a patient would use. Many of these agents include diuretics that help decrease the amount of fluids in the body by increasing urine output. Diuretics, or “water pills,” the oldest and most studied antihypertensive agents, increase the kidneys' excretion of sodium and water, decreasing the volume of fluid in the bloodstream and the pressure in the arteries.

Other Antihypertensive Agents

Other antihypertensive agents include beta-blockers that help prevent vaso-constriction due to central nervous system responses, calcium channel blockers that relax the blood vessels, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors that prevent vaso-constriction, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or alpha blockers. If the blood pressure is very high, you can ask your doctor about medications such as hydralazine, minoxidil, diazoxide, or nitroprusside. Typically, antihypertensive agents are started at relatively low doses, with the patient response assessed throughout the course of several weeks. The medication dose is gradually increased as needed if the blood pressure remains elevated.

When Medication Fails to Lower Blood Pressure

There are a couple of options available when blood pressure medication treatments fail to lower the blood pressure. The first option is to discontinue use of the medication with the start of a different class of antihypertensive agent used. The second option would be to add a second class of medication to the first agent. The latter approach is more often used because different classes of antihypertensive agents work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Furthermore, the actions of one agent may complement the actions of the second agent. In some patients, it may be necessary to add a third agent. Many of the newer medications that are now prescribed are taken only once or twice a day. All medications have side effects, but most patients are able to tolerate them.

Other Medication Treatments

Another antihypertensive agent is an administration of potassium, which is an electrolyte that helps maintain the body’s normal balance of salt and fluids, maintaining normal blood pressure. Potassium can be found in fruits and vegetables, lean meats, potatoes and whole grain foods in differing amounts. Studies also show that garlic may help lower blood pressure.