Blood Pressure Drugs - Page 11

Combined Alpha Blockers & Beta Blockers

(check with manufacturer for specific information)

Commonly prescribed brands:

Carvedilol

Labetalol

Coreg

Normodyne

How they are given:

• Oral

What they are used for:

• To treat high blood pressure

You should not be treated with them if:

• You have been diagnosed with:
  • Second- or third- degree heart block (a delayed or complete lack of electrical communication between the upper chambers of the heart and the lower chambers of the heart)
  • Asthma
  • Abnormally low heart rate
  • Cardiogenic shock (a damaged heart muscle that cannot pump properly causing a shock-like state)
  • Severe heart failure
  • You have a condition brought on by low blood pressure

Possible side effects:

• Excessive slowing of heartbeat, fatigue, depression, increased blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Pregnancy/nursing:

• The safety of these medications during pregnancy is unknown
• The safety of these medications during nursing is unknown. Labetalol can enter a woman's breast milk.

Combined Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors with Calcium Channel Blockers

(check with manufacturer for specific information)

Commonly prescribed brand:

Amlopidine & Benazepril

Lotrel

How they are given:

• Oral

What they are used for:

• To treat high blood pressure

You should not be treated with them if:

• You have a history of swelling beneath the skin ( angioedema) related to previous treatment with ACE inhibitor or of hereditary or unknown origin

Possible side effects:

• Cough, headache, dizziness, swelling (including angioedema and facial swelling)

Pregnancy/nursing:

• Pregnant women should not take Lotrel because it contains an ACE inhibitor, which can harm the fetus
• Women who are nursing should not take Lotrel because it contains an ACE inhibitor, which can harm the baby. If the treatment is essential, then nursing should be discontinued.