Alternative medicine (1)
- Herbal supplements may not mix with heart medicines
Complications (7)
- Brain aneurysm
- Enlarged heart
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- see all in Complications
Lifestyle and home remedies (10)
- Sample menus for the DASH eating plan
- DASH diet: Tips for shopping and cooking
- DASH diet: Tips for dining out
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Symptoms (1)
- Symptom Checker
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- Blood pressure chart: What your reading means
- Microalbumin test
- Blood pressure test
Treatments and drugs (9)
- Beta blockers
- Angiotensin II receptor blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- see all in Treatments and drugs
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continued:
Central-acting agents
Uses for central-acting agents
Doctors prescribe central-acting agents to prevent, treat or improve symptoms in conditions, such as:
- High blood pressure
- Hot flashes
- Alcohol or drug withdrawal
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Tourette syndrome
Side effects and cautions
These medications can have strong side effects, so they aren't commonly used. Side effects include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Drowsiness or sedation
- Dizziness
- Impotence
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Weight gain
- Psychological problems, such as depression
Abruptly stopping use of some central-acting agents can cause a sudden, dangerous increase in blood pressure. Don't stop taking these medications, especially if you are taking a beta blocker, without talking to your doctor.
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References
- Flynn JT. Treatment of high blood pressure: Drug therapy. In: Kaplan NM, et al. Kaplan's Clinical Hypertension. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2010:192.
- Types of blood pressure medications. American Heart Association. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/PreventionTreatmentofHighBloodPressure/Types-of-Blood-Pressure-Medications_UCM_303247_Article.jsp. Accessed Sept. 30, 2010.
- High blood pressure: Medicines to help you. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/byaudience/forwomen/ucm118594.htm. Accessed Sept. 30, 2010.
- Kaplan NM, et al. Indications and contraindications to the use of specific antihypertensive drugs. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 30, 2010.
- Chobanian AV, et al. The seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. New England Journal of Medicine. 2003;289:2560.
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