1. Hypertension treatment guidelines from the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Guidelines identify angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), or calcium channel blockers (CCBs) as first-line medications and suggest a sequence of escalating drug therapy depending on blood pressure response. As noted, the choice of the initial agent is influenced by patient demographics. In step 4, higher doses of thiazide-type diuretics may be used as long as serum potassium levels exceed 4.5 mmol/L. Key: A, ACE inhibitor or ARB; C, calcium-channel blocker; D, diuretic, thiazide-like. (Modified, with permission, from the 2013 hypertension guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Source: Systemic Hypertension, Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2017
Citation: Papadakis MA, McPhee SJ, Rabow MW. Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2017; 2016 Available at: Accessed: October 20, 2017
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