The Side Effects Of Lowering Blood Pressure Treatment
In case if our blood pressure is higher than the "normal standards", medicines are required to lower it. But the treatment, like condition itself, is not the same for every patient; it depends of several factors, from which the most important are: latent diseases, age, medicines and activity.
There are drugs, such as diuretics (the so-called "water pills"), medications designed to lower blood pressure, medicines for heart conditions(in particular calcium antagonists - nifediphine (Procardia), medicines used to control depression (amitriphylene/Elavil, for example), alcohol or beta-blockers like propanolol, Inderal etc - that, besides lowering blood pressure, also cause undesired side effects.
Beta-blockers - once the blood pressure is lower, this comes with cold limbs, impossibility to sleep, depression, fatigue, a too slow rhythm of the heart beats, asthma like symptoms, side effects that are worrying, especially in the case of diabetics, which are going to need special attention.
Angiotensin II receptor blockers demand the lower blood pressure patients to be particularly cautious, because they produce in many cases a state of faintness, which makes the doctor's approval absolutely necessary.
Diuretics bring with the lowering of blood pressure an extremely serious side effects: the absence of potassium, absence that makes the patients suffer from cramps of the legs, fatigued or to feel week. The good thing is that this effects are no permanent and that there are two means to prevent them: the first one would be to take "potassium sparing" agents, which are diuretics that at the same time provide the organism with the so much needed potassium. Such diuretics are spironolactone, like Aldactone, trianterme, like Dyrunium and amiloride, like Midamar. The other mean to take diuretics without endangering your body by the lack of potassium is to associate them with potassium pills. The doctor's approval is most necessary before starting a treatment with diuretics, because, especially, with diabetes it brings the risks of increasing the level of sugar inside the blood.
Calcium channel blockers induce not only the lowering of blood pressure but also inflammation of the ankles, palpations, migraines, constipation and dizziness. Particularly damaging is verapausil (Calan, Isopin). Other medicines of this class are: Diltiazem (Cardizem), Nifediphine (Roocardia) and micardipine (Cardeul).
ACE inhibitors' effects are not particularly serious in most of the cases, but they are annoying: a possible taste loss, a chronic laugh, characterized by dryness. Sometimes, but the cases are rare, the kidneys may be damaged, too. ACE inhibitors are: enalopril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Primivil, Iestrill) or captopril (capoten).
The central agonists or Alpha methylopa (Aldomet) produce a lowering of the blood pressure in the process of walking and standing. As a consequence, it is possible for you to feel dizzy or weak. Drowsiness, dry mouth, high body temperature, anemia or dizziness may also occur. These side-effects make necessary your doctor's advice referable to the treatment based on this type of medicines.
Guandrel (Hylorel) or guentidine (Ismellin) produce different kinds of side effects, starting from a possibly persistent diarrhea. More dangerous effects are produced by an exposure to the sun light: the person may feel weak or even faint, because the lowering of blood pressure reaches in this condition the risk level.
Alpha blockers powerfully lower the blood pressure, but also generate drops in blood pressure when the patient walks, or even stands. Other possible side effects are dizziness, or an acceleration of the heartbeats.
Combined alpha and beta blockers may induce you a drop in blood pressure, in the process of walking or standing.
Peripheral adrenergic inhibitors such as Reserpine have no severe side effects. Heartburn, stuffy nose or diarrhea may appear, but they can easily be treated. It's only for certain categories of persons with depression, nightmares and insomnia, that the doctor's approval remains necessary.
Blood vessels dilatators, such as Minoxidil (Lomiten) are very powerful medicines against persistent, severe hypertension. As side effects, it may cause you to retain fluids, which results in a weight gain and the growth of excessive hair. In case any of these occurs, the doctor must be visited, same as in the case of medicine from the same class that causes you palpitations, painful joints or inflammation round the eyes.
Guanfacine (Tenex), clonidine (Catapres) or guanabenz (Wytensin) induce constipation, drowsiness, or mouth dryness. The situation may become dangerous in case of sudden interruption of the treatment with one of the drugs
A lowering in excess of the blood pressure may be generated by pregnancy, don't try anything on your own. The doctor must be asked and informed concerning any other condition you might have. He is a specialist and will adapt your treatment to you particular case.