Drugs for high blood pressure in Nigeria, Names of High blood pressure medications in Nigeria, best drugs for hypertension in Nigeria, best BP drugs in Nigeria, list of antihypertensive drugs in Nigeria.
Your BP can be as high as 200/120mmHg and you’ll still be walking about, apparently normal.Let me just tell you, You’re a time bomb! You might be ‘fine last night’ and suddenly not wake up, or u might fall unconscious at the market place.
A 64yr old man was once rushed to our A&E…
He was unconscious & I was taking history from his son: “Papa was the one that woke everybody up for morning prayer. He ate breakfast and all of a sudden, he fainted”.
Well, papa actually became unconscious because blood vessels in his brain ruptured resulting in severe brain bleed.
Papa had a MASSIVE STROKE!
Papa had hypertension and was placed on drugs but because he felt apparently fine, he stopped taking them.
Well, he was fine until he wasn’t!
This is what happens when you’re hypertensive and you don’t know it or you don’t take your drugs.
Many of our relatives are in the same boat with papa.
Let me just say this:
If you’re hypertensive, YOU SHOULD ALWAYS TAKE YOUR DRUGS even if u feel well.
I hear people say,”they said my BP came down, so I stopped”. Well, your BP came down BECAUSE OF THE DRUGS! Once u stop, it goes back up!
Sadly, Papa died. I was so heart broken hence this warning. Many of us know someone who has survived/died of a stroke. A stroke is the commonest complication of hypertension. It can lead to death or serious disability. It’s painful to see this happen because IT CAN BE PREVENTED!
What should you do?
– Monitor ur BP regularly. You can buy the ‘BP machine’ or go to a good pharmacy, pay little money to have it checked.
• Take drugs (as prescribed by a doctor only)
• See your doctor at least once a month. See him/her if you feel unwell.
• Exercise (Do aerobic exercises like brisk walking, skipping, jogging, swimming)
• Test for Diabetes!
• Rest adequately
• Reduce Anxiety and worry. They can drive your BP up.
Taking drugs everyday indefinitely isn’t easy. Remind and encourage your parents/relatives who are hypertensive to take their drugs.
In Nigeria, it is important you know some of the available BP drugs that your doctor may prescribe for you.
There are about 8 classes of antihypertensive in Nigeria and they are listed below:
1. Diuretics
2. ACE inhibitors
3. Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs)
4. Calcium channel blockers
5. Beta blockers
6. Vasodilators
7. Alpha 2 receptor agonist
8. Alpha blockers
1. Diuretics
💠Frusemide (Lasix)
💠Bumetanide (Bumex)
💠Chlorthalidone (Hygroton)
💠Chlorothiazide (Diuril)
💠Ethacrynate (Edecrin)
💠Hydrochlorothiazide HCTZ (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Microzide)
💠Indapamide (Lozol)
💠Methyclothiazide (Enduron)
💠Metolazone (Mykroz, Zaroxolyn)
💠Torsemide (Demadex)
Furosemide and Hydrochlorothiazide are the most popular diuretics in Nigeria
2. ACE inhibitors
💠Captopril (Capoten)
💠Enalapril Maleate (Vasotec)
💠Fosinopril sodium (Monopril)
💠Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
💠Moexipril (Univasc)
💠Perindopril (Aceon)
💠Quinapril hydrochloride (Accupril)
💠Ramipril (Altace)
💠Trandolapril (Mavik)
Lisinopril and Ramipril are the most popular angiotensin receptor blockers in Nigeria.
3. Angiotensin receptor blocker (ARBs)
💠Azilsartan (Edarbi)
💠Candesartan (Atacand)
💠Eprosartan mesylate (Teveten)
💠Irbesarten (Avapro)
💠Losartin Potassium (Cozaar)
💠Olmesartan (Benicar)
💠Telmisartan (Micardis)
💠Valsartan (Diovan)
4. Calcium Channel Blockers
💠Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc, Lotrel)
💠Clevidipine (Cleviprex)
💠Diltiazem hydrochloride (Cardizem CD, 💠Cardizem SR, Dilacor XR, Tiazac)
💠Felodipine (Plendil)
💠Isradipine (DynaCirc, DynaCirc CR)
💠Nicardipine (Cardene SR)
💠Nifedipine (Adalat CC, Procardia XL)
💠Nimodipine (Nimotop, Nymalize)
💠Nisoldipine (Sular)
💠Verapamil hydrochloride
Amlodipine and Nifedipine are the most popular in Nigeria.
5. Beta Blockers
💠Bisoprolol fumarate (Zebeta)
💠Carvedilol (Coreg)
💠Esmilol (Brevibloc)
💠Atenolol
💠Labetalol (Trandate, Normodyne)
💠Metoprolol (Lopressor)
💠Nadolol (Corgard)
💠Nebivolol (Bystolic)
💠Penbutolol sulfate (Levatol)
💠Propranolol (Inderal)
💠Sotalol (Betapace)
6. Vasodilators
💠Minoxidil
💠Hydralazine
7. Alpha 2 receptor agonist
💠Methyldopa (Aldomet) – a drug of choice for hypertension in pregnancy.
8. Alpha Blockers
💠Prazosin
💠Terazosin
💠Doxazosin
These medications are also used to treat benign prostatic enlargement in males with prostate issues.
hypertensive drugs are prescription-only drugs and should never be self medicated or abused. You doctor will determine which is best for you.
Note:
1. Hypertension is a silent killer
2. Go for regular Check up
3. Do not stop your drugs even if you feel well
4. Go for regular follow up visits, the doctor will advise on the next course of action, to reduce the dose or reduce the number of drugs depending on the assessment.
@DrLotenna
RxList
