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This leaflet is about medicines that are used to treat high blood pressure.
See separate leaflet called High Blood Pressure (Hypertension),
which gives more general information about high blood pressure,
lifestyle changes that you can do to lower blood pressure, and the
reasons why medication is advised to lower blood pressure in some
cases.
For most people aged under 80 years, the usual target is to reduce blood pressure to 140/90
mm Hg or below in the surgery or clinic, or below 135/85 mm Hg when measured at home. For
older patients the target may be set slightly higher (less than 150/90 mm Hg in the surgery or
clinic, or below 145/85 mm Hg when measured at home).
In some people, the target is to get it below 130/80 mm Hg. For example, if you have a
cardiovascular disease such as a stroke or heart disease, if you have certain kidney diseases,
and for some people with diabetes.
Calcium-channel blockers
Calcium-channel blockers affect the way calcium is used in the blood vessels and heart muscle. This
has a relaxing effect on the blood vessels. Again, there are various types and
brands: amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, lacidipine,lercanidipine, nicardipine, nifedipine, and verapa
mil. Calcium-channel blockers can also be used to treatangina.
Beta-blockers
Again, there are various types and brands of betablockers: acebutolol, atenolol,bisoprolol, metoprolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, propranolol, sotalol,
and timolol. They work by slowing the heart rate, and reducing the force of the heart. These actions
lower the blood pressure. Beta-blockers are also commonly used to treat angina, and some other
conditions. You should not normally take a beta-blocker if you have asthma, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease (COPD), or certain types of heart or blood vessel problems.
'Water' tablets (diuretics) - can cause gout attacks in a small number of users, or can make
gout worse if you already have gout. Erection problems (impotence) develop in some users.
Beta-blockers - can cause cool hands and feet, poor sleep, tiredness, and impotence in
some users.
If you do develop a side-effect, a different medicine may suit you better. There is a lot of choice so
one can usually be found to suit. See your doctor if you develop any problem which you think is due
to your medication.
The side-effect.
It is helpful if you have your medication - and/or the leaflet that came with it - with you while you fill
out the report.
Combinations of medicines
One medicine can reduce high blood pressure (hypertension) to the target level in less than half of
cases. It is common to need two or more different medicines to reduce high blood pressure to a
target level. In about a third of cases, three medicines or more are needed to get blood pressure to
the target level. So, for example, you may need an ACE inhibitor plus a calcium-channel blocker
(and sometimes also another medicine) to control your blood pressure. This is just an example, and
various combinations of medicines can be used.
In some cases, despite treatment, the target level is not reached. However, although to reach a
target level is ideal, you will gain benefit from any reduction of high blood pressure.
Possible side-effects.
Your age.
For example:
Some medicines tend to work better than others in people of Afro-Caribbean origin.
If you do not have any other medical problems that warrant a particular medicine then current UK
guidelines give the following recommendations as to usual medicines that should be used. These
recommendations are based on treatments and combinations of treatments that are likely to give the
best control of the blood pressure with the least risk of side-effects or problems.
Treatment is guided by the A/C, A+C, A+C+D approach, where A = ACE inhibitor or angiotensin
receptor blocker; C = calcium channel blocker and D = diuretic. The suggested stepwise approach is
as follows:
If you are less than 55 years old and are not of black African or Caribbean origin then your
doctor may begin treatment with an 'A' (an ACE inhibitor, or an angiotensin receptor blocker if
an ACE inhibitor causes problems or side-effects).
If you are 55 years or older, or are of black African or Caribbean origin then your doctor may
begin treatment with a 'C' (a calcium-channel blocker).
Then, if your blood pressure has not reached the target your doctor may combine 'A' with 'C'
(an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker plus a calcium-channel blocker).
Then, if your target blood pressure is still not reached, your doctor may combine 'A' with 'C'
and 'D' (an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker, and a calcium-channel blocker,
and a diuretic).
If a fourth medicine is needed to achieve the target blood pressure, your doctor may add one
of the following:
A beta-blocker
An alpha-blocker
However, individuals can vary. Sometimes, if one medicine does not work so well or causes sideeffects, a switch to a different class of medicine may work fine.
a lot of weight, or stopped heavy drinking, etc). Your doctor can advise. If you stop medication, you
need regular blood pressure checks. In some cases, the blood pressure remains normal. However,
in others it starts to rise again. Medication can then be started again.