Potential Dangers of Hypertension Drugs
It seems like any prescription medication that is filled by any reputable pharmacy will include the paperwork that has a list of all known possible side effects.
But the enclosed literature states that your doctor feels the benefits of the drug outweigh any possible side effects.
So if you read the instructions that come with the medicine, you will be made aware of any possible side effects.
Also when you pick up the medication, you will usually be asked if you have any questions or you can talk to the pharmacist about the medication.
Potential Dangers of Prescription Drugs for Hypertension and Heart Disease
Calcium-channel blockers slow the rate at which calcium passes to the contractile fibers of the heart muscle and into the vessel walls, a sequence that relaxes the vessels.
Relaxed vessels allow the blood to flow more easily, thereby reducing blood pressure.
In addition to treating hypertension, calcium channel blockers are used to treat chest pain (angina), and irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia).
These medications may be used to treat high blood pressure and heart disease.
They increase the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Common side effects associated with calcium channel blockers are fatigue, flushing, swelling of the abdomen, ankles, or feet, and heartburn.
Less common side effects are changes in heart rate, either tachycardia or bradycardia (slow heart rate), shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, and dizziness, numbness in hands and feet, and gastrointestinal disturbances.
Chest pains, jaundice, and fainting are rarely reported.
Beta- Blockers Beta-blockers “block” the effects of adrenaline (and norepinephrine) on cells beta-receptors. This slows the nerve impulses to stimulate the heart so that the heart does not work as hard.
Beta-blockers are generally prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure (CHF), abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), and chest pain (angina).
Beta-blockers are sometimes used in heart attack patients to prevent future attacks.
Beta-blockers have several potential side effects including congestive heart failure, shortness of breath, heart block, fatigue, lethargy, drowsiness, depression, insomnia, headaches, dizziness, tingling in the hands and feet, wheezing, bronchospasms, increases the severity of asthma, or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, decreased sex drive, muscle fatigue, reduces HDL (good cholesterol), increases LDL and triglycerides.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors Drugs inhibit the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), decrease sodium and water retention, reduce blood pressure, improve cardiac output, and typically decrease heart size.
ACE inhibitors are used to treat congestive heart failure (CHF) and hypertension. Following a heart attack, patients may be prescribed ACE inhibitors to prevent further damage to the heart.
ACE inhibitors may also be prescribed for kidney problems associated with diabetes.
Potential side effects include a dry cough, gastrointestinal disturbances, numbness or tingling in the hands and feet, joint pain, fever, lightheadedness, and fatigue.
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers These drugs are known as ARBs and are better tolerated than the older ACE drugs.
ARBs prevent angiotensin II from binding to the receptor sites that allow it to stimulate arterial blood vessel constriction.
These medications are used to lower blood pressure and treat heart disease.
Potential side effects of these medications include headache, upper respiratory infection, cough, dizziness, sinusitis, throat inflammation, diarrhea, fatigue, back pain, viral infections, and abdominal pain.
Direct Vasodilators Vasodilating drugs act on blood vessels, opening the vessel by relaxing the muscular walls.
There are four types of drugs that influence vasodilation: beta-blockers, direct-acting vasodilators, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers (already discussed above).
These medications are used along with other cardiovascular drugs;.
Used alone they can cause increased heart rate, fluid retention, and swelling.
These drugs have potential side effects which include systemic lupus erythematosus, headache, fatigue, low blood pressure, palpitations, increased heart rate, fluid retention, nasal congestion, weight gain, and increased body hair.
Cardiac Glycosides/Anti-Arrhythmics Cardiac glycosides are medications commonly used for CHF because they increase the force of cardiac contraction without significantly affecting other cardiovascular mechanisms.
Potential side effects include arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), heart block, confusion, weakness, blurred vision, mental disturbances, and apathy.
Diuretics reduce edema (fluid retention) and lower blood pressure by reducing sodium and water retention.
The three types of diuretics all work differently, but the goal is to lower blood pressure and or heart fluid (CHF).
They may cause the following side effects; Excessive uric acid in the blood (gout), magnesium deficiency, potassium deficiency, electrolyte imbalance, muscle cramps, fatigue, headaches, lowered HDL, excessive sugar in the blood (diabetes), fever, rash, irregular menstrual cycles, impotence, and excessive urination and thirst.
