Emerging Treatment Options in Patients With Difficult-to-Treat Hypertension - Episode 9
Treatment Strategies for Resistant Hypertension
A panelist discusses how successful treatment requires selecting the right three to five medications with minimal side effects, using once-daily combination pills to maximize adherence, and engaging patients as active participants through structured home blood pressure monitoring protocols.
Treatment Strategies for Resistant Hypertension
Treating resistant hypertension requires at least three blood pressure medications, often four or five. The key is selecting the right medications to maximize patient adherence by choosing options with minimal side effects.
Successful medication management involves prescribing once-daily dosing rather than multiple times per day, as compliance drops significantly with more frequent dosing schedules. Combination pills that contain multiple medications (such as an angiotensin receptor blocker, calcium channel blocker, and thiazide diuretic) in a single dose make adherence much easier for patients.
Engaging patients as champions of their own blood pressure management is another effective strategy. This involves providing a structured protocol for home blood pressure measurement, typically in the morning and evening with repeated readings at each time. These measurements allow for more accurate medication titration and provide immediate feedback to patients, as they can observe how their adherence affects their readings, which typically reinforces compliance.
