Find the Right Blood Pressure Medication for You
High blood pressure medications work in different ways. That's why it's important for you and your healthcare professional to work together to select the right medication or combination of medications. If your numbers aren't low enough, partner with your healthcare professional until you find what is the most effective for you.
The BP Success Zone Program medications include several of the most commonly prescribed classes of drugs that help lower blood pressure. This handy chart will help you understand the options that are available to you and how they work inside your body:
| Medication Category |
How It Works |
| Diuretics* (water pills) |
Diuretics flush excess sodium and water from the body. This reduces blood volume, which helps lower blood pressure. There are different types of diuretics, and sometimes, more than one type can be combined in one pill. One of the medications in DIOVAN HCT is a diuretic called hydrochlorothiazide. |
| Beta blockers |
Beta blockers slow the heart so it doesn't work as hard to pump blood through the blood vessels. This helps reduce blood pressure. |
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors |
Angiotensin II is a chemical in the body that causes blood vessels to narrow. ACE inhibitors block the production of angiotensin II so blood can flow more easily. |
| Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) |
ARBs also work on angiotensin II by blocking the harmful effect of the chemical. This allows vessels to relax so blood can flow more easily. DIOVAN, DIOVAN HCT and EXFORGE contain an angiotensin II receptor blocker called valsartan. |
| Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) |
CCBs prevent calcium from entering smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. This lets blood vessels relax and reduces blood pressure. EXFORGE contains a CCB called amlodipine. |
| Direct renin inhibitor (DRI) |
A DRI works in the body by helping blood vessels relax and widen so blood pressure is lowered. TEKTURNA is a direct renin inhibitor.* TEKTURNA HCT is a combination of a direct renin inhibitor and a diuretic called hydrochlorothiazide. |
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Joining the BP Success Zone Program gives you access to information, tools and tips that can help you understand your medication options. Then, you can team with your healthcare professional to come up with the medication or medications that will best help you achieve your blood pressure goal.
Often, multiple medications or changes in your medication's dose or strength are needed to get high blood pressure under control. In fact, most people need two or more blood pressure medications to help them reach their blood pressure goal.
The good news is, the Novartis family of blood pressure products is large, so your healthcare professional has a variety of treatment options for you.
Regardless, you will still be a member of the BP Success Zone Program and can continue to enjoy its many benefits. So, ask your healthcare professional if the Novartis family of blood pressure products and the BP Success Zone Program are right for you.
*When aliskiren was given with furosemide, the blood concentrations of furosemide were reduced significantly. Patients receiving furosemide could find its effect diminished after starting aliskiren.
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