I. Lopressor Fact File:
Lopressor was introduced by Novartis pharmaceuticals.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is the U.S. affiliate of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS), a world leader in healthcare.
Novartis has core businesses in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye care, and animal health. In the U.S., Novartis has quickly achieved a reputation as an industry leader.
II. Lopressor Medication :
Lopressor is an antihypertensive (beta - blocker) used for the treatment of hypertension.
Antihypertensives are drugs used to treat high blood pressure.
Antihypertensives: Information
Antihypertensives include:
- Diuretics ("water pills")
- Beta Blockers
- Alpha Blockers
- Alpha-Beta Blockers
- Sympathetic Nerve Inhibitors
- Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (formal medical name angiotensin-2-receptor antagonists, known as "sartans" for short). These agents are sometimes prescribed together, for instance an ACE inhibitor along with a calcium channel blocker.
In general, antihypertensives work through one or more of the following mechanisms:
- By Decreasing Blood Volume
- By Opening Up Blood Vessels, either by
- Inhibiting Constriction (narrowing) or
- Stimulating Dilation (widening), to make it easier for blood to flow through the arteries
- By Decreasing Rate and/or Force of Contraction of the Heart, thus decreasing the amount of blood pumped through the arteries
Beta blockers lower high blood pressure by slowing down the heart rate and decreasing the force of contraction of the heart.
Some common beta blockers include:
- Acebutolol (brand name Sectral)
- Atenolol (Tenormin)
- Betaxolol (Kerlone)
- Bisoprolol (Zebeta)
- Carteolol (Cartrol)
- Metoprolol (Lopressor)
- Nadolol (Corgard)
- Penbutolol (Levatol)
- Pindolol (Visken)
- Propranolol (Inderal)
- Timolol (Blocadren)
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) : Information
Something like 50 million Americans aged 6 and older have elevated blood pressure (hypertension). In approximately 15% of these patients, a specific cause (i.e., Cushing's disease) can be identified: the remainder are said to have primary (essential) hypertension.
High blood pressure, sometimes Known as hypertension, means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. It does not mean excess emotional stress, though doctors’ believe that stress might contribute to high blood pressure over a longer period of time.
Your blood pressure rises and falls with every heartbeat, even normal blood pressure does this. These levels can change with everyday activity, for example, during exercise or when you are asleep and this is also normal.
However, in some human, and as we get older, these changes in blood pressure start to happen at higher pressure levels than normal and this is what high blood pressure means.
Side Effects of (high blood pressure) Antihypertensives
high blood pressure Antihypertensives have in common that they can overcompensate for high blood pressure, leading to dangerously low blood pressure. Lightheadedness, Dizziness, or Fainting would be an initial indication of inadequate blood pressure levels.
Decreased blood pressure in a woman also has the potential to harm her developing baby.
As blood volume determines the amount of blood filtered/urine processed by the kidneys, antihypertensives have effects on that organ as well. blood-pressure-lowering medicines reduce strain on the kidney, some antihypertensives like sartans can nevertheless worsen kidney disease.
A further concern with hypertensives is that they can aggravate congestive heart failure. As with most any drug, blood-pressure-lowering medications can have milder side-effects as well.
While on an antihypertensive, report any changes in your condition to your health care provider.
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III. Useful links
Government
http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
National Library of Medicine
World Health Organization
Health Sites
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm
MedicineNet.com
Drugdigest.org
Healthsquare.com
Pharmacy sites
http://www.novartis.com
http://www.novartis.com/about_novartis/en/businesses_pharma.shtml
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1509 ,
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1516
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1504,
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~urdesai/atc.htm#Process%20of%20clotting
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