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When your doctor prescribes blood pressure medicationAs part of a solution designed to fit your needs, your doctor may determine that you need prescription medication in addition to lifestyle changes to control your high blood pressure (HBP or hypertension). Talk to your doctor and pharmacist if you have concernsWhile you might have fears and concerns, the long-term health consequences of uncontrolled high blood pressure are often worse than any medication side-effects. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. Everyone involved has the same priority — putting your health first. Getting it rightTreating high blood pressure requires time, patience and care by both you and your doctor. The important thing is for you to communicate with your doctor and to follow his/her course of treatment.
Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff. Simple lifestyle changes can help reduce high blood pressure, although some people may need to take medicine as well. Your GP can advise you about changes you can make to your lifestyle and discuss whether they think you'd benefit from medicine. This
patient decision aid (PDF, 132kb) can also help you to understand your treatment options. When treatment is recommendedEveryone with high blood pressure is advised to make healthy lifestyle changes. Whether medicine is also recommended depends on your blood pressure reading and your risk of developing problems such as heart attacks or strokes. Your doctor will carry out some blood and urine tests, and ask questions about your health to determine your risk of other problems:
Lifestyle changesThere are some changes you could make to your lifestyle to reduce high blood pressure. Some of these will lower your blood pressure in a matter of weeks, while others may take longer. Try to:
You can take these steps today, regardless of whether or not you're taking blood pressure medicines. In fact, by making these changes early on you may be able to avoid needing medicines. Get more advice about lifestyle changes to prevent and reduce high blood pressure Medicines for high blood pressureSeveral types of medicine can be used to help control high blood pressure. Many people need to take a combination of different medicines.
You may need to take blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life. But your doctor might be able to reduce or stop your treatment if your blood pressure stays under control for several years. It's really important to take your medicine as directed. If you miss doses, it will not work as well. The medicine will not necessarily make you feel any different, but this does not mean it's not working. Medicines used to treat high blood pressure can have side effects, but most people do not get any. If you do get side effects, do not stop taking your medicine. Talk to your doctor, who may advise changing your medicine. ACE inhibitorsAngiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors reduce blood pressure by relaxing your blood vessels. Common examples are enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril and ramipril. The most common side effect is a persistent dry cough. Other possible side effects include headaches, dizziness and a rash. Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs)ARBs work in a similar way to ACE inhibitors. They're often recommended if ACE inhibitors cause troublesome side effects. Common examples are candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan and olmesartan. Possible side effects include dizziness, headaches, and cold or flu-like symptoms. Calcium channel blockersCalcium channel blockers reduce blood pressure by widening your blood vessels. Common examples are amlodipine, felodipine and nifedipine. Other medicines, such as diltiazem and verapamil, are also available. Possible side effects include headaches, swollen ankles and constipation. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking some calcium channel blockers can increase your risk of side effects. DiureticsSometimes known as water pills, diuretics work by flushing excess water and salt from the body through your pee. They're often used if calcium channel blockers cause troublesome side effects. Common examples are indapamide and bendroflumethiazide. Possible side effects include dizziness when standing up, increased thirst, needing to go to the toilet frequently, and a rash. You might also get low potassium and low sodium after long-term use. Beta blockersBeta blockers can reduce blood pressure by making your heart beat more slowly and with less force. They used to be a popular treatment for high blood pressure, but now tend to be used only when other treatments have not worked. This is because beta blockers are considered less effective than other blood pressure medicines. Common examples are atenolol and bisoprolol. Possible side effects include dizziness, headaches, tiredness, and cold hands and feet. High blood pressure in older peopleThe target blood pressure reading for the over-80s is below 150/90 mmHg when it's measured in the clinic or surgery, and below 145/85 mmHg for home readings. While there are definite benefits from taking medicines to reduce blood pressure if you're under the age of 80, it's less clear it's useful if you're over 80. It's now thought that if you reach 80 while you're taking medicine for high blood pressure, it's fine to continue treatment provided it's still helping you and is not causing side effects. If you're diagnosed with high blood pressure and you're aged over 80, your doctor will also consider your other health risk factors when deciding whether to give you treatment for the high blood pressure. Page last reviewed: 23 October 2019 What happens if you over take your blood pressure medicine?It can cause death. If the person's heart rate and blood pressure can be corrected, survival is likely. Survival depends on how much and what type of this medicine the person took and how quickly they receive treatment.
How many blood pressure medications are too many?However, taking too many prescription medications can be risky. Taking more than five medications is called polypharmacy. The risk of harmful effects, drug interactions and hospitalizations increase when you take more medications.
Can taking too much blood pressure medicine raise your blood pressure?Common hypertension drugs can raise blood pressure in certain patients. Summary: Commonly prescribed drugs used to lower blood pressure can actually have the opposite effect -- raising blood pressure in a statistically significant percentage of patients.
Can too much blood pressure medicine make you sick?Like all medicines, high blood pressure medicines can sometimes cause side effects. You may have common problems like headaches, dizziness, or an upset stomach. These can be bothersome to how you feel every day but often lessen after the first few weeks of taking the medicine.
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