Blood Pressure Medicines Also called: Antihypertensive medicines, High blood pressure medicines Summary High blood pressure, also called hypertension, usually has no symptoms. But it can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack and kidney failure. If you cannot control your high blood pressure through lifestyle changes such as losing weight and reducing sodium in your diet, you may need medicines. Blood pressure medicines work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Some remove extra fluid and salt from the body. Others slow down the heartbeat or relax and widen blood vessels. Often, two or more medicines work better than one. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Array ACE inhibitors High blood pressure medications Specifics Alpha Blockers Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Central-Acting Agents Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Diuretics Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Treating High Blood Pressure Array Treating High Blood Pressure: Is a Beta-Blocker Drug Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Treating High Blood Pressure: Is a Calcium Channel Blocker Drug Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Treating High Blood Pressure: Is an ACE Inhibitor Drug Right for You? Consumers Union of U.S. Types of Blood Pressure Medications American Heart Association Vasodilators Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Find an Expert American Heart Association American Heart Association National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Encyclopedia Beta blockers overdose Calcium channel blocker overdose Thiazide overdose Statistics and Research Blood Pressure Drugs and AMD American Academy of Ophthalmology Related Issues Blood Pressure Medications: Can They Raise My Triglycerides? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Calcium Supplements: Do They Interfere with Blood Pressure Drugs? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Can Beta Blockers Cause Weight Gain? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Can Diuretics Decrease Your Potassium Level? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Choosing Blood Pressure Medications Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Diuretics and Gout: What’s the Connection? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Herbal Supplements May Not Mix with Heart Medicines Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research How Do Beta Blocker Drugs Affect Exercise? American Heart Association Managing Prescriptions American Heart Association Clinical Trials ClinicalTrials.gov: Antihypertensive Agents National Institutes of Health Start Here High Blood Pressure Medicines American Academy of Family Physicians High Blood Pressure: Medicines to Help You Food and Drug Administration Medications and Blood Pressure American Heart Association Medications for High Blood Pressure Food and Drug Administration What Is High Blood Pressure Medicine? American Heart Association Children High Blood Pressure Treatment in Children (Beyond the Basics) UpToDate Journal Articles Blood Pressure Medicines NIH MedlinePlus Magazine Treatment: Types of Blood Pressure Medications