In most cases, the first-line treatment for hypertension is a thiazide diuretic, with many patients suffering from hypertension being prescribed other medications, including an ACE inhibitor like lisinopril, amlodipine besylate, generic hydrochlorothiazide, or a calcium channel blocker. It is common for physicians to prescribe lifestyle changes along with medication to help lower blood pressure levels quickly and over the long term. These lifestyle changes often consist of maintaining a healthy weight, maintaining a healthy balanced diet that limits sodium intake and increases potassium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, and maintaining a healthy exercise regimen. These lifestyle changes may take some time to fully implement and provide longer-term benefits, so prescribed medications are often necessary for quickly lowering the blood pressure to a healthy, sustainable level to ensure that any potential side effects of hypertension are limited right away wherever possible.