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5 Outdated Blood Pressure Drugs That Are No Longer Recommended
Mar 29, 2025
Many medications are available to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Though some were once commonly prescribed, they are not recommended as first-line treatments for many people for various reasons.
There is no single "best" or "worst" blood pressure medication—each person's needs and medical history are unique. Healthcare providers consider several factors, including your medical history, cost and insurance coverage, and the potential for side effects or drug interactions. That said, some medications are less effective or come with more safety concerns than others.
1. Alpha-Blockers
Alpha-blockers are a class of drugs taken to lower . Alpha-blockers are sometimes taken to control symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that causes . They work by relaxing muscles in the blood vessel walls, allowing them to widen, which helps lower blood pressure.
Some examples of alpha-blockers taken for high blood pressure include:
Cardura (doxazosin)
Minipress (prazosin)
Terazosin
Studies have found that alpha-blockers only have a "modest" effect on lowering blood pressure—an average of 8 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) for systolic blood pressure (the top number of the reading) and 5 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number of the reading).
Alpha-blockers are not recommended as the first-choice treatment for high blood pressure in clinical guidelines. However, an alpha-blocker may be appropriate in some cases—for example, in a male with both high blood pressure and BPH.
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