High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States. According to the CDC, almost half of all adults living in the US have high blood pressure – that’s about 116 million people! Approximately 80% of people with hypertension will need prescription medication in order to get their blood pressure under control. The medications available today are very effective and safe, but, like all medications, may come with some side effects. Read on to learn about the most common medicines used to treat high blood pressure and their side effects.
| ACE Inhibitors | |
| Generic Examples | benazepril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, quinapril, ramipril |
| How They Work | Relaxes and widens your blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body |
| Common Side Effects | Cough, dizziness, feeling tired, headache, trouble sleeping |
| Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) | |
| Generic Examples | candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan |
| How They Work | Relaxes and widens your blood vessels, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body |
| Common Side Effects | Dizziness, sinus problems, heartburn, diarrhea, back pain |
| Calcium Channel Blockers | |
| Generic Examples | amlodipine, diltiazem, felodipine, nifedipine, verapamil |
| How They Work | Prevents calcium from entering cells, which causes blood vessels to relax and widen |
| Common Side Effects | Feeling tired, headache, upset stomach, water retention (swollen ankles) |
| Diuretics | |
| Generic Examples | chlorthalidone, eplerenone, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide, spironolactone, torsemide, metolazone |
| How They Work | Help your kidneys remove salt and water from your body |
| Common Side Effects | Frequent urination, dizziness, fainting, headache |
| Beta Blockers | |
| Generic Examples | atenolol, bisoprolol, carvedilol, labetalol, metoprolol, nebivolol, propranolol |
| How They Work | Makes your heart beat more slowly and with less force, making it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body |
| Common Side Effects | Feeling tired, upset stomach, dizziness, headache |
There are other medications that your medical doctor may use to control your blood pressure. They often have side effects like those listed above.
Read another blog about selecting the best blood pressure medication for you.
Hypertension is a very common condition in the United States. Although you may not feel the effects of high blood pressure right away, it is a serious condition that can have significant health consequences over time. You should always take your medication as prescribed; do not stop taking your high blood pressure medication without first talking to your medical doctor or pharmacist.
Save up to 80% on the cost of your prescriptions at your local pharmacy with EasyDrugCard.com. Download your free drug card and begin saving today.
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hypertension Cascade: Hypertension Prevalence, Treatment and Control Estimates Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 Years and Older Applying the Criteria from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association’s 2017 Hypertension Guideline—NHANES 2015–2018. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 2021.
- Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC/AHA/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/AGS/APhA/ASH/ASPC/NMA
/PCNA guideline for the prevention, detection, evaluation, and management of high blood pressure in adults: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2018;71(19):e127-e248.
