The blood pressure should be brought down to near normal figure and should be kept more or less steady at the satisfactory level. (It must not mean that the B.P. has to be brought down to the classical normal average figure immediately).

What are the most commonly used anti-hypertensive drugs of today ?

anxiolytic tranquillisers e.g., Alplarazolam, Lorazepam, Diazepam. (Often, found sufficient in mild grade and/or episodic i.e., labile hypertension).

diuretics e.g., Hydrochlorthiazide [viz. ‘Esidrex’), Triamterene Benzthiazide combination (viz. ‘Dytide’). [Usually found sufficient in most of the mild grades and certain cases of moderate grades of hypertension. Diuretic drugs are to be avoided in persons suffering from or prone to Diabetes mellitus and gout. Because, these generally raise the blood sugar and blood uric acid.)

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beta-blockers e.g., Atenolol (viz., ‘Tenormin’) is usually found suitable in moderate grade and also in severe grade in combination with other appropriate drug. [This type of drug is unsuitable in cases with slow pulse rate i.e., ‘bradycardia’ or heart-block’ and bronchial asthma. But beneficial in ischaemia’].

calcium-channel blockers e.g., Nifedipine (viz., ‘Nicardia’), Amlodipine (viz., ‘Amlopress’) are generally found suitable in moderate and also in severe grades (along with some other appropriate drugs), specially where there is bradycardia and/ or ischaemia. [But Nifedipine should not be given if the pulse rate is on the higher side or there is palpitation. Amlodipine (a Calcium channel blocker) is claimed to be free from any adverse side-effect on the heart rate or rhythm.]

ACE-INHIBITORS e.g., Captopril (viz., ‘Aceten’), Enlapril (viz., Enapril’) etc.. It can be considered as a second-line drug in moderate hypertension alone or in combination with other anti­hypertensive drugs for the treatment of severe grades.