title: Practical approach to hypertension. 2. Treatment.
abstract: With information obtained from the hypertensive workup (described in part 1 of this article), the physician devises a treatment plan. A stepped-care approach is generally favored, with a diuretic, an adrenergic blocker, and a vasodilator being added in turn until blood pressure is brought under control. The indications and contraindications, dosages, and side effects of the most commonly used antihypertensive agents are discussed here, with suggestions for increasing compliance.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004039:Diet, Sodium-Restricted; D004232:Diuretics / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004232:Diuretics; D013565:Sympatholytics; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D011433:Propranolol; D006145:Guanethidine