Although controversial over this off-label purpose, benzodiazepines may play a role in lowering blood pressure. They work as an agonist of the GABA-a receptors in the brain, thus slowing down neurotransmission and dilating blood vessels. GABA is an abbreviation for gamma-aminobutyric acid. It is an ...
Vasodilatators act directly on the smooth muscle of arteries to relax their walls so blood can move more easily through them; they are only used in hypertensive emergencies or when other drugs have failed, and even so are rarely given alone. Examples: sodium nitroprusside, hydralazine.
Beta blockers (β-blockers, beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta antagonists, beta-adrenergic antagonists, beta-adrenoreceptor antagonists, or beta adrenergic receptor antagonists) are a class of drugs that target the beta receptor. Beta receptors are found on cells of the heart muscles, smooth ...
Alpha-blockers are medicines that are mainly used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), and problems with passing urine in men who have enlargement of the prostate gland. Prostate gland enlargement is also called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). An enlarged prostate can cause problems ...
Adrenergic antagonist is a pharmaceutical substance that acts to inhibit the action of catecholamines at the adrenergic receptors. It is thus a type of sympatholytic. Many important and commonly prescribed medications are adrenergic antagonists, including prazosin and propanolol. Like all ...
Angiotensin II receptor antagonists work by antagonizing the activation of angiotensin receptors. They modulate the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Examples: candesartan, eprosartan, irbesartan, losartan, olmesartan, telmisartan, valsartan.
ACE inhibitors inhibit the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), an enzyme responsible for the conversion of angiotensin I into angiotensin II, a potent vasoconstrictor. Frequently prescribed ACE inhibitors include perindopril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, and ramipril.
Calcium channel blockers (CCB), calcium channel antagonists or calcium antagonists are several medications that disrupt the movement of calcium (Ca2+) through calcium channels. CCBs are particularly effective against large vessel stiffness, one of the common causes of elevated systolic blood ...
