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VASODILATORS
The vasodilators are drugs used to dilate arteries and veins. They are making great inroads into the treatment of high blood pressure and heart disease. They have also brought both the Beta Blockers and Fluid tablets close to the brink of obsolescence.
The first vasodilators were the nitrates. These drugs were used to dilate coronary arteries in the treatment and prevention of angina. Anginine, a well known and widely used Vasodilator, is a formulation of Tri Nitro Toluene, otherwise known as TNT. Nitrates cause headaches and patients need to sit down when they slip a tablet under their tongues.
Isoptin is a well known Vasodilator that has been in usage by the medical profession for at least 30 years. Initially it was prescribed to treat the irregular cardiac rhythm of Atrial Fibrillation.
Later it was found to have such good artery dilating properties it was applied to the treatment of high blood pressure.
Isoptin turned out to be the forerunner of an enlarging group of drugs called the Calcium Channel Blockers. This family of medication dilates the walls of tight arteries by interfering with the flow of calcium across the arterial muscle wall. Side effects of Isoptin are headaches and constipation and sometimes it interferes unfavorably with the rhythm of the heart.
30 years have seen refinements to Isoptin through attempts to emphasize selectively its different therapeutic effects. Adalat has appeared which treats angina, if taken in low doses three times a day. Higher doses are used less frequently in the management of high blood pressure. More selective derivatives have occurred in the form of Agon and Plendil which target specifically the problem of high blood pressure; without the significant levels of similar side effects produced by Isoptin. Other Vasodilators are the ACE inhibitors and Alpha Adrenergic Blocking drugs.
It is very significant that the use of Beta Blockers and Fluid Tablets as medical management in the treatment of high blood pressure has failed to reduce the incidence of heart disease. The different mode of action displayed by the Calcium Channel Blocking drugs and the completely different series of side effects, there is some hope that this position is about to change.
*165/131/5*
GENERAL HEALTH
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