RxSideEffect.org: The effects of drugs vary depending upon the drug taken

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Like most medicines, hypertension drugs can cause side effects. These possible unwanted effects are often mild, but sometimes they are more serious and can have a major impact on health or quality of life. Most of modern hypertension medications are very well tolerated and only rarely cause serious side effects. The effects of drugs can vary depending upon the kind of drug taken, how much is taken, how often it is used, how quickly it gets to the brain, and what other drugs, food, or substances are taken at the same time. Effects can also vary based on the differences in body size, shape, and chemistry. Hypertension drugs differ in how commonly they cause particular side effects. Medications are prescribed for a specific purpose, and anything else the drug does is a side effect. Some side effects are mild, like a slight headache. Others, like liver damage, can be severe and, in rare cases, fatal. Some go on for just a few days or weeks, but others might continue as long as you take a medication, or even after you stop. Some occur within days or weeks of starting a drug. Others may only show up after months or years of therapy.

Some people can have side-effects from blood pressure medicines. ­Although these can be uncomfortable, they are usually not dangerous. They sometimes wear off over time, or your doctor or nurse can adjust your medicines to get rid of them. There is usually no way to know if you will have side-effects from your medicine. If you do, you will usually notice them soon after starting a new medicine, or if the dose of your medicine is increased. If you have problems with one medicine, this does not mean that all blood pressure medicines will give you side-effects. Other medicines may help your blood pressure with no difficulties at all.

Many medication-related side effects diminish with time, but if they persist or are troublesome, your doctor may be able to minimize them by lowering the dosage, switching you to another drug, or prescribing medication to counteract the side effects. If you need to take multiple doses each day, ask if the last dose can be taken close to bedtime. Also, try to avoid other medications that can lead to drowsiness, such as antihistamines, sleeping pills, prescription pain relievers and muscle relaxants.