High blood pressure (hypertension)




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Central-acting agents

By Mayo Clinic staff
Original Article:  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure-medication/HI00056
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Central-acting agents

Central-acting agents, also called central adrenergic inhibitors, treat several conditions, including high blood pressure, drug and alcohol withdrawal, and hot flashes. Find out more about these medications.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Central-acting agents lower your heart rate and reduce your blood pressure. They work by preventing your brain from sending signals to your nervous system to speed up your heart rate and narrow your blood vessels. As a result, your heart doesn't pump as hard and your blood flows more easily through your blood vessels.

Examples of central-acting agents

Central-acting agents are also called central adrenergic inhibitors, central alpha agonists and central agonists. Several central-acting agents are available. Which one is best for you depends on your health and the condition being treated.

Examples of central-acting agents include:

  • Clonidine (Catapres)
  • Guanfacine (Tenex)
  • Methyldopa

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.

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
HI00056 Dec. 16, 2010

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