Antihypertensive Drugs

• stimulate alpha₂-adrenergic receptors in the brain
• decrease sympathetic outflow from the CNS and norepinephrine production

reduce BP by reducing heart rate through beta₁- blockade

• hypertension
• severe dysmenorrhea, menopausal flushing, glaucoma

• hypertension, BPH
• management of severe HF when used with cardiac glycosides and diuretics

• acute heart failure, severe mental depression, peptic ulcer, colitis, severe liver or kidney disease
• asthma

• Bradycardia with reflex tachycardia, postural and postexercise hypotension, dry mouth, drowsiness, sedation, dizziness, edema, constipation, sexual dysfunction 
• Headaches, sleep disturbances, nausea, rash, peripheral pooling of blood, cardiac disturbances (palpitations)
• Hyperglycemic episodes

inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme

• Hypertension, heart failure (alone or in combo)
• Slow progression of left ventricular hypertrophy after MI (cardioprotective)
• Renal protective effects in patients with diabetes

hyperkalemia, lactating mothers, children, bilateral renal artery stenosis

• fatigue, dizziness, mood changes, headaches
• Cough, first-dose hypotensive effect
• Loss of taste, hyperkalemia, rash, pruritus, anemia, neutropenia, thrombocytosis, agranulocytosis 
• Dry, nonproductive cough
• Angioedema

•  Allow angiotensin 1 to be converted to angiotensin 2, but block the receptors that receive angiotensin 2

• Hypertension, heart failure (adjunct drugs)
• May be used alone or with other drugs such as diuretics
• Used primarily in patients who can’t tolerate ACE inhibitors

pregnancy, lactation

• Upper respiratory infections, headache
• Dizziness, inability to sleep, diarrhea, dyspnea, heartburn, nasal congestion, back pain, fatigue
• Hyperkalemia

Cause smooth muscle relaxation by blocking the binding of calcium to its receptors, preventing muscle contraction

Angina, hypertension, dysrhythmias, migraine headaches, Raynaud’s disease

• Cardiovascular: hypotension, palpitations, tachycardia
• Gastrointestinal: Constipation, nausea
• Other: rash, flushing, peripheral edema, dermatitis

Directly relax arteriolar and/or venous smooth muscle

Treatment of hypertension

Dizziness, headache, anxiety, tachycardia, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, anemia, dyspnea, edema, nasal congestion, others

Bradycardia, hypotension, possible cyanide toxicity

Dizziness, headache, anxiety, orthostatic hypotension, dysrhythmias, sodium and water retention, nausea, vomiting, hyperglycemia in diabetic patients