Table 11. Selection of principal anti-hypertensive drugs for clinical practice.

Classes	Indications	Contraindications
		Absolute	Relative
Dihydropyridines CCB	Elderly hypertension Peripheral vascular disease Isolated systolic hypertension Stable angina pectoris Carotid atherosclerosis Coronary atherosclerosis		Tachydysrhythmia Heart failure
Non-dihydropyridines CCB	Angina pectoris Carotid atherosclerosis Supraventricular tachycardia	A-V block (grade 2 or 3) Heart failure
ACEI	Heart failure Coronary heart disease Left ventricular hypertrophy Left ventricular dysfunction Prevention of atrial fibrillation Carotid atherosclerosis Non-diabetic nephropathy Diabetic nephropathy Proteinuria/Microproteinuria Metabolic syndrome	Pregnancy Hyperkalemia Bilateral reno-arterial stenosis
ARB	Diabetic nephropathy Proteinuria/Microproteinuria Coronary heart disease Heart failure Left ventricular hypertrophy Prevention of atrial fibrillation ACE-inhibitor coughing Metabolic syndrome	Pregnancy Hyperkalemia Bilateral reno-arterial stenosis
Diuretics (thiazides)	Heart failure Elderly Hypertension Old-aged Hypertension Isolated systolic hypertension	Gout	Pregnancy
Diuretics (loop diuretics)	Renal insufficiency Heart failure
Diuretics (anti-aldosterone)	Heart failure Post-myocardial infarction	Renal failure Hyperkalemia
β-blockers	Angina pectoris Post-myocardial infarction Tachydysrhythmia Chronic heart failure	A-V block (grade 2 or 3) asthma	COPD Peripheral vascular disease glucose intolerance Athletes
α-blockers	Prostatic hyperplasia Hyperlipidemia	Orthostatic hypotension	Heart failure

ACEI: angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB: angiotensin receptor blockers; CCB: calcium channel blockers; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.