One of the most dangerous aspects of hypertension is that you may not know that you have it. There are generally no symptoms of high blood pressure, so you usually don't feel it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have hypertension don't know it. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis. This is especially important if you have a close relative who has high blood pressure.
This medicine is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure. It may also be used to treat other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Adalat is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Adalat relaxes (widens) your blood vessels (veins and arteries), which makes it easier for the heart to pump and reduces its workload.
Adalat is used to lower hypertension (high blood pressure) and to treat angina (chest pain).
Aldactone is a potassium-sparing diuretic (water pill) that prevents your body from absorbing too much salt and keeps your potassium levels from getting too low.
Aldactone is used to diagnose or treat a condition in which you have too much aldosterone in your body. Aldosterone is a hormone produced by your adrenal glands to help regulate the salt and water balance in your body.
Aldactone also treats fluid retention (edema) in people with congestive heart failure, cirrhosis of the liver, or a kidney disorder called nephrotic syndrome. Aldactone is also used to treat or prevent hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood).
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Ramipril belongs in a class of drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors which are used for treating high blood pressure and heart failure and for preventing kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes. Other ACE inhibitors are enalapril (Vasotec), quinapril (Accupril), captopril (Capoten), fosinopril (Monopril), benazepril (Lotensin), lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil), moexipril (Univasc) and trandolapril (Mavik). ACE is important because it produces the protein, angiotensin II. Angiotensin II contracts the muscles of most arteries in the body, including the heart, thereby narrowing the arteries and elevating the blood pressure. In the kidney, the narrowing caused by angiotensin II also increases blood pressure and decreases the flow of blood. ACE inhibitors such as ramipril lower blood pressure by reducing the production of angiotensin II, thereby relaxing the arterial muscles and enlarging the arteries. The enlargement of the arteries throughout the body reduces the blood pressure against which the heart must pump blood, and it becomes easier for the heart to pump blood. The arteries supplying the heart with blood also enlarge. This increases the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart, and this improves further the ability of the heart to pump blood. The effects of ACE inhibitors are particularly beneficial to people with congestive heart failure. In the kidneys, the enlargement of the arteries also reduces blood pressure and increases blood flow. The FDA approved ramipril in 1991.
Treating high blood pressure. It may be used alone or in combination with other medicines. It may also be used to treat heart failure in certain patients and for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Atacand is an angiotensin II receptor blocker. It works by helping to relax blood vessels. This helps to lower blood pressure.
Avapro is in a group of drugs called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. It works by decreasing the levels of certain chemicals in the body.
Avapro is used to treat high blood pressure. It is sometimes given together with other blood pressure medications.
Avapro is also used to treat kidney problems caused by type 2 (not insulin-dependent) diabetes.
Verapamil is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers. Verapamil relaxes (widens) blood vessels (veins and arteries), which makes it easier for the heart to pump and reduces its workload.
Verapamil is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), to treat angina (chest pain), and to control some types of irregular heartbeats.
Capoten is in a group of drugs called ACE inhibitors. ACE stands for angiotensin converting enzyme.
Capoten is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), congestive heart failure, kidney problems caused by diabetes, and to improve survival after a heart attack.
Cardizem is in a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers. It works by slowing the electrical conduction in the heart, slowing heart rate, and/or normalizing heart rhythm.
Cardizem is used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), angina pectoris (chest pain), and certain heart rhythm disorders (supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation).
