Vasodilators

What are vasodilators?

Vasodilators are medicines that open (dilate) the blood vessel walls. This allows blood to flow more easily.

How do they work?

Vasodilators relax and expand the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and allows more blood to reach the body's tissues. When your blood flows better, your heart does not have to work as hard.

When are they used?

Vasodilators are most commonly used to:

• help treat heart failure
• reduce pain from angina (chest pain) or blocked blood vessels
• control high blood pressure.

High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and can weaken the arteries. If it is not treated, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. Vasodilators may be used with other types of blood pressure medicines and when other blood pressure medicines have not worked to control your blood pressure.

There are several kinds of vasodilators, such as:

• nitroglycerin and nitrates, which are used to ease chest pain
• hydralazine (Apresoline), which is used to treat high blood pressure
• minoxidil (Loniten)
• ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, which block angiotensin II (an enzyme in the body that causes the blood vessels to narrow). Examples include captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril), ramipril (Altace), and quinapril (Accupril). ACE inhibitors can:
  • lower high blood pressure
  • slow or prevent damage to kidneys in people with diabetes
  • slow the progress of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

How can I take care of myself?

These medicines help control high blood pressure, but they do not cure it. To help avoid the serious health problems that high blood pressure can cause, you may have to take medicine for the rest of your life. Medicine alone may not be enough. You may also need to avoid certain foods and keep your weight under control. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

People who have high blood pressure often feel fine. But even when you feel well, keep appointments with your provider and keep taking your medicine. Your provider will check to make sure the medicine is working properly and will watch for unwanted side effects. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

Do not take any other medicines, including nonprescription products, unless your provider approves.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

You may feel dizzy while taking these medicines. You may especially feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help. If you feel dizzy or faint while you are standing, lie down for a while and then get up slowly. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Sometimes alcohol, exercise, standing for a long time, and hot weather may increase the risk of dizziness or fainting. Do not drink alcohol unless your healthcare provider approves.

Nitrates often cause headaches. The headaches usually get better after you have taken these medicines for a while.

If you are taking an ACE inhibitor medicine, a persistent dry cough is a common side effect. If the cough changes or becomes bothersome, talk with your healthcare provider.

Older people may be more likely than younger people to have side effects. Your healthcare provider may prescribe another medicine if the side effects are severe.

When should I call my healthcare provider?

Call 911 if:

• You have chest pressure, squeezing, or pain that lasts more than 5 minutes or goes away and comes back.
• You have pain or discomfort in one or both arms, neck, jaw, or upper back that lasts more than 5 minutes or goes away and comes back and lightheadedness, trouble breathing, nausea or sweating.

Report these side effects to your provider right away:

• general ill feeling
• weakness
• rash
• joint pain
• severe dizziness or fainting
• severe headache that won't go away
• swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat
• trouble breathing.

Related Topics

Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors

Nitroglycerin and Other Nitrates

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