Antihypertensives
See Subgroups: Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Centrally Acting Antiadrenergic Drugs, Anti Adrenergic - Peripheral, Loop Diuretics, Thiazide Diuretics, "ACE" Inhibitors
Other Antihypertensives
Generic and Trade Names:
| Corvedilol | Coreg | |||
| Diazoxide | Hyperstat IV | |||
| Hydralazine | Apresazide, Apresoline | |||
| Labetalol | Normodyne, Trandate | |||
| Losartan | Cozaar | |||
| Mecamylamine | Inversine | |||
| Metyrosine | Demser | |||
| Minoxidil | Loniten | |||
| Nitroprusside | Nipride | |||
| Pargyline | Eutonyl | |||
| Phentolamine | Regitine | |||
| Phenoxybenzamine | Dibenzyline | |||
| Tolazoline | Priscoline |
Description:
An antihypertensive is an agent, or mode of treatment, which prevents or controls high blood pressure. There are many different types of antihypertensive agents available today. These drugs are useful in lowering blood pressure (see under hypotension and hypertension), as well as some other conditions, such as angina, congestive heart failure, and Minoxidil is used for male pattern baldness.
Nutritional Considerations:
A low sodium, low calorie diet may be prescribed. (Pronsky 1999)
Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine may be depleted (Pronsky 1999).
Hydration: insure adequate fluid intake unless directed otherwise. (Pronsky 1999)
Magnesium depletion may lead to heart and muscle problems.
Manganese excretion increases. (Pronsky 1999)
Limit alcohol. (Pronsky 1999)
Grapefruit can potentiate levels of certain antihypertensives e.g. Calcium channel blockers. (Facts and Comparisons 1999)
Herbal Considerations:
Avoid natural licorice products, which can cause hypertension. (Brinker 1998)
Diuretics, such as: blue cohosh, carrot seed, cleavers, cornsilk, couchgrass, elder, elecampane, European Goldenrod, figwort, goat's rue, Ground Ivy, hops, horsetail, juniper, lovage, milkweed, nettle, onion plant, parsley plant, pleurisy root, prickly ash, ragwort, safflower, sassafras, saw palmetto, skunk cabbage, squill, sweetflag, Wahoo, wormseed or yerba mate may potentiate the action of antihypertensive drugs. (Brinker 1998)(Newall 1996)
Ginseng can induce a hypertensive state. (Brinker 1998)
Yohimbe reverses hypotensive effects of clonidine and similar antihypertensives. (Brinker 1998)
Newall (1996) has compiled an extensive list of hypotensive herbs:
Herb
Agrimony
Asafetida
Black Cohosh
Calamus / Sweet Flag
Celery Seed
Cornsilk
Elecampane
Fenugreek
Garlic Plant
Ginger
Horse radish
Mistletoe
Nettle
Parsley Plant
Plantain Tree
Sage
Squill Vasodilator
Wild Carrot [Carrot Seeds]
Yarrow
It is also necessary to be aware of herbs which may exert an hypertensive action (Newall, 1996) and may need to be avoided:
Hypertensive Herbs
Drug
Bayberry
Broom
Cohosh, Blue
Cola
Coltsfoot
Gentian
Ginger
Ginseng, Panax
Goldenseal
Licorice
Mate
Vervain
These herbs have approval status by the German Commission E regarding their hypotensive action:
Lily of the Valley
Onion plant
Squill
References:
Bailey, DG et al., Interaction of citrus juices with Felodipine and Nifedipine. Lancet, 1991, 337:268-270.
Blumenthal, M (Ed.): The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines. American Botanical Council. Austin, TX. 1998.
Brinker, Francis N.D. Herb Contraindications and Drug Interactions. Eclectic Medical Publications. 1998
Edgar, B et al: Acute effects of drinking grapefruit juice on the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of Felodipine - and its potential clinical relevance. Eur. J. Clin. Pharm. 1992, 42:313-317.
Facts and Comparisons Division, Clinisphere 2.0, Wolters Kluwer Company, 1999.
Farese, RV et al., Licorice-induced hypermineralcorticoidism. NEJM. 1991, 325:1,1223-1,227.
Kishi H, Kishi T, Folkers K: Bioenergetics in clinical medicine III - inhibition of coenzyme Q10-enzymes by clinically used antihypertensive drugs, Res Commun Chem Pathol Pharmacol, 1975, 12(3):533-40.
Newall CA, Anderson LA, Phillipson JD. Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1996.
Pronsky, ZM, et al: Food-Medication Interactions, 11th edition. 1999
Schneider, H.A. et al: Nutritional Support of Medical Practice. Harper & Row, MD. 1977.
Semple, H.A. et al: Interactions between hydralazine and oral nutrients in humans. Ther. Drug. Monit. 1991,13(4): 304-308.
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