Supplements and blood pressure medication.
Blood pressure medications fall into four common classes (ACE inhibitors like ramipril, ARBs like losartan, beta-blockers like bisoprolol, calcium channel blockers like amlodipine) plus diuretics like furosemide. Several supplements lower blood pressure on their own, which is sometimes useful and sometimes risky depending on baseline control.
The additive-BP-lowering supplements with the strongest evidence are magnesium, garlic extract, hibiscus, CoQ10 and beetroot/nitrate. On a well-controlled regimen these can be helpful; on a borderline-low BP they can tip into orthostatic hypotension. Potassium warrants special attention: ACE inhibitors and ARBs both raise potassium, so a potassium supplement (or a high-potassium multi) needs blood-level monitoring to avoid hyperkalaemia.
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