Other Medical Conditions and the Impact of High Blood Pressure Medicines

High blood pressure medicines and their impact on other medical conditions

Drug class

Recommended if you have:

May need to avoid if you have:

Beta-blockers
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Heart failure (only if your condition is stable)
  • Migraine
  • Overactive thyroid
  • Bradycardia or heart block
  • Depression
  • Asthma or emphysema
  • Buildup of plaque in blood vessels that supply blood to the arms, legs, and other parts of the body (peripheral arterial disease)
Diuretics
  • Heart failure
  • Gout
ACE inhibitors
  • Diabetes
  • Heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Blockage of blood flow to the kidneys (renal artery stenosis)
  • Pregnancy
  • Angioedema
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
  • Diabetes
  • Heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Blockage of blood flow to the kidneys (renal artery stenosis)
  • Pregnancy
  • Angioedema
Calcium channel blockers
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Heart block/bradycardia
  • Heart failure
  • Pregnancy
Alpha-blockers
  • Enlarged prostate and decreased urinary flow
  • Low blood pressure upon standing
Other vasodilators
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Chest pain (angina)
  • Heart failure
  • Kidney failure
  
Centrally-acting agents
  • Psychiatric conditions
  • Acute hepatitis
  • Liver cirrhosis

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology

Current as ofNovember 20, 2015

Current as of: November 20, 2015

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD - Cardiology