Diuréticos
	Bloqueadores beta
	Inhibidores de la ECA
	Bloqueadores de los receptores de la angiotensina II
	Bloqueadores de los canales de calcio
	Bloqueadores alfa
	Bloqueadores alfa y beta combinados
	Agonistas centrales
	Inhibidores adrenérgicos periféricos
	Blood vessel dilators, or vasodilators
	Sympathetic nerve inhibitors

	Diuréticos Diuretics help the body get rid of excess sodium (salt) and water and help control blood pressure. They are often used in combination with additional prescription therapies. See an illustration of Diuréticos.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	clortalidona	Hygroton*
	chlorothiazide	Diuril*
	furosemida	Lasix*
	hidroclorotiazida	Esidrix*, Hydrodiuril*, Microzide*
	indapamida	Lozol*
	metolazona	Mykrox*, Zaroxolyn*
	Diuréticos ahorradores de potasio
	amilorida clorhidrato	Midamar*
	espironolactona	Aldactone*
	triamterena	Dyrenium*
	Loop diuretic
	bumetanide	Bumex*
	Diuréticos combinados
	amilorida clorhidrato + hidroclorotiazida	Moduretic*
	espironolactona + hidroclorotiazida	Aldactazide*
	Triamterene + hydrochlorothiazide	Dyazide*, Maxzide*
	Some noted possible side effects from diuretics:
	Some of these drugs may decrease your body's supply of the mineral potassium. Como resultado, podrían aparecer síntomas como debilidad, calambres en las piernas o cansancio. Consumir alimentos que contengan potasio podría ayudar a prevenir la pérdida significativa de este mineral. If your doctor recommends it, you could prevent potassium loss by taking a liquid or tablet that has potassium along with the diuretic. Los diuréticos como amiloride (Midamar)*, espironolactona (Aldactone)* o triamtereno (Dyrenium)* reciben el nombre de agentes "ahorradores de potasio". They don't cause the body to lose potassium. They might be prescribed alone, but are usually used with another diuretic. Some of these combinations are Aldactazide*, Dyazide*, Maxzide* or Moduretic*. Algunas personas sufren ataques de gota después del tratamiento prolongado con diuréticos. Este efecto secundario no es común y puede manejarse con otro tratamiento. People with diabetes may find that diuretic drugs increase their blood sugar level. A change in medication, diet, insulin or oral anti-diabetic dosage corrects this in most cases. La mayoría de las veces el grado de aumento del azúcar en la sangre no es considerable. Your doctor may change your treatment. También puede aparecer impotencia en un porcentaje reducido de personas.

	Bloqueadores beta Beta-blockers reduce the heart rate, the heart's workload and the heart's output of blood, which lowers blood pressure. See an illustration of Bloqueadores beta.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	acebutolol	Sectral*
	atenolol	Tenormin*
	betaxolol	Kerlone*
	fumarato de bisoprolol	Zebeta*
	carteolol clorhidrato	Cartrol*
	tartrato de metoprolol	Lopressor*
	succinato de metoprolol	Toprol-XL*
	nadolol	Corgard*
	sulfato de penbutolol	Levatol*
	pindolol*	Visken*
	propranolol hydrochloride*	Inderal*
	solotol hydrochloride	Betapace*
	timolol maleate*	Blocadren*
	Combination beta-blocker/ diuretic
	hydrochlorothiazide and bisoprolol	Ziac*
	Some noted possible side effects of beta-blockers:
	Insomnia Cold hands and feet Tiredness or depression Slow heartbeat Symptoms of asthma Impotence may also occur If you have diabetes and you're taking insulin, have your responses to therapy monitored closely. If you have been prescribed beta-blockers, consult your healthcare provider prior to conception if you are considering pregnancy. If a pregnancy is discovered, consult your healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine the safest medication for use during pregnancy.

	Inhibidores de la ECA Angiotensin is a chemical that causes the arteries to become narrow, especially in the kidneys but also throughout the body. ACE stands for Angiotensin-converting enzyme. ACE inhibitors help the body produce less angiotensin, which helps the blood vessels >relax and open up, which, in turn, lowers blood pressure. See an illustration of Inhibidores de la ECA.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	benazepril clorhidrato	Lotensin*
	captopril	Capoten*
	enalapril maleato	Vasotec*
	fosinopril sódico	Monopril*
	lisinopril	Prinivel*, Zestril*
	moexipril	Univasc*
	perindopril	Aceon*
	quinapril clorhidrato	Accupril*
	ramipril	Altace*
	trandolapril	Mavik*
	Some noted possible side effects of ACE inhibitors:
	Skin rash Loss of taste Chronic dry, hacking cough In rare instances, kidney damage Women who are taking ACE inhibitors or ARBs for high blood pressure should not become pregnant while on this class of drugs. Si usted está tomando un inhibidor de la ECA o un BRA y piensa que podría estar embarazada, consulte a su médico de inmediato. These drugs have been shown to be dangerous to both mother and baby during pregnancy. They can cause low blood pressure, severe kidney failure, excess potassium and even death of the newborn.

	Angiotensin II receptor blockers (commonly called ARBs) These drugs block the effects of angiotensin, a chemical that causes the arteries to become narrow. Angiotensin needs a receptor- like a chemical "slot" to fit into or bind with- in order to constrict the blood vessel. ARBs block the receptors so the angiotensin fails to constrict the blood vessel. This means blood vessels stay open and blood pressure is reduced. See an illustration of Angiotensin II receptor blockers (commonly called ARBs).
	Generic name	Common brand names
	candesartán	Atacand*
	eprosartan mesylate	Teveten*
	irbesartán	Avapro*
	losartán potásico	Cozaar*
	telmisartan	Micardis*
	valsartán	Diovan*
	Some noted possible side effects of Angiotensin II receptor blockers:
	May cause occasional dizziness. ARBs should not be used during pregnancy. Medications that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury or even death to a developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, consult your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

	Bloqueadores de los canales de calcio This drug prevents calcium from entering the smooth muscle cells of the heart and arteries. When calcium enters these cells, it causes a stronger and harder contraction, so by decreasing the calcium, the hearts' contraction is not as forceful. Calcium channel blockers relax and open up narrowed blood vessels, reduce heart rate and lower blood pressure. See an illustration of Bloqueadores de los canales de calcio.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	amlodipina besilato	Norvasc*, Lotrel*
	bepridil	Vasocor*
	diltiazem clorhidrato	Cardizem CD*, Cardizem SR*, Dilacor XR*, Tiazac*
	felodipina	Plendil*
	isradipina	DynaCirc*, DynaCirc CR*
	nicardipina	Cardene SR*
	nifedipina	Adalat CC*, Procardia XL*
	nisoldipina	Sular*
	clorhidrato de verapamilo	Calan SR*, Covera HS*, Isoptin SR*, Verelan*
	Some noted possible side effects of calcium channel blockers:
	Palpitations Swollen ankles Constipation Headache Dizziness

	Bloqueadores alfa These drugs reduce the arteries' resistance, relaxing the muscle tone of the vascular walls. See an illustration of Bloqueadores alfa.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	mesilato de doxazosina	Cardura*
	clorhidrato de prazosina	Minipress*
	terazosina clorhidrato	Hytrin*
	Some noted possible side effects of alpha blockers:
	Fast heart rate Dizziness A drop in blood pressure when you stand up

	Bloqueadores alfa y beta combinados Combined alpha and beta-blockers areused as an IV drip for those patients experiencing a hypertensive crisis. They may be prescribed for outpatient high blood pressure use if the patient is at risk for congestive heart failure.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	carvedilol	Coreg*
	labetalol clorhidrato	Normodyne*, Trandate*
	A noted possible side effect of combined alpha and beta-blockers:
	May cause a drop in blood pressure when you stand up

	Agonistas centrales Central agonists also help decrease the blood vessels' ability to tense up or contract. The central agonists follow a different nerve pathway than the alpha and beta-blockers, but accomplish the same goal of blood pressure reduction.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	alfa metildopa	Aldomet*
	clorhidrato de clonidina	Catapres*
	acetato de guanabenz	Wytensin*
	clorhidrato de guanfacina	Tenex*
	Some noted possible side effects of central agonists:
	Alpha methyldopa (Aldomet)* may produce a greater drop in blood pressure when you're in an upright position (standing or walking), and it may make you feel weak or faint if the pressure has been lowered too far. Este medicamento también puede causar somnolencia o pereza, sequedad en la boca, fiebre o anemia. Los pacientes de sexo masculino podrían experimentar impotencia. Si estos efectos secundarios persisten, es posible que el médico tenga que cambiar la dosis del medicamento o usar otro. Clonidina (Catapres)*, guanabenz (Wytensin)* o guanfacina (Tenex)* pueden producir sequedad grave en la boca, estreñimiento o somnolencia. If you're taking any of these drugs, don't stop suddenly because your blood pressure may rise quickly to dangerously high levels.

	Inhibidores adrenérgicos periféricos These medications reduce blood pressure by blocking neurotransmitters in the brain. This blocks the smooth muscles from getting the "message" to constrict. Estos medicamentos se usan pocas veces cuando otros medicamentos no han sido efectivos.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	guanadrel	Hylorel*
	monosulfato de guanetidina	Ismelin*
	reserpina	Serpasil*
	Some noted possible side effects of peripheral adrenergic inhibitors:
	Reserpine may cause a stuffy nose, diarrhea or heartburn. These effects aren't severe, and no treatment is required other than to change the dosage. If you have nightmares or insomnia or get depressed, tell your doctor; you should stop using the drug. Guanadrel (Hylorel)* o guanetidina (Ismelin)* pueden causar diarrea, que puede llegar a ser persistente en algunas personas. Este efecto secundario por lo general deja de ser un problema si continúa con el tratamiento. Estos medicamentos reducen más la presión arterial al ponerse de pie. Por lo tanto, podría tener mareos o desvanecimientos y sentirse débil al levantarse de la cama por la mañana o al ponerse de pie de manera repentina. If you notice any of these reactions and if they persist for more than a minute or two, contact your doctor. He/she may instruct you to reduce or omit the next dose of the medication. When taking guanethidine, don't stand in the hot sun or at a social gathering if you begin to feel faint or weak. Estas actividades pueden causar un descenso en la presión arterial. Los pacientes de sexo masculino podrían experimentar impotencia. Póngase en contacto con el médico si esto llega a ocurrir.

	Vasodilatadores Blood vessel dilators, or vasodilators, can cause the muscle in the walls of the blood vessels (especially the arterioles) to relax, allowing the vessel to dilate (widen). This allows blood to flow through better.
	Generic name	Common brand names
	hidralazina clorhidrato	Apresoline*
	minoxidil	Loniten*†
	Some noted possible side effects of vasodilators:
	Hydralzine (Apresoline)* may cause headaches, swelling around the eyes, heart palpitations or aches and pains in the joints. Por lo general, ninguno de estos síntomas es grave y la mayoría desaparece a los pocas semanas de tratamiento. Este medicamento por lo general no se toma solo. Minoxidil (Loniten)* es un medicamento potente que se usa generalmente sólo en los casos de presión arterial alta grave y resistente. Podría causar retención de líquidos (aumento de peso considerable) o crecimiento capilar excesivo.

† Utilizado en casos graves o en presencia de insuficiencia renal.

Este contenido se revisa regularmente. Última actualización: 10/16/2009.