Antihypertensives--which adverse drug reactions are clinically relevant?

Abstract

All currently available antihypertensive drugs can cause adverse drug reactions. Potential adverse drug reactions should already be taken into account when a new antihypertensive regimen is started. It is furthermore important to ask at follow-up visits specifically about common adverse reactions. The aims of this article are therefore to shortly summarise common and typical adverse drug reactions of antihypertensives. All antihypertensives may cause dizziness, hypotension, allergies, rashes, gastrointestinal complaints and dry mouth. Thiazide diuretics furthermore may cause electrolyte disturbances, dehydration and hyperuricemia, betablockers may cause bronchospasm, bradycardia, cold extremities and sleep disturbances and calcium antagonists may cause flushing, ankle oedema and gingival hyperplasia. Concerning potential lethal adverse drug reactions, it is important to know that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor antagonists are contraindicated in all patients with a history of angioedema. However, angiotensin receptor antagonists are well-suited alternatives for patients with ACE inhibitor-induced cough or hypogeusia. Rare adverse drug reactions are commonly recognised only after drug approval based on spontaneous reporting. This demonstrates the importance of considering medications as potential causes of new complaints and symptoms and to reports such suspected adverse drug reactions to the national pharmacovigilance centres. Only the local or international accumulation of comparable spontaneous reports allows the drug regulation agencies to recognise new and unexpected adverse drug reactions early and to initiate appropriate measures.