In prescribing a drug, the doctor will consider factors such as age, sex, and race and will also consider the severity of the hypertension and other conditions such as high cholesterol and diabetes. Persons should notify their doctor about any side effects they are experiencing caused by the drugs so that the doctor can adjust the dosage or switch to another drug. It is important that people follow the directions of their doctor to the letter, and it is also important to have regular blood pressure monitoring to make sure that it is under control. The first drug commonly given to a person with high blood pressure is a diuretic. This helps the kidneys eliminate salt and water, thereby decreasing the fluid volume throughout the body.
Diuretics also dilate the blood vessels.
Potassium and magnesium supplements or potassium-retaining drugs should sometimes be taken along with the diuretics. Blacks, the elderly, obese people, and people with heart or kidney failure should take diuretics. White people, young people, and people who have had heart attacks, chest pain, or migraine headaches should take adrenergic blockers. White people, young people, people suffering from heart failure, and people suffering from chronic or diabetic kidney disease should take these drugs. Other drugs that can be taken by people suffering from hypertension are vasodilators and calcium antagonists.