A variety of medicines are available to treat high blood pressure and they are categorized into different classes or groups, depending on how they work. These medicines are listed by groups with brand names and their generic names according to information from the Food and Drug Administration 2. The listed medicines represent commonly prescribed medicines to lower blood pressure as reported by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association 13.

Diuretics or Water Pills

Brand names of thiazide diuretics include:

• Diuril
  
• or chlorothiazide; Esidrix
  
• or hydrochlorothiazide; HydroDiuril
  
• or hydrochlorothiazide; Hygroton
  
• or chlorthalidone; Lozol
  
• or indapamide; Microzide
  
• or hydrochlorothiazide; Mykrox
  
• or metolazone; Renese
  
• or polythiazide;
  
• Zaroxolyn
  
• or metolazone

Beta Blockers

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Brand names of beta blockers include:

• Betapace or solotol; Blocadren or timolol; Cartrol
  
• or carteolol; Corgard
  
• or nadolol; Inderal
  
• or propranolol; Inderal LA
  
• or propranolol long-acting; Kerlone
  
• or betaxolol; Levatol
  
• or penbutolol; Lopressor
  
• or metoprolol; Sectral
  
• or acebutolol; Tenormin
  
• or atenolol; Toprol XL
  
• or metoprolol extended release; Visken
  
• or pindolol;
  
• Zebeta
  
• or bisoprolol

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors or ACEIs

The American Heart Association reports that ACEIs lower blood pressure by preventing the creation of a natural substance called angiotensin II which causes blood vessels to contract and raise blood pressure 3.

Angiotensin II Antagonists

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According to the American Heart Association, angiotensin II antagonists act by preventing the natural substance angiotensin II from acting which results in the opening of blood vessels and lower blood pressure 3.

Calcium Channel Blockers or CCBs

The calcium channel blockers work by preventing calcium from entering the muscle of blood vessels which results in opening of blood vessels and lowered blood pressure, says the American Heart Association 3.

Brand names for Nifedipine include Adalat, Adalat CC, Procardia, and Procardia XL.

Miscellaneous Antihypertensive Medications

The AHA states that medicines acting on the nervous system lower blood pressure by blocking signals from the brain that would cause tightening of blood vessels. These medicines include:

• Aldomet
  
• or alpha methyldopa; Catapres
  
• or clonidine; Catapres-TTS
  
• or clonidine patch; Tenex
  
• or guanfacine;
  
• Wytensin
  
• or guanabenz