Side Effects of Blood Pressure Medication

The problem with the current range of drugs designed to lower your blood pressure is that they all have potential side effects and problems.

You can see the kind of side effects you may experience in the table below but be aware that not all side effects are present in all brands of medication within a group, nor do all patients experience all or any of the side effects listed with a medication. So don't panic if you have to take blood pressure lowering drugs. Also, as new versions of drugs are developed they are designed to reduce side effects too – good news for those who have to use medication.

Often if you experience side effects when you first start taking medication to lower your high blood pressure, you may find they wear off after your body gets used to taking that particular drug.

Doctors prescribe particular medications based on patient medical history and your own case will be carefully considered before drugs are prescribed.

Just be aware that no drugs are completely free from side effects and let that be a motivation to make whatever changes you can towards a healthier lifestyle as well as taking the medication your doctor advises. 

Even if you get unpleasant side-effects with a blood pressure lowering drug do not suddenly stop taking medication without speaking to your doctor first. Your doctor may just advise changing your dosage or may suggest trying a different drug. He or she may even discuss with you ways to live with the side effects because of the greater benefit of controlling your blood pressure. One problem is that the best option is not always immediately apparent and you may need to try a few dfferent types of drug before finding a suitable one depending on your medical history and reaction to the medication.

The type of side effects which may be experienced with different groups of blood pressure medication are:-

Medication Type	What the Medication is designed to do	Side Effects you may experience
Diuretics (Water Pills)	Increase the output of urine and volume of blood being circulated around your body	Frequent urination especially when you start taking it Loss of potassium in the urine which can make you feel tired and weak and in extreme cases cause an abnormal heart rhythm Nausea Vomiting Diarrhoea Loss of appetite Dehydration Faintness Pins and Needles Cramps Skin Rashes Erectile difficulties Increase in cholesterol Increased risk of gout
Beta Blockers	Block the action of stress hormones on the heart and give the heart less work by slowing the heart rate	Nausea Vomiting Diarrhoea Skin Rashes Slow pulse Cold hands and feet Disturbed sleep (due to vivid dreams) Depression Reduction in good cholesterol Reduced blood sugar control in some diabetics Dryness of the eyes Visual disturbances Wheezing Drowsiness Fatigue
Vasodilators	Have a relaxing effect on the arterial walls	Rapid heart beat Flushes Headaches Skin Rashes Fever Painful joints and muscles Nausea High Blood Sugar Tremors Angina(in patients with coronary heart disease)
Calcium Antagonists	Reduces calcium in the artery walls and causes them to widen	Heart failure (if taken with beta blockers or in people with defects of the heart) Headaches Palpitations Flushing of the Skin Swollen ankles Dizziness
ACE Inhibitors	Stop formation of the hormone angiotensin II which causes blood vessels to narrow	Side effects tend to be rare but may include Sudden dramatic drop in blood pressure dry cough rashes headaches fatigue dizziness nausea vomiting loss of taste (which returns when treatment stops) angioneurotic oedema mouth ulcers muscle cramps tiredness weakness chest pain
Alpha Blockers	Block the action of stress hormones on the arterial walls, giving wider arteries with less resistance to blood flow	Dizziness on standing Headaches Fatigue Palpitations Increased Frequency of urination Oedema (fluid retention) urinary incontinence (in women)
Alpha-Beta Blockers	Block effects of stress hormones. (Combination of alpha blockers and beta blockers)	Same side effects as both alpha and beta blockers.