|
Table 2: Summary of the mechanism of action for the most efficient commercially available antihypertensive drugs. |
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|
Type |
Mechanism of action |
Final effects |
|
Diuretics |
Decrease blood volume through sodium and water excretion. |
— Decrease in cardiac output and diminishing ventricular preload via Frank–Starling’s mechanism. — Improvement on systemic vascular resistance. |
|
Beta-blockers |
Blocking the sympathetic system from the cardiovascular system. |
— Decreasing heart rate, cardiac contractility, and stroke volume. — Useful in managing “hyperdynamic syndromes”, characterized by an increase in the cerebral RAAS. — Decrease sympathetic stimulation that promote catecholamines cascade. |
|
Non - dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers |
Decreasing cardiac output through dropping heart rate and myocardial contractility |
— Highly cardio selective pharmaco- therapeutic action. |
|
Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers |
|
— More selective for the systemic vasculature — Promotes a reduction in systemic vascular resistance. |