General Health

Drugs developed from the rauwolfia plant have long been used in treating this condition.

Unfortunately, they may make the person drowsy and can induce depression. Recently, they have come under suspicion of causing breast cancer and so are not often used in women.

There are a great number of drugs available to treat hypertension and this very number indicates that no one drug is satisfactory in all cases. New drugs are continually being introduced. Some are abandoned as new ones appear and others retain their usefulness but in a limited way.

The thiazide diuretics may be used alone or in combination. These drugs wash sodium, and so water, out of the body. They are used in congestive heart failure to rid the body of oedema and can lower the blood pressure in mild hypertension.

As well as sodium and water, they also rid the body of potassium and this can cause problems, leading to tiredness, cramps or heart irregularities. Extra potassium may need to be taken as tablets, so as to replace this loss or other drugs which retain potassium may be combined with the diuretic.

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General health