VPT 311: General and Systemic Veterinary Pharmacology (2+1)

Classification of antihypertensive drugs

ANTIHYPERTENSIVE DRUGS

These are agents used to reduce the elvate blood pressure. They can be classified based on the mechanism of action as under:

• Agents interfering with sympathetic activity
• Alpha adrenergic receptor blockers: Phentolamine, tolazoline, prazosin,
• Beta adrenergic bolckers: Propranolol, Atenolol, Metoprolol
• Alpha and Beta adrenergic blocker: Labetalol
• Agents interfering with sentral sympathetic activity: Clonidine
• Vasodilators
• Nitrates: Amyl nitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, glyceryl trinitrate ( nitroglycerine) are used as vasodilators.  
• Calcium channel blockers: Drugs under this category include verapamil, diltiazem, nifedipine, nimodipine and amlodipine.
• Potassium channel activators: Drugs under this category include cromokalin, pinacidil, minoridil and diazoxide.
• Agents that act by increasing cyclic nucleotide concentration:  Nitroprusside
• Vasodilators with unknown mechanism of action: Hydralazine
• Agents acting through inhibition of Angiotensin
• Angiotensin Converting enzyme inhibtors: Enalapril, Captopril
• Angiotensin Receptor blocker: Losartan