Lenin posted this on another thread a couple weeks ago

"For anyone who isn't a pure salt sensitive hypertensive like me, I'd say take an ACEI if you don't cough; if you DO,then TRY an ARB. If your hypertension is RENIN run, then it might help you a lot better than it does me."

After a discussion last night with my Doc, I am going to "help" him pick a med for me to try at some point in the near future

I was first put on atenolol, then ziac, both beta blockers, then benicar, an arb (there were a few other samples of things in there I think that didnt do anything)

The ziac has a diuretic added, and i tried the benicar first alone, then with HCTZ, a diuretic

All of the above meds acted like they worked at first, then became very erratic, and the diuretics caused weight gain which cant help BP any

I have not tried an ACEI, as lenin suggest, and after trying several herbal remedies over the last 6 months the only one that seems to help is valerian root, which is really an anti anxiety treatment, but it doesnt help as much as i would like and causes sleepiness

If I understand things correctly, diuretics only help if you have salt sensitive hypertension, which i have proven that i do not have

Exercise doesnt really help me, as i work physically most days anyway, and i have lost most of the weight that i gained while on HCTZ but I would still like to lose another 20 lb, which is difficult while on anything that lowers BP

My question is this: What are all the various classed of hypertension medicines, and how does each work?

Does anyone have a list, or know a website that list all of the various types & how they work?

Thanks

PS Since I do own a vineyard i cant take anything that has a major reaction with alcohol :D I have to taste test things