Choice of Medication in Hypertension

Choice of drug therapy for hypertension

Class of drug	Indication		Contraindications
	Compelling	Possible	Possible	Compelling
α-Blockers	Prostatism	Dyslipidaemia	Postural hypotension	Urinary incontinence
ACE inhibitors	Heart failure	Chronic renal disease	Renal impairment	Pregnancy
	Left ventricular dysfunction	Type II diabetic nephropathy	Peripheral vascular disease	Renovascular disease
	Type I diabetic nephropathy
Angiotensin II receptor antagonistsc	Cough induced by ACE inhibitor	Heart failure Intolerance of other antihypertensive drugs	Peripheral vascular disease	Pregnancy Renovascular disease
β-Blockers	Myocardial infarction Angina	Heart failure	Heart failure Dyslipidaemia Peripheral vascular disease	Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Heart block
Calcium antagonists (dihydropyridine)	Isolated systolic hypertension in elderly patients	Angina Elderly patients	-	-
Calcium antagonists (rate limiting)	Angina	Myocardial infarction	Combination with β-blockade	Heart block Heart failure
Thiazides	Elderly patients	-	Dyslipidaemia	Gout

Causes and Symptoms of Hypertension
Investigations and Treatment of Hypertension
Choice of drug therapy in hypertension