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Pharmacy & Pharmacology vocabulary · Drug Classes

Antihypertensive

Meaning in pharmacy & pharmacology, with examples

/ˌæntiˌhaɪpərˈtɛnsɪv/nounCommon term

In pharmacy & pharmacology, antihypertensive means: A medicine used to lower high blood pressure, such as an ACE inhibitor, an angiotensin receptor blocker, a calcium channel blocker or a thiazide diuretic.

In Turkish: antihipertansif, tansiyon ilacı

How it is used

Used as a noun and as an adjective ('antihypertensive treatment'). Patients just say 'blood pressure tablets'. Many patients take two or three antihypertensives together. Pharmacists counsel about dizziness on standing up and check interactions, for example with NSAIDs, which can raise blood pressure.

Example sentences

  1. He's on three antihypertensives, but his blood pressure is still high.

  2. Most ACE inhibitors, a common group of antihypertensives, end in -pril.

Common collocations

  • antihypertensive medication
  • antihypertensive treatment
  • start an antihypertensive
  • blood pressure tablets
  • beta blockerA medicine that blocks the effects of adrenaline on beta receptors and slows the heart rate, used for angina, heart failure, irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure.
  • diureticA medicine that makes the kidneys remove more salt and water from the body, used for high blood pressure, heart failure and fluid build-up (oedema).
  • drug interactionA change in the effect of a medicine caused by another medicine, a food, a drink or a disease, which can make the medicine weaker, stronger or more harmful.
  • adherenceThe extent to which a patient takes a medicine as agreed with the prescriber, at the right dose and times and for the right length of time.

More terms: Drug Classes

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.