Do antihypertensive drugs work immediately?
Basically yes. When it comes to lowering blood pressure, one differentiates between emergencies and a long-term attitude. Depending on the situation, medicines are injected or taken in tablet form.
Blood pressure crises and emergencies
If the blood pressure reaches values ≥ 180/120 mmHg, this is called a hypertensive crisis. Hypertensive means "increased pressure". Headache, shortness of breath or chest pain can be concomitant.
With blood pressure values from 230/120 mmHg the blood circulation of the organs is often impaired. It can cause heart attacks or even strokes. Then it is a hypertensive emergency that requires immediate but gentle hypotensive therapy.
Fast blood pressure lowering via veins and tongue
In the case of heavily derailed blood pressure values, the person concerned receives medicines in an emergency room or doctor's office that have an immediate effect. In addition to substances administered intravenously (into the vein), there are sprays or Zerbiß capsules whose contents enter the bloodstream directly via a small vascular system under the tongue. They also work in no time.
It is important that the blood pressure after the medication is checked regularly.
Permanent lowering of blood pressure with tablets
If the blood pressure has to be adjusted in the long term, this is done with tablets. In principle, they help as soon as the active ingredient has entered the bloodstream from the stomach. How fast this works and how long the effect lasts depends on the drug. The bouquet of medicines is colorful. When it comes to lowering blood pressure, they are considered equivalent.
Which medication is right for you depends on whether you have comorbidities such as diabetes, heart failure or kidney disease.
Creeping in the drugs reduces side effects
Since all blood pressure tablets can also have side effects, start with a rather low dose and increase it slowly. It is said that the drug is crept in. Depending on the baseline blood pressure, your doctor will choose one or two active ingredients, sometimes as a combined preparation. It usually takes a few weeks for a change to be made to your medication.
If you were given antihypertensive drugs from the beginning in the maximum dose, this would quickly and possibly massively reduce blood pressure. However, the circulatory system should slowly get used to the lower blood pressure values.
The maximum effect of a blood pressure-lowering drug is usually reached after 4 to 6 weeks. Then your doctor will decide if additional or other medications are necessary.
Authors: Dr. med. Susanne Endres, dr. med. Julia Hofmann