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Choosing the right blood pressure medicines for you

Research shows that some types of blood pressure medicines work better in different types of
people.

How effective a blood pressure medicine will be for you can depend on your:

age
ethnic origin
medical problems (such as kidney disease or angina)
medical history, for example which blood pressure medicines you have tried in the past.

Of course, everyone is different. Some medicines will work better for others than they do for you. Your doctor and nurse will usually
go through a number of steps to find the right blood pressure medicines for you. See the diagram below.

55 years and older

Younger than
or black* people of any
55 years old
age

A
ACE inhibitor
Step C or D
or Angiotensin receptor
1 Calcium-channel blocker
blocker
or Thiazide Diuretic
if side-effects

Step A + C or A + D A + C or A + D
2

Step A+C+D A+C+D

3

Add one of the

Add one of the following
following or consider
or consider seeking
seeking specialist
specialist advice:
Step advice:
Further diuretic therapy or
4 Further diuretic therapy
Alpha-blocker or Beta-
or Alpha-blocker or
blocker
Beta-blocker

* Black means a person of

African or Caribbean
descent who is not mixed
race or Asian

Step 1

The first blood pressure medicine you will take will depend on your age and ethnic origin.

If you are under 55 and do not have African-Caribbean origins, you will probably start with an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin
receptor blocker.