Heart Health High Blood Pressure Treatment Complete List of Blood Pressure Medication Side Effects By Marian Anne Eure Marian Anne Eure LinkedIn Marian Eure, RN, is a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in adult health care, health promotion, and health education. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 28, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Richard N. Fogoros, MD Medically reviewed by Richard N. Fogoros, MD Facebook LinkedIn Richard N. Fogoros, MD, is a retired professor of medicine and board-certified in internal medicine, clinical cardiology, and clinical electrophysiology. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Blood Pressure Medication Side Effects Diuretics Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) Calcium Channel Blockers Beta-Blockers Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors What Are Other Possible Causes of Fatigue? Frequently Asked Questions As we get older, many people find that they are taking an increasing number of medications with blood pressure medications being some of the most common. Unfortunately, all medications come with some risks. While blood pressure medication side effects may be mild, there are some more serious concerns to be aware of. Terry Vine / Getty Images Blood Pressure Medication Side Effects Many older adults find that their blood pressure medications seem to make them feel more fatigued, tired, and low energy, which can make getting through the day very difficult and uncomfortable. While there are no drugs without side effect, the best person to talk with about your medications is your healthcare professional or pharmacist. There are a variety of drugs that help control hypertension, and some may work better for you than others. Your healthcare provider will tell you two numbers for your blood pressure reading. If the first number is above 130 and the second number is 80 or higher, you have high blood pressure. Diuretics Thiazide diuretics such as chlorthalidone and other diuretics help control high blood pressure by encouraging your body to excrete excess water and sodium. They also can reduce your amount of body potassium. Eating a diet rich in this essential mineral, taking supplements or switching to a potassium-sparing kind may help. Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs) Avapro (irbesartan), and other angiotensin II receptor blockers, alleviate high blood pressure by allowing your arteries to relax and widen. Side effects are most likely to occur with a change in dosage, which could be prescribed or induced when you take it irregularly or not as directed. Taking additional medications, from your healthcare professional or ones you bought at the drug store, including supplements, can trigger a variety of side effects. Keep in mind that ARBs should not be taken during pregnancy. Calcium Channel Blockers Procardia (nifedipine) and other calcium channel blockers ease hypertension and reduce your heart rate by preventing calcium from entering the muscles of your heart and arteries. This allows them to relax and widen. Combining this drug with other blood pressure meds, including diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors can cause side effects. Beta-Blockers Toprol-XL (metoprolol succinate), and other beta-blockers reduce your heart rate, which in turn decreases your heart's output and blood pressure. Dizziness or lightheadedness is usually the worst when you get up from a sitting or laying position. Try to get up slowly. Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors ACE inhibitors, such as Lotensin (benazepril hydrochloride) and Prinivel (lisinopril), relax, or open up, the blood vessels. This helps lower your blood pressure. Ace inhibitors can lead to side effects like: A skin rashKidney issuesA coughThe loss of taste ACE inhibitors can cause serious issues during pregnancy. Speak with your healthcare provider immediately if you may be pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant and are taking this medication. What Are Other Possible Causes of Fatigue? When it comes to feeling tired, fatigued, and having low energy, these symptoms are common in a number of conditions not related to high blood pressure medications. Sleep apnea can cause fatigue, and for some individuals, is fatal. Stress can make you feel tired and fatigued. Depression can mimic fatigue. Speak with your healthcare provider about ways you can increase your energy level. Ask if there are other medications that will work as well without the side effects. If you must stay on your current medications, ask if you can take them on a different schedule that might lessen the side effects. Never stop using medication or change your dosage without consulting your healthcare provider. Frequently Asked Questions Which high blood pressure medication has the least side effects? Research notes that ARBs tend to have the least side effects. Keep in mind that these should not be used during pregnancy. Are blood pressure medications harmful? For the majority of people, blood pressure medications are not harmful. What are long term side effects of blood pressure medication? Research notes that long term use of blood pressure medication may be linked to kidney damage. What are the safest blood pressure medications? Calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs are generally considered the safest first-line treatment options. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to start a diet to better manage your high blood pressure? Our nutrition guide can help. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Heart Association. Types of blood pressure medications. National Institute on Aging. High blood pressure and older adults. American Heart Association. Cardiac medications. Hill RD, Vaidya PN. Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARB, ARb). In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing. Texas Heart Institute. Calcium channel blockers. Cleveland Clinic. Sleep apnea. Chen R, Suchard MA, Krumholz HM, et al. Comparative first-line effectiveness and safety of ace (Angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: a multinational cohort study. Hypertension. 2021;78(3):591-603. doi:10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.120.16667 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Blood pressure medicines. Watanabe H, Martini AG, Brown EA, et al. Inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system causes concentric hypertrophy of renal arterioles in mice and humans. JCI Insight. 2021;6(24). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Effective diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of hypertension in primary care.