Alpha Blockers Lower Blood Pressure Fast.
Should You Take Them?

Alpha blockers, as with most blood pressure medications, have beneficial and harmful effects. I'll give you some information that you can use to decide whether or not to take them to achieve normal blood pressure.

I've never taken this type medication, so I can't give you any first hand experience.

But, I have read some about the large Antihypertensive . . . Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT) where 42,000 people participated.

Among other things in this trial, scientists examined the effectiveness of types of blood pressure medications.

They found that alpha type blockers raise the risk of heart failure if used too long. Understandably, doctors try other types of medication first.

As for me and other Normal Blood Pressure Diet members, we're working toward normal blood pressure through diet and other natural means.

But hey, let's not be biased toward these blockers until we find out more about them.

This medication blocks the effects of some of the hormones that could lead to a rapid heartbeat.

The heart has "alpha receptors." Hormones generated by the brain attach to the receptors, say in periods of stress, and cause the heart to beat faster and harder, also constricting the blood vessels. This causes blood pressure to rise.

The alpha type blockers bind to the alpha receptors, thus preventing the hormones from attaching. Blood pressure then drops.

In order to understand these blockers, you could start with their names.

Alfuzosin
Dihydroergotamine
Doxazosin
Ergotamine
Phentolamine Mesylate
Phenoxybenzamine
Prazosin
Tamsulosin
Terazosin
Tolazoline

Is your drug on this list? Drug companies market new ones occasionally, so it might not be. Check the descriptive mini-pamphlet that comes with your prescription. It will tell you what type your medication is.

You know now that these blockers do lower blood pressure. You are about to find out what else they can do.

Adverse effects include vomiting, low blood pressure, nervousness, allergic reactions, trouble sleeping, chest pain, nightmares, shortness of breath, loss of bladder control, weight gain, impotence, back or joint pain, nausea, blurred vision, chronic runny or stuffy nose.

Where the alpha type blocker blocks the majority of alpha receptors, the adverse effects could include also nose or eye congestion, fluid retention, rapid or pounding heart beat.

The most serious adverse effect is heart failure. Due to this, doctors will usually start you on diuretics or ACE inhibitors, then only use alpha blockers if those aren't working.

Anyone taking these blockers should remain aware of the adverse effects and inform her/his doctor immediately should any of them occur.

Alpha blockers are dangerous as you can see. Before you accept a prescription for them, ask your doctor to hold off while you try diet and lifestyle changes first.

As we have discussed before, these blood pressure medications don't produce normal blood pressure no matter what the blood pressure reading shows. Drug suppressed blood pressure is not normal by any stretch of the imagination.

It's a matter of which route you want to travel, drug suppression or natural health

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