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Do not stop taking your blood pressure medicine without talking to your doctor or health care team first. Many people need to take medicine in addition to making lifestyle changes to help keep their blood pressure at healthy levels. Read more about blood pressure medicines. How do blood pressure medicines work?Blood pressure medicines can work several different ways. Blood pressure medicines can keep blood pressure at a healthy level by1:
Talk with your health care team about the best type of treatment for you. You may need to take more than one type of medicine to control your blood pressure. You can also talk to your health care team about how long it should take your blood pressure medicine to work. It is important to take your blood pressure medicine exactly as your doctor tells you to. Do not stop taking your current medicine without talking to your doctor or pharmacist first. Stopping your blood pressure medicine without first talking to your health care team could lead to serious health consequences. What are the benefits and risks of blood pressure medicines?The benefits of blood pressure medicines are clear: Blood pressure medicines can help you keep your blood pressure at healthy levels and therefore greatly reduce your risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. In general, the risks of taking blood pressure medicines are low. However, all medicines have risks. Talk with your doctor or health care professional about the risks of high blood pressure medicines. Do not stop taking your current medicine without talking to your doctor or health care professional first. What are the side effects of blood pressure medicines?Most of the time, blood pressure medicines do not cause side effects. Some people have mild side effects, including dizziness, headaches, swelling in the legs or feet, or stomach problems.2 Some over-the-counter medicines, such as nasal decongestants, can also raise blood pressure and interact with blood pressure medicines.3 Tell your doctor about any medicines or supplements you are already taking. All medicines have risks. Talk with your doctor about the best blood pressure medicines for you, their benefits, risks, and side effects, and any other health problems you may have. How do I know if I need medicine for high blood pressure?Your health care team will tell you if you need medicine for high blood pressure, based on your blood pressure readings over a period of time. If you use a home blood pressure monitor, record or write down your readings. Share your readings with your health care team so that you can make the best decision to manage your blood pressure together. What are other ways I can lower my blood pressure?In addition to taking medicine to control your blood pressure, you can take other steps to help keep your blood pressure levels healthy.
Learn MoreCDC
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
American Heart Association (AHA)
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Is blood pressure medication a blood thinner?I can see where you might think that a blood thinner may also help lower your pressure. But no, there is no medication that substantially does both. You or somebody you know may be on both.
What medications are considered blood thinners?They come in pill form, and include:. Aspirin.. Cilostazol.. Clopidogrel (Plavix). Dipyridamole (Persantine). Eptifibatide (Integrilin). Prasugrel (Effient). Ticagrelor (Brilinta). Tirofiban (Aggrastat). |