6 Types of Drugs for Low Blood Pressure To Know

Medications for people with low blood pressure are generally needed when dietary and lifestyle changes are not enough to overcome the condition. Although quite common and usually asymptomatic, low blood pressure can cause dangerous complications in certain conditions.

Normally, an adult's blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure can be said to be low when it is below 90/60 mmHg. This condition, also called hypotension, can be caused by several factors, such as age, heredity, bleeding, consumption of certain medications, sepsis, dehydration, and pregnancy.

Hypotension generally causes no symptoms. However, some sufferers can experience symptoms in the form of nausea, dizziness, weakness, blurry vision, to loss of consciousness.

Uncontrolled hypotension can trigger dangerous complications, such as injuries from fainting, brain disorders, heart disease, stroke, and shock. Therefore, this disease needs to be treated to prevent its complications.

Various Types of Low Blood Medications

Early treatment of low blood is done by changing your diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle. If the initial step is not effective to increase blood pressure and overcome the symptoms you experience, the doctor will give the drug according to the underlying cause.

These drugs are more often given to people with hypotension accompanied by symptoms or signs of certain diseases. Well, there are several types of drugs that are generally given by doctors, including:

1. Midodrine

Midodrine drugs are more commonly used to treat orthostatic hypotension, which is hypotension that is affected by changes in body position. This drug works by narrowing the blood vessels, so that the pressure on the blood vessels increases and blood pressure will rise.

However, there are some side effects that can arise from the use of this drug, such as tingling, cold heat, difficulty urinating, and rashes appear on the skin.

2. Fludrocortisone

Fludrocortisone can also be used to treat hypotension. This drug works by increasing blood volume and salt levels in blood vessels, so the heart can pump blood more strongly and raise blood pressure.

Fludrocortisone can also cause side effects, such as abdominal pain, acne, vomiting, and restlessness.

3. Catecholamines

Catecholamines can make the heart beat faster and blood vessels narrow, so blood pressure will increase. This drug is available in injectable form and is only given to hypotension sufferers due to severe cases, such as anaphylactic shock or cardiogenic shock.

Examples of catecholamine drugs that are often used are epinephrine, dobutamin, and isoproterenol.

4. Antibiotics

For low blood pressure that occurs due to sepsis, the doctor will give antibiotics to overcome severe infections due to bacteria. The type of antibiotic given will also be adjusted to the type of bacteria that cause infection in the body.

5. Infusion fluids

When the body lacks fluids, blood volume can be reduced. This condition can trigger a decrease in blood pressure. Decreased blood pressure due to lack of blood volume usually occurs in cases of dehydration due to diarrhea or persistent vomiting.

If this condition is not controlled by giving fluids through the mouth, the doctor will give intravenous fluids to overcome dehydration that occurs and speed up the recovery process.

6. Blood transfusion

In the condition of hypotension caused by severe bleeding, a person will experience a decrease in volume and blood flow in the body. This has an impact on the drastic decrease in blood pressure.

If the patient loses a lot of blood that causes red blood levels or hemoglobin to be below 7-8 g / dL of blood, the doctor will perform a blood transfusion procedure.

The choice of type and dose of low blood drugs should be adjusted to the condition of the patient. That is why, sufferers should first see a doctor to get appropriate medicines.

How to Prevent Complications of Low Blood Pressure

In addition to taking low blood pressure medications, there are several steps you need to implement to prevent complications of hypotension. Some of these precautions include:

• Consumption of a balanced nutritious diet and high in salt, because salt can increase blood pressure.
• Meet the needs of fluids by drinking water and eating fruits that contain a lot of water.
• Avoid consuming caffeinated beverages and limit alcoholic beverages.
• Do physical activity or exercise regularly.
• Avoid changing the position of the body suddenly, for example from a sleeping position to standing.
• Wear compression socks to prevent blood buildup in the legs.

Keep in mind that hypotension is generally harmless when it only occurs occasionally. However, if the symptoms of hypotension occur continuously so that it interferes with activity, consult your condition to the doctor so that proper treatment can be done and complications can be prevented.