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Vasodilators are drugs that relax the muscles surrounding veins and/or arteries to allow blood vessels to open or dilate, reducing the workload of the heart. They are used to treat high blood pressure and congestive heart failure, but can have numerous side effects. Different types of vasodilators work in different ways and are prescribed based on individual circumstances.
Vasodilators are a large group of drugs and other substances that can help lower blood pressure and be used to treat some of the symptoms of congestive heart failure. They are not usually the first line treatment for those people who simply have high blood pressure because they can have numerous side effects. Yet they are often prescribed in combination with other medications to control a variety of cardiovascular disease symptoms.
Essentially, a vasodilator works the muscles surrounding veins and/or arteries to relax, which allows blood vessels to open or dilate. This creates an easier passage for blood to flow and can help reduce the workload of the heart. Some of these drugs work only on the arteries and are called arterial dilators, while others work on the smooth muscle surrounding the veins and are called venous dilators. More common is for this drug to affect both veins and arteries and this type is called a mixed dilator.
These drugs aren’t just described by whether they work on veins, arteries, or both. A vasodilator is also classified based on how well it works to achieve its purpose. This is where trying to understand the many drugs that at least partially cause vasodilation becomes daunting, and it is also important to be aware that many of these drugs are used for more than one purpose and have more than one action on the heart. Nitrates, for example, are vasodilators, but they can also help treat angina. Other types of drugs that cause some vasodilation include some diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, alpha blockers, and angiotensin II blockers.
Each of these drug classes will work in different ways. ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II blockers change the way the body uses angiotensin II. The first blocks its production and the second prevents its mechanism in the muscles. Both types of drugs, by acting on this chemical produced by the body, cause blood vessels to dilate.
Doctors decide whether or which type of drug is appropriate depending on many circumstances. These drugs are often taken for life once initially prescribed, although some are used short-term. A vasodilator won’t cure, but it can help relieve symptoms of high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Given the wide range of drugs that fall into this class, it would be impossible to list all of the potential side effects. Some of the more likely side effects associated with these drugs are headache, upset stomach, chronic cough, dizziness, and heart rhythm disturbances.
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