Hypertension is a common lifelong disease among middle-aged and elderly people, which is currently incurable. However, as long as blood pressure is controlled steadily, patients can engage in normal daily activities. However, currently in clinical practice, many hypertensive patients have poor adherence to medical advice and do not take antihypertensive drugs as prescribed. Some patients even believe that it is not necessary to take medication again after their symptoms improve, and therefore reduce or stop taking medication on their own. So, what are the commonly used antihypertensive drugs? What are the precautions for taking antihypertensive drugs? Below, the editor will explain to you.
1、 What are the commonly used antihypertensive drugs?
The first-line antihypertensive drugs in clinical practice can be roughly divided into five categories: (1) angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs): commonly used drugs include benazepril, captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, etc;
(2) Angiotensin II receptor antagonists (ARBs): commonly used drugs include valsartan, losartan, telmisartan, irbesartan, candesartan, etc;
(3) Diuretics: Commonly used drugs include hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, spironolactone, indapamide, etc;
(4) Beta blockers: Commonly used drugs include metoprolol, bisoprolol, sotalol, arolol, labetalol, etc;
(5) Calcium channel blockers (CCBs): Commonly used drugs include nifedipine, amlodipine, nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, etc.
Other types of antihypertensive drugs include: (6) alpha receptor blockers: commonly used ones include doxycycline, terazosin, prazosin, etc;
(7) Compound preparations: such as telmisartan hydrochlorothiazide, losartan potassium hydrochlorothiazide, compound antihypertensive tablets, etc;
(8) Central antihypertensive drugs: such as clonidine, methyldopa, etc;
(9) Direct vasodilators: such as minoxidil, hydrazine, etc;
(10) traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations: such as Zhenju Jiangya Tablets.
2、 Precautions for taking antihypertensive drugs
Antihypertensive drugs are divided into long-acting antihypertensive drugs, medium acting antihypertensive drugs, and short acting antihypertensive drugs. The time for taking antihypertensive drugs with different effects is different. Generally, long-acting antihypertensive drugs can be taken once a day. At this time, you can choose to take them on an empty stomach half an hour after waking up in the morning. If it is a medium short acting antihypertensive drug, taking it orally on an empty stomach will take effect faster, and it can generally be taken in two times. You can take it once in the morning and again before 6 pm in the evening. If taking sustained-release antihypertensive drugs, such as verapamil, it is best to take them after meals. If taken before meals, it can affect the drug release and cause discomfort in the stomach. In addition, this type of medication needs to be taken directly with water and generally cannot be chewed or crushed before consumption. Try not to take antihypertensive drugs before bedtime, as it has been clinically found that taking antihypertensive drugs before bedtime can easily induce diseases such as cerebral infarction, angina pectoris, and myocardial infarction.
3、 Do not use medication without authorization
Do not use medication without authorization. There are many types of antihypertensive drugs, and their effects are not exactly the same. Different types of medication have different antihypertensive effects. Avoid self purchasing medication and self treatment. Patients with hypertension should receive medication treatment under the guidance of a doctor, classified according to the severity of their condition and their own physical differences.
4、 Antihypertensive drugs do not develop resistance
Antihypertensive drugs do not develop resistance, and the common clinical resistance is antibiotic resistance, mainly caused by overuse of antibiotics. If one or several antihypertensive drugs are taken for a long time and blood pressure is well controlled without any side effects, then the medication can be continued according to the original plan. The reason why some people have poor blood pressure control after taking antihypertensive drugs for a period of time is not due to drug resistance, but may be caused by factors such as aging, unhealthy lifestyle, or not taking medication on time according to medical advice.
5、 Regular hospital check ups: Regular check ups at regular medical institutions allow doctors to understand the effectiveness of treatment plans and adjust them in a timely manner.
In short, taking antihypertensive drugs should be based on the nature of the medication and the patient's blood pressure level. In clinical practice, we should actively and patiently introduce patients to the knowledge of taking antihypertensive drugs, help them establish a correct understanding of the disease and medication safety, and minimize adverse drug reactions.