When a person regularly has high blood pressure (from 140/90 and above), then this is a sure sign of the presence of hypertension. Unfortunately, every year it becomes younger, more and more people aged about 30 suffer from this disease. Therefore, to prevent an accident, you need to know which pills reduce pressure.
Stages of hypertension
Before you start taking medicines, you should first determine the stage of the disease, because the wrong selection of drugs can only aggravate the situation. The disease is divided into three stages:
- Mild hypertension. In this case, the pressure rises no more than 160/90 mm. Hg. Art. Throughout the day, it can rise and fall to a normal state. When conducting an electrocardiogram, serious deviations are not detected. In this case, it is recommended to use light medications and only in case of increased pressure.
- Moderate severity. The patient has a regular increase in blood pressure, it can increase to 180/100 mm. Hg. Art. When contacting a doctor, the patient is usually advised to undergo an ECG. With high probability, hypertrophy of the left ventricle will be detected on it. Despite the fact that this is only the average severity of the disease, hypertensive crises often occur.
- Severe hypertension. The patient suffers very much from a regular increase in blood pressure, it can rise to 200/115 and higher. In this case, the vessels of the eyes are destroyed in a person, the kidneys do not function properly, and blood clots form in the brain.
Based on the stage of the disease, it is determined which tablets can reduce the pressure.
Disease complications
When a person experiences hypertensive crises (an instant increase in pressure to high values), he has impaired renal function, there may be a stroke or even intracerebral hemorrhage. Therefore, it is extremely important to know which pills quickly reduce blood pressure. This disease is very serious and a sick person without the proper and timely use of drugs can simply die.
A patient who suffers from hypertension very often comes to the pharmacy and asks pharmacists what pills can reduce the pressure quickly and for a long period of time. But everyone should understand that hypertension will not go anywhere, so almost the rest of his life will have to adjust the level of blood pressure with various drugs.
Means for reducing pressure are divided into numerous categories, they seem to press “buttons”, as a result of which the pressure decreases for a certain time. Some of them are designed to maintain normal blood pressure, and some for emergency reduction, in the second case it is necessary to be especially careful, since low blood pressure can deliver no less troubles than high blood pressure.
Drug Classification
To understand which pills help lower blood pressure, you should know the mechanism of their action. They fall into the following categories:
- Drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin system. By themselves, they are not effective agents, as a rule, they are taken in combination therapy with other drugs.
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. They act on the blood vessels of a person, as a result of which you can quickly get the expected result.
- Angiotensin receptor blockers. They also act on blood vessels, however, such drugs are intended for long-term therapy, a positive result can be expected only after a few weeks from the start of treatment. After this, the pressure returns to normal for a while, regular use of these drugs helps a person get rid of hypertensive crises.
- Calcium channel blockers. If a person is looking for which pills to lower his pulse and pressure, then these are they. They block the channels through which calcium enters the cells, a decrease in this element leads to a decrease in pressure and pulse. Such drugs are often taken not only with hypertension, but also with angina pectoris and arrhythmia.
- Alpha blockers. Used for stopping blood pressure, as well as for long-term use. Most of these drugs are now discontinued.
- Beta blockers. Such remedies are used for asthmatic attacks, and also interfere with the synthesis of prorenin in the kidneys, due to this lower pressure decreases to a greater extent.
- Diuretics Such funds are used to quickly reduce blood pressure, due to the removal of water from the body. This type of medicine is not recommended for a long time, since potassium ions are released along with urine, which are essential for the normal functioning of the cardiovascular system.
- Neurotropic agents of central action. Drugs are prescribed by a doctor in case of prolonged stress, which are the main factor in high blood pressure.
Now you should examine in more detail with each category of drugs to determine which pills well reduce pressure in a particular case.
Medications for the renin-angiotensin system
These funds act on the stages of the formation of angiotensin, and also block the receptors that act on it. When using such drugs, natriuresis and total diuresis are increased. Often they are used in combination with diuretics.
The medication time can last from several months to four years. Often, drugs for the renin-angiotensin system begin to act from 20 minutes after ingestion, and the duration of the effect is 4-8 hours. What pills reduce pressure:
- "Akkuzid";
- Vitopril;
- "Diovan";
- “Kaptopres darnitsa”;
- Captopril;
- "Lisinopril-ratiopharm."
Side effects
Unfortunately, such drugs have a number of side effects: allergic reactions, changes in taste buds, tachycardia. The principle of the drug is designed in such a way that it passes through the kidneys, so it seriously affects them. Patients with diabetes should take Captopril with extreme caution, it increases the sensitivity of cells to insulin. However, this remedy is quite strong and it is recommended to take it during a hypertensive crisis.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
Thanks to these drugs, an element is blocked in the human body that constricts the blood vessels, which leads to an increase in blood pressure. IAF drugs are considered one of the most effective in the treatment of hypertension. Most drugs simply dilate blood vessels for a while, and when their action stops, everything starts again. In the same case, the drugs prevent vascular spasms, which greatly facilitates the patient's condition. What pills to reduce pressure from this category:
- "Perindopril";
- "Trandolapril";
- Zofenopril;
- Enalapril.
In most cases, such drugs are prescribed.
All these pills quickly reduce blood pressure, which exactly are needed in a particular case, should be obtained directly from your doctor. Only he can choose the right dosage and medication schedule.
Of the total number of drugs presented, “Enalapril” should be distinguished (“Renitec”, “Endite”, “Renipril” - all similar drugs). It is considered the most popular and suitable for a large number of people. Its duration does not differ in duration, so doctors recommend taking it 2 times a day. In general, drugs of this group do not act quickly, their result can be seen only after several weeks of administration.
Among the side effects, a dry cough should be highlighted, this phenomenon is observed in 33% of people who take such medications. Coughing occurs during the first month of taking the medicine, but if you are in this 33%, you should consult your doctor, he will have to prescribe drugs from the next group.
Angiotensin Receptor Blockers
Drugs from this category were created not so long ago, in the early 90s. The peculiarity of such drugs is that they block the activity of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Due to this, drugs for lowering blood pressure have a number of positive effects.
Their feature is the minimum number of side effects, while they really protect the work of the heart, kidneys and brain. The regular use of funds improves the prognosis of people with hypertension. Taking angiotensin receptor blockers in patients does not appear to dry cough.
Initially, these pills were synthesized as a medicine for hypertension, but with numerous studies it was determined that they very high-quality lower blood pressure. Another advantage of blockers is their rather long duration of action. Patients are advised to take one tablet per day. The action of the drug works in such a way that a uniform decrease in pressure occurs over one day.
What pills reduce heart pressure:
- Losartan
- Eprosartan;
- Valsartan
- Irbesartan
- Olmesartan
Like most predecessors, a positive effect of such drugs occurs only after 7-14 days. Another disadvantage of such drugs is the higher price.
Calcium channel blockers
In this case, the drugs act on the vessels, blocking the antagonists of calcium ions. Due to the fact that calcium does not enter the cell, the contractile protein is not formed, due to which, the blood vessels gradually begin to expand. With normal vessels, the resistance to blood flow is significantly reduced, which leads to a reduced load on the heart, thereby significantly reducing heart rate and blood pressure.
Drugs from this group can be prescribed by doctors not only to patients who have hypertension, but also those suffering from angina pectoris and arrhythmia. However, in the latter case, only pulsating drugs should be taken. Among the most popular tablets, one should highlight the following:
The following drugs are not used for arrhythmias:
- Amlodipine;
- "Felodipine";
- "Lercanidipine";
- "Nifedipine."
You should pay attention to the last drug, doctors do not recommend taking this tool even during a hypertensive crisis. “Nifedipine” has a very short duration of action, so help can come very briefly, and the medicine simply causes a huge amount of side effects. Paradoxical as it may seem, among them is the increased heart rate. Therefore, modern doctors categorically do not recommend the use of these pills.
All other drugs are very good and cope well with their main function. There are not so many side effects, an allergic reaction is most often encountered, and a slight swelling of the limbs is possible, but, as a rule, it disappears in a week. If this does not happen, you should replace the tablets with other drugs.
Alpha blockers
Drugs from this category act on adrenergic receptors, they are located in the heart, as well as in the blood vessels. The peculiarity of these receptors is that when binding to adrenaline in the human body, the narrowing of blood vessels is provoked, blood pressure rises, and the lumen of the bronchi widens.
When using such drugs, they block the work of adrenergic receptors, so that blood vessels begin to expand and pressure decreases. To date, the most popular drug is Doxazonin. It is used for a sufficiently rapid decrease in blood pressure, as well as for long-term treatment. In modern medicine, quite a few of these drugs remain, most of them have already been discontinued.
Beta blockers
In the past, adrenergic receptors were in the heart and blood vessels, and here in the heart and bronchi. Medicines that have an indiscriminate effect are categorically contraindicated in people with bronchial asthma. In this case, beta-blockers that act only in the heart should be taken. All drugs in this category interfere with the synthesis of prorenin in the kidneys. Therefore, if a person is looking for which pills to lower lower blood pressure, then he should pay attention to this particular group.
The most famous representatives of beta-blockers are:
- "Metoprolol";
- "Bisoprolol";
- Nebivolol;
- Carvedilol.
Medicines of this group are contraindicated for people who suffer from diabetes mellitus and bronchial asthma.
Diuretics
Such drugs are quite popular among people with high blood pressure. Due to the removal of excess water from the body, a person's blood pressure decreases. Together with the removal of excess fluid, these funds do not allow sodium ions to be absorbed into the cells. Which leads to a decrease in blood pressure. However, such drugs have negative sides, along with urine, potassium ions are excreted from the body, because it is they that improve the functioning of the cardiovascular system.
Thus, it turns out that, on the one hand, medications help a person reduce blood pressure, but at the same time they interfere with the normal functioning of the heart and blood vessels. Recently, agents have been invented that preserve potassium, so before you start taking such drugs, you must always ask your doctor about modern medicines. What pills to reduce pressure:
- "Hydrochlorothiazide";
- "Triampur";
- Spironolactone
- "Indapamide."
Such drugs are taken in complex treatment with other drugs that make up for the lack of potassium in the body. Among those presented, the latter should be noted. The medicine "Indapamide" is one of those that do not remove useful substances from the body, therefore it is the only one from the list that can be used independently.
Note! Diuretic drugs are not recommended for hypertension, they are more designed to quickly reduce pressure. Which tablets are suitable in a particular case should be determined only by the attending physician.
Funds acting on the central nervous system
Stress can provoke almost any disease, hypertension is no exception, in this case it is necessary to take medications that act on the central nervous system of a person (sleeping pills, sedatives). All these drugs have a positive effect on the performance of the brain, including the vasomotor center, reducing its tone, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure values. What pills to reduce pressure from this category:
- Moxonidine;
- "Rilmenidine";
- Methyldopa.
Note! The first drug on the list consists of clonidine; in the USSR it was very often used to treat hypertension. But, this means of very strong action, it quickly and strongly lowers blood pressure, however, even a small overdose of this medicine led to a person falling into a coma. Today, due to the large number of accidents, this drug is sold only by prescription, and it should be taken according to all the instructions of the attending physician.
What pills quickly reduce high blood pressure
Sometimes high blood pressure can catch a person by surprise, in which case it is necessary to have high-quality drugs that will help to lower blood pressure at least for the first time.
Attention! All of the following tablets are used only in emergency situations with hypertensive crisis. They are not intended to treat hypertension.
Which pills quickly reduce blood pressure:
- "Nitroglycerine". The effect of the drug begins after 2-5 minutes. Also, this remedy is often used for heart failure, myocardial infarction.
- "Labetalol". They are considered quite popular for any type of hypertensive crisis. The tablet begins to act only 5 minutes after administration, however, in difficult situations, blood pressure may rise again after 30 minutes.
- Nicardipine. Another pill that helps quite well with hypertensive crisis. They are not recommended for people with heart failure.
When a person chooses which pills to drink in order to reduce pressure in emergency cases, it is imperative to pay attention to these three drugs. But until the situation becomes critical, it is best to consult a doctor so that he writes out the most suitable option for a specific case.
What pressure should be reduced by tablets?
The generally accepted norm of pressure is 120/80, but do not worry if the indicators are increased by 10 mm. Hg. Art. This may depend on the fullness of the person (people with increased weight have higher blood pressure). Also, it can slightly increase from a variety of factors, there are a lot of them.
For many, the number 140/90 is already very scary, and they immediately look for some pills to bring him down.In fact, this level of blood pressure is indeed elevated, but this is not a reason to panic. What pills to reduce blood pressure? First of all, you should consult a doctor. The specialist will prescribe certain diagnostic procedures and tell you the main causes of high blood pressure, as well as prescribe non-aggressive treatment.
Remember that regular pressure of 140/90 is the main harbinger of hypertension. But still, it is not necessary to shoot it down yet, if it rises even a little higher, then you should be safe and take not too strong pills that will help normalize the level of blood pressure.