Can someone explain the differences? - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

Flutterbye77 · 05-07-2009, 10:30 AM

I read about beta blockers, CCB, Ace inhibitors etc...
I am so confused! I did a mini google search but really didnt learn much.

Growing up with parents who both suffered hypertension, I remember them taking beta blockers and water pills. I am sure they took other medication because their pills took over a dish cupboard in our kitchen.

So what are the differences? I was always lead to believe that beta blockers are usually prescribed to those who have the worst hypertension or hard to control. While I dont believe that anymore, I am stil confused with the difference of the meds and why some people are on and others on another.

DW123 · 05-07-2009, 11:12 AM

When I started out 14 years ago I had severe hypertension. My Doctor started me out on Norvasc 5 mg, it didn't make a dent in my bp. He added a diuretic and a beta blocker. This brought my bp around borderline readings. I did some research and added an arb atacand, finally my bp was starting to get under control. In my case it was all a guessing game. It took a combination to finally get it right. I have come to believed that mine must be one of the severe cases of hypertension, while I have noticed that other people only require only a single medication. Anyway this is my take on it

Flutterbye77 · 05-07-2009, 11:26 AM

Then mine must be really severe. I am on azor which is 5mg of norvasc and 40mg of benicar PLUS 12.5 hydrochlorot. Thats 3 meds... My bp is now pretty low but it took a year to drop in the low range. kinda spooky when you think about it. mine happened post pregnancy, so who knows what was going on in my body at the time.

on a side note when I was just on Azor it hardly made a differene. wasnt until I took the water pill my BP dropped. Sometimes I wonder if I even need to take the Azor and just take the water pill.