We all know that it is important to look after our bodies, and it is just as important to ensure that we choose the right high blood pressure medication. With so many of these medications available it is sometimes difficult to choose which ones suit us best, and like so many things in life, antihypertensives (high blood pressure medications) also come with pros and cons. So depending on the severity of your blood pressure, the doctor may prescribe more than one antihypertensive to treat your condition.

With this in mind however, medication is not always the only way to combat hypertension; for those of you who have high blood pressure or are at risk of developing it, it is important to take a step back and look at your lifestyle, the choices that you make, and look at the options that are available to you.

Medication Options for stage 1 high blood pressure (140/90 to 159/990)

Those of you with stage 1 high blood pressure have a systolic pressure that ranges from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure that ranges between 90 to 99 mm Hg. You also have stage 1 if both numbers are within the range. As already outlined, the first change you can make is your lifestyle – this will always help to decrease your numbers.

Diuretics (water pills)

Diuretics are known for lowing blood pressure because they flush excess water and sodium from the body. Sometimes, this doctor prescribed medication is enough, along with your lifestyle changes of course, to control your blood pressure. There are 3 main types of diuretics available, but the most common one with the least side effects is known as thiazide which is also used as protection against other conditions that can be caused by high blood pressure such as stroke and heart failure.

What else is there?

Should your doctor think it necessary for you to take other medications, he or she may prescribe the following:

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors

This drug allows the blood vessels to widen by preventing a hormone called angiotensin form affecting the blood vessels. It includes captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and ramipril (Altace).

• Angiotensin II receptor blockers

These help the blood vessels relax by blocking the action of angiotensin and include losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar) and valsartan (Diovan).

• Beta blockers

These work by blocking certain nerve and hormonal signals to the heart and blood vessels, which lower blood pressure. Frequently prescribed beta blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and penbutolol (Levatol).

• Calcium channel blockers

Preventing calcium from going into heart and blood vessel muscle cells  they allow the cells to relax, which in turn lowers blood pressure. Prescribed calcium channel blockers consist of amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR) and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia).

• Renin inhibitors. Renin is an enzyme produced by your kidneys that starts a chain of chemical steps that increases blood pressure. Aliskiren (Tekturna) slows down the production of renin, reducing its ability to begin this process.

Sometimes these medications can lower your blood pressure quicker than only taking a diuretic and this may help to reduce the risk of developing complications from the your high blood pressure. The doctor will prescribe which combination of antihypertensives according to your individual needs and circumstances.

Medication options for stage 2 high blood pressure (higher than 160/100)

Those of you with stage 2 high blood pressure have a systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher or both. If this is the case, you will most likely need to take at least two high blood pressure medications when you start treatment and like stage 2 hypertension your doctor will also advise you to take a thiazide diuretic and may also prescribe the following:

• ACE inhibitors.
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers.
• Beta blockers.
• Calcium channel blockers.
• Renin inhibitors.

If you find these medications ineffective, your doctor may prescribe something stronger however with more side effects, such as alpha blockers, central-acting agent or vasodilator.

In order to prevent, reduce or delay complications that can be caused by high blood pressure – taking a combination of 2 antihypertensives typically works faster than taking a single drug and sometimes taking 3 or more types of medications help to achieve your blood pressure goals.

In closing, please remember although high blood pressure is a condition that should never be left untreated, there are a number of ways to efficiently deal with it and lower it down.  We hope the above prescription medication options have given you some information about what your options are.  In addition to these doctors prescribed blood pressure medication there are also some excellent natural high blood pressure remedies, one which you can find in this site.