Hypertension in African-Americans tends to occur earlier in life and tends to be more severe. Two classes of drugs that should never be used during pregnancy include ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers.Other possible safe options include labetalol, beta-blockers, and diuretics.Methyldopa, which works to lower blood pressure through the central nervous system, has the lowest risk of harming the mother and developing the fetus. The drug of choice for hypertensive, pregnant women is one of the oldest high blood pressure medications on the market.Similarly, in patients prone to constipation (the elderly, for example) use of certain calcium channel blockers might best be avoided - along with diuretics - as both these classes of drugs can inhibit proper bowel function.Īfrican-American patients respond to some antihypertensive medications better than others.Ĭertain groups of patients require the use of a specific class of high blood pressure medication. Selecting the 'best' high blood pressure medication depends on several things, including the general health of the patient, his or her age, ethnicity, and whether or not they have any co-existing medical issues or drug sensitivities.įor example, in a hypertensive patient with asthma, it may be inadvisable to prescribe a beta-blocker, as these drugs can aggravate that respiratory condition. What is the best high blood pressure medication?

Blood pressure medication names