Nov
19
Do all blood pressure medications contain beta blockers?
By
Question: Im 23 yrs old and I have high blood pressure to the point of making me dizzy and uncomfortable. This usually happens about after I eat. I was put on blood pressure medicine that I quit taking beacause I was unable to get an erection. Do all blood pressure medicines have this side effect or are there some without beta blockers?
4 Comments
November 19th, 2009 at 5:14 pm
There are plenty of blood pressure medications that are not beta blockers. Generally you can tell if a medication is a beta blocker because they end in “-olol” (Propranolol, metoprolol).
There are smooth muscle relaxants that can be used such as hydralazine.
There are ACE Inhibitors like captopril, lisinopril, or enalapril that block the angiotensin converting enzyme.
There are ARBs or Angiotensin receptor blockers like losartan.
And there are also nitrates like isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur)…so no not all blood pressure medications are beta blockers, but perhaps your physician put you on one because they thought that was the most specific to your needs. Ask your physician if another med would work just as well.
November 19th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
This is a side-effect that might occur with beta blockers and calcium channel blockers. You can try a different class of blood pressure medications. Ask your doctor about ACE inhibitors (such as enalapril or lisinopril) or diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide).
November 19th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Talk to your doctor! High blood pressure is not something to play around with on your own. And yes there are many kinds of medications that do not contain beta blockers, including diuretics. In addition, the problem with erections can _sometimes_ be alleviated by timing the dosage. (I have narcolepsy, and a couple of fellows who were each about to get married debated whether it’s better to time medications to accommodate the wedding and reception, or the time after the guests have gone home. I think you know the answer to that one.)
Doctors are human beings and understand biological needs. If you cannot talk to the doctor you have been seeing, find one you can talk to. Yes some of them may get embarrassed, but keep talking.
Don’t ever quit taking medication without discussing it with the doctor. Some withdrawals can be dangerous if they are done too suddenly.
November 19th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because it can damage your heart, kidney, and brain, even though you feel no symptoms.
Curing high blood pressure is essential to anyone who suffers from hypertension, and will make a tremendous difference in your overall health and well-being.
What you need to realize is that you do not need expensive and dangerous medications in order to cure this, all you need is an action plan that can help you do it the natural way, which when it comes to hypertension is the best way to go.
Here are some guidelines that you could adopt to lower high blood pressure:
- Get regular, brisk exercise and eat a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products.
- Have enough potassium in your diet every day. Fresh, unprocessed whole foods have the most potassium. These foods include meat, fish, nonfat and low-fat dairy products, and many fruits and vegetables.
- It’s vital to get plenty of rest and relaxation, which will reduce stress. Reducing stress is a key element in lowering your high blood pressure. Find something that is calming, and that you enjoy to do and try to perform that activity at least twice per week.
High blood pressure is a health ailment that many have taken for granted. With the proper lifestyle and food regimen, high blood pressure may not be a problem.