The RAAS Pathway (ACEIs & ARBs)
These antihypertensives are easily identified in a medication list by their shared "-pril" suffix
ACE Inhibitors
This specific medication is the 5th most prescribed drug in the United States and belongs to the dihydropyridine subclass.
Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Nearly every drug in this class, used for hypertension and post-MI therapy, carries the "-olol" suffix.
Beta Blockers
The brand name of this loop diuretic is a literal reference to its typical six-hour duration of effect.
Lasix (Furosemide)
This Class III antiarrhythmic is highly effective for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias when other drugs fail.
Amiodarone
This class of drugs, including Losartan, is often used as a "backup plan" for patients who cannot tolerate the dry cough associated with ACE inhibitors
Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)
Dihydropyridines like Nifedipine can be identified by this consistent suffix.
-dipine
Ranked #6 in U.S. prescribing frequency, this beta-1 selective agent is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease management
Metoprolol
Ranking #12 on the prescribing scale, this is the most common thiazide diuretic used to treat hypertension.
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ)
This Class V cardiac glycoside provides a dual balance by strengthening heart contractions while slowing atrial conduction.
Digoxin
The chemical structure of this 1981 breakthrough medication was modeled after peptides found in Brazilian pit viper venom.
Captopril
Unlike dihydropyridines, these two specific CCBs exert more pronounced cardiac effects and do not follow the standard suffix.
Verapamil and Diltiazem
This Nobel Prize winner introduced the first beta blocker, propranolol, in the 1960s.
Sir James Black
This potassium-sparing diuretic is unique for its versatility in treating acne vulgaris and hyperaldosteronism
Spironolactone
Introduced in 1970, this classification system organizes antiarrhythmics into five distinct classes based on their mechanism of action.
Vaughan Williams classification
While the liver generates angiotensinogen, this enzyme is primarily generated on the surface of pulmonary and renal endothelium
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)
CCBs lower blood pressure by inhibiting calcium entry into this specific type of tissue, leading to vasodilation.
vascular smooth muscle
Patients taking this alpha blocker for hypertension or BPH must have their surgeon notified before undergoing cataract surgery
Terazosin
Although approved for refractory hypertension, this drug is most famous today as a topical treatment for hair growth
Minoxidil
This versatile molecule acts as a vasodilator, a neurotransmitter, and a natural platelet inhibitor.
Nitric Oxide
This serious Type I hypersensitivity reaction to ACE inhibitors is characterized by symmetric swelling of the eyelids and lips, which must be distinguished from the emergency known as orbital cellulitis.
Angioedema
This topical ophthalmic drug should be avoided in patients taking amlodipine because it antagonizes the medication's antihypertensive effects
Atropine
Caution is required when prescribing beta blockers to diabetic patients because the drugs can mask the symptoms of this condition.
Hypoglycemia
This direct-acting vasodilator, ranked #121, is often used when standard antihypertensives are insufficient.
Hydralazine
Nitroglycerin is often administered via the sublingual route specifically to bypass this biological process.
First-pass metabolism