Other medicines for high blood pressure

If you cannot reach your blood pressure goal with one or more of the above medicines, your healthcare professional may prescribe:

• Aldosterone antagonists. These medicines often are used with other blood pressure treatments, such as a diuretic. They block a hormone called aldosterone. That hormone sometimes causes sodium and fluid to build up in the body. This can cause high blood pressure. Aldosterone antagonists may be prescribed if high blood pressure is hard to control or if you have diabetes or heart failure.
• Alpha blockers. These medicines prevent a hormone called norepinephrine from tightening the muscles in the walls of smaller arteries and veins. This lets the arteries and veins stay open and relaxed.
• Alpha-beta blockers. These medicines work similarly to beta blockers. They might be prescribed if you have high blood pressure and are at risk of heart failure.
• Central-acting agents. These medicines stop the brain from sending signals to the nervous system to speed up the heart rate and narrow the blood vessels. As a result, the heart does not pump as hard and the blood flows more easily through the veins and arteries.
• Vasodilators. These medicines prevent the muscles in the veins and arteries from tightening and narrowing. As a result, blood flows more easily and the heart does not have to pump as hard.