Name That Medicine:

Blood Pressure Medications

There are several classes of drugs used for managing high blood pressure. Drugs from more than one class may be used together to achieve the benefits of the different mechanisms of action of each class
of drug. Those underlined below are preferred when treating hypertension in people with diabetes. This guide may help your patients identify the name of the oral medication that has been prescribed for them
— and help avoid confusion.

Angiotension Converting Enzyme Alpha 1 Receptor Blockers: Central Acting Alpha Adrenergic Agonists:
Inhibitors (ACE Inhibitors): Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism
*Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action *Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action
Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism is Available is Available
*Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action
is Available
Doxazosin* Cardura® 4 Relaxes Clonidine Tablets* Catapres® 0.1 Relaxes
blood vessels. blood vessels.
Benazepril* Lotensin® 5 Relaxes 0.2
blood vessels Terazosin* Hytrin®
1 0.3
10
and protects
20 2
kidneys.
5 Clonidine Patch Catapres® TTS
Captopril* Capoten® 12.5 10
25
50
100
Beta Blockers: Combined Alpha and Beta Blockers:
Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism
Enalapril* Vasotec ®
2.5 *Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action *Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action
is Available is Available
5
10 Atenolol* Tenormin® 25 Reduces the Carvedilol* Coreg™ 3.125 Relaxes
20 workload on blood vessels.
50 6.25
the heart and
100 helps it to beat 12.5
Fosinopril* Monopril ®
10 more regularly. 25
20 Metoprolol Toprol XL TM
25
40 Succinate*
50 Labetalol* Normodyne® 100
100 200
Lisinopril* Prinivil ® 2.5 300
Zestril ®
5 Metoprolol Lopressor ® 25
10 Tartrate*
100
20 Diuretics other than Thiazides:
30 Nadolol* Corgard ®
40
Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism
40 80 *Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action
is Available
Moexipril* Univasc® 7.5 Propranolol* Inderal ® 10
Bumetanide* BumexTM 0.5 Increases urinary
15 20 or excretion of
1
40 or sodium and water.
2 Over time,
Quinapril* Accupril ® 5 80 this causes
10 decreased
Furosemide* Lasix ® 20 peripheral
20 Propranolol Inderal® LA 60
Extended Release* 40 vascular
40 80 resistance.
80
120
Ramipril Altace® 1.25 160 Spironolactone* Aldactone® 25
2.5 Aldactazide® 50
5 Sotalol* Betapace® 80
100
10 120
160 Torsemide* Demadex® 5
Trandolapril* Mavik ® 2 240 10
4 20
100
Calcium Channel Blockers:
Angiotension Receptor Blockers (ARBs): Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism Triamterene/HCTZ* Dyazide® 37.5–25 or
*Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action
Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism is Available 50–25
Brand Name (mg) of Action 75–50
Amlodipine* Norvasc ®
2.5 Vasodilation.
Candesartan Atacand ® 4 Relaxes Blocks calcium
blood vessels 5
8 transport into
and protects 10 muscle cells. Thiazide Diuretics:
16 kidneys. Calcium is required
32 for the muscle Drug Name Representative Doses Available Mechanism
Diltiazem* Cardizem® 30 to contract, so the *Indicates Generic Brand Name (mg) of Action
60 result is relaxation is Available
Eprosartan Teveten® 400 of the muscle,
120 and therefore,
600 Hydrochorothiazide* Hydrodiuril ® 12.5 Increases the
dilation of the amount of urine
blood vessel. 25
Diltiazem Cardizem® 60 passed, which
Irbesartan Avapro ®
75 Sustained Release* Sustained Release 50 causes the body
90 to lose sodium
150
and water.
300
Felodipine ER* Plendil ® 2.5

Losartan Cozaar ® 25 Isradipine CR* DynaCirc CR® 2.5

50 5 or
100 10

Olmesartan Benicar TM 5 Nifedipine* Adalat ® 30

20
40 Nisoldipine Sular ® 30
40 or
Telmisartan Micardis® 40
80 Verapamil* Calan® 40
80
Valsartan Diovan® 40 120
80 240
160
320 Verapamil Covera-HS® 120
Extended Release* Verelan®-PM
180

Diabetes Educators: Call 1-800-635-2288 for information or patient brochures.

Medicare Part B patients: Call 1-877-231-5199 and mention reference code EDO6500 to order your diabetes testing supplies.
Website: www.PrescriptionSolutions.com/diabetes
New medications, medications combining the actions of more than one drug class, and the availability of medications as generics continue to come to market. Drugs have been included to represent common medications in the classes of drugs depicted.
Sources: Adapted from www.drugdigest.org, and The Art and Science of Diabetes Self-Management Education, 2006.
The information in this educational tool does not substitute for the medical advice, diagnosis or treatment of your physician. Always seek the help of your physician or qualified health provider for any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Prescription Solutions is an affiliate of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.
MSS07-124-FF 2/09