Chapter Four: Factors Affecting Selection of Antihypertensive Medications

Discussion

Although every case of hypertension is unique, the first step in prescribing medications for this disorder is to carefully evaluate clients overall health status, including demographic information such as age, gender, comorbidities, and potential drug interactions. Likewise, certain antihypertensive medications may be contraindicated or require dose adjustments in individuals with specific medical conditions, such as kidney disease, liver dysfunction, or heart failure. In addition, some types of hypotensive medications may interact with other drugs clients are taking, potentially leading to adverse effects or decreased efficacy (Rahmawati, 2020).

The foregoing considerations mean that the selection of antihypertensive medications is primarily guided by their safety profile and clinical efficacy. Safety considerations involve assessing the potential for adverse effects, such as dry cough, electrolyte imbalances, or metabolic disturbances. Certain medications may be preferred or avoided based on clients risk factors or comorbidities (Loga-Zec et al., 2014). In addition, clinical efficacy is also a critical factor in medication selection for hypertension. Different classes of antihypertensive medications have varying mechanisms of action and may be more effective in certain subgroups of patients. Therefore, when prescribing antihypertensive medications, it is crucial to consider the safety and efficacy data obtained from clinical trials, which are typically conducted in phases before a drug can be approved for use. In this regard, the American Cancer Society reports that, Clinical trials are usually conducted in phases that build on one another. Each phase is...

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Phase 1 trials evaluate a drugs safety and pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers. As a result, these initial trials usually involve a comparatively small number of healthy volunteers and are primarily focused on evaluating the drugs safety, including how the drug is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated from the body and pharmacodynamics such as how the drug affects the body. In the event that the drug is deemed safe after Phase 1, testing can then proceed to Phase 2 trials (Types and phases of clinical trials, 2024).

Phase 2 trials provide preliminary data on a drugs safety and efficacy in patients with hypertension. These trials aim to further assess the drug's safety and provide preliminary data on its efficacy in...

…for a client with hypertension, healthcare providers must carefully consider a wide array of factors, including most especially safety profiles, clinical efficacy, individual patient characteristics, comorbidities, potential drug interactions and client lifestyle. By carefully weighing these factors and encouraging lifestyle modifications, healthcare providers can develop individualized treatment plans that effectively manage hypertension and reduce the associated risks of cardiovascular complications. The results also showed that The selection of antihypertensive medications is guided by their safety profile and clinical efficacy, which are evaluated through rigorous clinical trials. Phase 1 trials assess safety in healthy volunteers, Phase 2 trials provide preliminary efficacy data in hypertensive patients, and Phase 3 trials comprehensively evaluate efficacy, safety, and dosing.

References

Ghodeshwar, G. K., Dube, A., & Khobragade, D. (2023). Impact of Lifestyle Modifications on Cardiovascular Health: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 15(7), e42616.

Loga-Zec, S., Asceric, M., Loga-Andrijic, N., Kapetanovic, B., & Zerem, E. (2014). The Incidence of Antihypertensive Drug-induced Side Effects in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 and Hypertension. Medical Archives, 68(6), 372375.

Marcum, Z. A., Cohen, J. B., Larson, E. B., Williamson, J., & Bress, A. P. (2022). Can Preferentially Prescribing Angiotensin II Receptor…