4. Diuretics :
a) Thiazides & related agents – Hydrochlorothiazide
chlorthalidone
b) Loop diuretics – Furosemide, bumetanide
c) Potassium sparing diuretics – Amiloride
triamterene
spironolactone
5. Sympatholytic drugs:
a) Centrally acting agents – Clonidine, α-methyldopa
b) Ganglion blockers – Trimethaphan
c) Neuronal blockers – Reserpine
d) α-Adrenergic blockers:
(i) Non-selective: Phenoxybenzamine
phentolamine
(ii) Selective: Prazosin, terazosin
e) β-Adrenergic blockers:
(i) Non-selective: Propranolol, timolol
(ii) Selective: Atenolol, metoprolol
6. Vasodilators:
a) Arteriolar – Hydralazine, minoxidil, diazoxide
b) Arterial and venodilator – Sodium nitroprusside
I. ACEIs : 1
st
line agents
Renin
ACE
(vasoconstriction)
BP
ACEIs
Bradykinin
PG
Vasodilation
Blood vessel Aldosterone
release
Cardiac hypertrophy
& remodelling
Angiotensinogen
Angiotensin I
Angiotensin II
PVR Na
+
& H
2
O retention
Inactive
Mechanism of action:
•Inhibit the generation of angiotensin II – a potent
vasoconstrictor
•Inhibit the degradation of bradykinin – a potent
vasodilator
•Stimulate the synthesis of PGs
•Reduce sympathetic nervous system activity
•Reduce aldosterone production
•Dilates both arteries & veins – afterload and preload
Drug interactions :
• ACEI x Potassium sparing diuretics –
hyperkalaemia
•ACEI x Lithium – Li toxicity
Contraindicated in pregnancy
Preferred drug in younger age group,
diabetics – delay or prevent the
progression of renal complications
II. ARBs :
MOA : competitevely inhibits the binding of
angiotensin II to AT
1
receptors
- do not affect bradykinin production
Therapeutic uses:
•Hypertension
• Diabetic nephropathy
• CCF
Adverse effects:
• Dry cough & angioedema - less
III. Diuretics:
Thiazide diuretics –
MOA:
On chronic therapy
Thiazides
Inhibit Na
+
-Cl
-
symport in the
early distal tubule
Promote Na
+
,
H
2
O excretion
CO
BP
Na
+
concentration in
the vascular smooth vessels
PVR
Advantages:
•Long duration of action
•Cheaper
•Well tolerated in elderly patients
•Decreases the incidence of fracture in elderly
patients by reducing urinary calcium excretion
Can not be given in patients with gout and
hyperlipidaemia
Loop diuretics:
Furosemide – not preferred in uncomplicated
primary HT because of shorter
duration of action
- used in presence of renal failure,
CCF or hypertensive emergency
IV. CCBs:
•Dihydropyridines (DHPs) – preferred among CCBs -
more selective action on blood vessels
•Particularly useful in elderly patients and also in
patients with angina, asthma, pvd, migraine,
hyperlipidaemia, diabetes and renal dysfunction
DHPs
Relaxes vascular
smooth muscle
PVR
BP
V. Sympatholytics :
a) β-adrenergic blockers –
often used as 1
st
line agents in mild to moderate
hypertension
blocks β
1
receptors on heart – HR,
FOC, CO - BP
β-blockers
blocks β
1
receptors on kidney –
renin release - BP
sympathetic outflow - BP
β-adrenergic blockers are mainly useful in
–
•Young hypertensives with high renin
levels
•Patients with associated conditions such
as angina, post MI, migraine and
psychosomatic disorders
•Patients receiving vasodilators
Avoided in pts with asthma, pvd, diabetes,
hyperlipidaemia
b) Centrally acting agents:
Clonidine –
MOA:
to
Heart
Blood
vessel
HR, CO
PVR
BP
Clonidine stimulates α
2A
receptors in VMC
sympathetic outflow
from VMC
Adverse effects:
Dryness of mouth & eyes
Sedation, depression, nausea, dizziness
Bradycardia, impotence, pain
Swelling of parotid gland
Sudden stoppage after prolonged use - withdrawal
syndrome –
headache, nervousness, tachycardia, sweating,
tremors, palpitation & rebound hypertension
•Preferred antihypertensive during pregnancy
Adverse effects:
•Nasal stuffiness, dryness of mouth
•Headache, sedation, mental depression
•Bradycardia, EPS
•Impotence, gynaecomastia
c)α-Adrenergic blockers:
α-blockers
Nonselective blockers Selective blockers
Block both α
1 & α
2- receptors Block selectively α
1-
in the blood vessels vascular receptors
Vasodilation & fall in BP Arterial & venodilation
(due to α
1
-blockade)
Noradrenaline release Fall in BP
(due to presynaptic α
2-blockade)
Reflex tachycardia
Non-selective drugs – not preferred for
essential hypertension
Used in special conditions –
• Pheochromocytoma
• Clonidine withdrawal
• Cheese reaction
Prazosin – first dose phenomenon – postural
hypotension after the 1
st
dose
VI. Vasodilators :
activates
Minoxidil
Diazoxide
K
+
channel (K
+
channel
openers)
K
+
efflux
Hyperpolarization of
vascular smooth muscle
Vasodilatation
BP
Minoxidil:
•Use – promote hair growth in male-type baldness
•AE – reflex tachycardia, Na
+
& H
2O retention with
edema
Diazoxide:
•Use – treatment of hypertensive emergencies
•AE - reflex tachycardia, Na
+
& H
2O retention,
hyperglycaemia
Selection of antihypertensive drugs in
individual patients depends on:
•Comorbidity
•Associated complications
•Age
•Sex
•Cost of the drug
•Concomitant drugs