Patients
High Blood Pressure
 |
 |
  |
|
 |
Print Version PDF
(130 KB)
High Blood Pressure
Medicines to Help You
High blood pressure is a serious illness.
High blood pressure is often called a "silent killer" because many people
have it but do not know it. Some people do not feel sick at first. Over time,
people who do not get treated for high blood pressure can get very sick or
even die.
High blood pressure can cause:
kidney failure
stroke
blindness and
heart attacks.
There is good news.
There are life-saving medicines people can take every day to help control
their high blood pressure. People who eat healthy foods, exercise, and take
their medicines every day can control their blood pressure.
Take your blood pressure medicines.
It is important to take your blood pressure medicines every day. Take
your medicines even when your blood pressure comes down … even when
you do not feel bad. Do not stop taking your medicine until your
doctor says that it is OK.
Most people who take high blood pressure medicines do not get any side effects.
Like all medicines, high blood pressure medicines can sometimes cause side
effects. Some people have common problems like headaches, dizziness or an upset
stomach. These problems are small compared to what could happen if you
do not take your medicine.
High Blood Pressure Medicines
Use this guide to help you talk to your doctor about your blood pressure
medicines. Ask your doctor about the risks of taking your medicine.
This guide only talks about some of the risks.
Tell your doctor about any problems you are having. Also, tell your doctor
if you are pregnant, nursing or planning to get pregnant. Your doctor will
help you find the medicine that is best for you.
The different kinds of blood pressure medicines are listed on the next few
pages. The drugs are listed in groups. The brand names and generic names are
given for the drugs in each group.
Find your drug. Then read some basic information about your kind of drug.
Types of High Blood Pressure Medicines
- ACE Inhibitors
- Beta Blockers
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Peripherally Acting Alpha-Adrenergic? Blockers
- Angiotension II Antagonists
- Vasodilators
- Centrally-Acting Alpha Adrenergics
- Diuretics (sometimes called "water pills")
Angiotension-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Aceon | Perindopril |
| Accupril | Quinapril |
| Altace | Ramipril |
| Capoten | Captopril |
| Lotensin | Benazepril |
| Mavik | Trandolapril |
| Monopril | Fosinopril |
| Prinivil | Lisinopril |
| Univasc | Moexipril |
| Vasotec | Enalapril |
| Vasotec IV | Enalaprilat |
| Zestril | Lisinopril |
ACE Inhibitors: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Women who are pregnant should talk to their doctor about the risks of using these drugs late in pregnancy.
- People who have kidney or liver problems, diabetes, or heart problems should talk to their doctor about the risks of using ACE drugs.
- People taking diuretics (water pills) should talk to their doctor about the risks of using ACE drugs.
Common Side Effects
- Cough
- Dizziness
- Feeling tired
- Headache
- Problems sleeping
- Fast heart beat
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Chest pain
- Problems breathing or swallowing
- Swelling in the face, eyes, lips, tongue, or legs
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Beta Blockers
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Blocadren | Timolol |
| Coreg | Carvedilol |
| Corgard | Nadolol |
| Inderal | Propranolol |
| Inderal LA | Propranolol |
| Kerlone | Betaxolol |
| Levatol | Penbutolol |
| Lopressor | Metoprolol |
| Sectral | Acebutolol |
| Tenormin | Atenolol |
| Toprol XL | Metoprolol |
| Trandate | Labetalol |
| Visken | Pindolol |
| Zebeta | Bisoprolol |
Beta-Blockers: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Do not use these drugs if you have slow heart rate, heart block or shock.
- Women who are pregnant or nursing should talk to their doctor before they start using Beta-Blockers?.
- The elderly and people who have kidney or liver problems, asthma, diabetes or overactive thyroid should talk to their doctor about the specific risks of using any of these Beta-Blockers?.
Common Side Effects
- Feeling tired
- Upset stomach
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Constipation/ Diarrhea
- Feeling lightheaded
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Chest pain
- Problems breathing
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
- Swelling in the hands, feet, or legs
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Calcium Channel Blockers
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Norvasc | Amlodipine |
| Cardizem | Diltiazem |
| Dilacor XR | Diltiazem |
| Tiazac | Diltiazem |
| Plendil | Felodipine |
| DynaCirc CR | Isradipine |
| Cardene | Nicardipine |
| Adalat CC | Nifedipine |
| Procardia | Nifedipine |
| Nimotop | Nimodipine |
| Sular | Nisoldipine |
| Calan | Verapamil |
| Covera HS | Verapamil |
| Isoptin | Verapamil |
| Verelan | Verapamil |
Calcium Channel Blockers: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Do not use calcium channel blockers if you have a heart condition or if you are taking nitrates, quinidine, or fentanyl.
- People who have liver or kidney problems should talk to their doctor about the specific risks of using any Calcium Channel Blocker.
- Women who are pregnant should not use these drugs late in pregnancy.
Common Side Effects
- Feeling drowsy
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Ankle swelling
- Feeling flushed (warm)
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Chest pain
- Serious rashes
- Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs
- Fainting
- Irregular heartbeat
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Peripherally Acting Alpha-Adrenergic? Blockers
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Cardura | Doxazosin |
| Dibenzyline | Phenoxybenzamine |
| Minipress | Prazosin |
| Hytrin | Terazosin |
What You Should Know
Warnings
- The elderly and people who have liver problems should talk to their doctor about the risks of using these drugs.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Feeling tired
- Feeling lightheaded
- Vision problems
- Swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or legs
- Decreased sexual ability
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Chest pain
- Irregular heartbeat
- Painful erection in men
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Vasodilators
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Apresoline | Hydralazine |
| Loniten | Minoxidil |
Vasodilators: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Do not use these drugs if you are also taking bisulfates.
- Women who are pregnant or nursing should talk to their doctor before they start using these drugs.
- People who have diabetes, heart disease, or uremia (build up of waste in your blood) should talk to their doctor about the risks of using any of these drugs.
- People taking diuretics (water pills), insulin, phenytoin, corticosteroids, estrogen, warfarin, or progesterone should talk to their doctor about the risks of using any of these drugs.
Common Side Effects
- Headache
- Upset stomach
- Dizziness
- Growth in body hair
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Fever
- Fast heartbeat
- Fainting
- Chest pain
- Problems breathing
- Sudden weight gain
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Angiotension II Antagonists
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Atacand | Candesartan |
| Avapro | Irbesartan |
| Benicar | Olmesartan |
| Cozaar | Losartan |
| Diovan | Valsartan |
| Micardis | Telmisartan |
| Teveten | Eprosartan |
Angiotension II Antagonists: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Do not use these drugs if you are pregnant or nursing
- People who have kidney disease, liver disease, low blood volume, or low salt in their blood should talk to their doctor about the risks of taking these drugs.
- People taking diuretics (water pills) should talk to their doctor about the risks of taking these drugs.
Common Side Effects
- Sore throat
- Sinus problems
- Heartburn
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Back pain
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Problems breathing
- Fainting
- Swelling of the face, throat, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or legs
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Centrally-Acting Alpha Adrenergics
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Catapres | Clonidine |
| Tenex | Guanfacine |
Centrally-Acting Alpha Adrenergics: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Women who are pregnant or nursing should talk to their doctor before using these drugs.
- People with heart disease, recent heart attack, or kidney disease should talk to their doctor before using these drugs.
- Drinking alcohol may make side effects worse.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Dry mouth
- Upset stomach
- Feeling drowsy or tired
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Fainting
- Slow or irregular heartbeat
- Fever
- Swollen ankles or feet
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Combination Drugs
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Lexxel | Enalapril and Felodipine |
| Lotrel | Benazepril and Amlodipine |
| Tarka | Verapamil and Trandolapril |
Combination Drugs: What You Should Know
- These medicines are made up of 2 different kinds of blood pressure medicines.
- Look for the generic names of these drugs on one of the other lists in this guide.
Warnings and Side Effects
- The warnings and side effects for these drugs will be the same as those listed earlier for both generic drugs.
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Diuretics
(sometimes called "water pills")
| Brand Name | Generic Name |
|---|---|
| Aldactazide Aldactone |
Spironolactone |
| Demadex | Torsemide |
| Diuril | Chlorothiazide |
| Enduron | Methyclothiazide |
| Esidrix Microzide Oretic |
Hydrochlorothiazide |
| Lasix | Furosemide |
| Lozol | Indapamide |
| Saluron | Hydroflumethiazide |
| Thalitone | Chlorthalidone |
| Zaroxolyn | Metolazone |
Diuretics: What You Should Know
Warnings
- Tell you doctor if you are breastfeeding. These medicines may pass into your breast milk.
- Do not use these medicines if you have problems making urine.
- People with kidney or liver problems, pregnant women, and the elderly should talk to their doctor about the risks of using diuretics.
Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Frequent urination
- Headache
- Feeling thirsty
- Muscle cramps
- Upset stomach
Warning Signs
Call your doctor if you have any of these signs:
- Severe rash
- Problems breathing or swallowing
- Hyperuricemia (Gout)
For more information about the risks and side effects for each drug, check Drugs@FDA.
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
What drugs am I taking?
What are the side effects?
What other prescription drugs should I avoid while taking my medicines?
What foods, herbs, or over-the-counter medicines should I avoid?
When should I take each drug? How many times per day do I take each drug?
Can I take my medicines if I am pregnant or nursing?
To Learn More
FDA Office of Women's Health
www.fda.gov/womens/
FDA Heart Health Online
www.fda.gov/hearthealth/treatments/medications.html
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Health Information Center
www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/index.htm#hbp
Phone: 301-592-8573
TTY: 240-629-3255
Federal Relay Service
1-800-877-8339
This information reflects FDA's current analysis of data available to FDA concerning these products. FDA intends to update this sheet when additional information or analyses become available.
Check the following website for the most recent information about each drug: http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/drugsatfda/