Drug Antihypertensive Therapy: Factors – Quality of life, Cost | Treatment of Hypertension

Drug Antihypertensive Therapy: Factors – Quality of life, Cost

By Cardiologist on March 2nd, 2010

Quality of life

Obviously, the less a drug interferes with a patient’s intellectual functioning, sexual performance, and sense of well-being, the better. Uncomplicated hypertension is asymptomatic; patients who were feeling well will be very unhappy about a therapy that makes them feel worse. In general, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors lead to fewer complaints than β-blockers, which in turn cause fewer complaints than centrally acting sympatholytics.

Cost

When cost could affect compliance, then (in the absence of contraindications) less expensive drugs, such as thiazide diuretics, reserpine, or some of the older β-blockers (for which there are many generic brands), could be preferable to the more expensive alternatives, such as calcium channel blockers or ACE inhibitors.

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