Diabetes and Sympathetic Nerve Inhibitors

Talk about nipping a problem in the bud. Nerve inhibitors, sometimes called central agonists, act directly on the brain, snuffing out nerve signals that cause the heart to beat fast and blood vessels to constrict. These drugs, such as clonidine, alpha-methyldopa, and guanabenz, can cause dry mouth and fatigue; the latter probably explains why they are being studied as potential sleep aids.


Fortunately, there are a wide variety of medications that can succesfully treat high blood pressure in patients with diabetes. The information in this article can help you understand what your physician has -- or will -- prescribe for your particular situation.

Vasodilators
Several older medications, including hydralazine and minoxidil, dilate blood vessels. But because they appear to worsen heart conditions in some cases, they aren't prescribed often these days. However, here's a bit of hair-raising trivia: Doctors noticed that some of their bald male patients who took minoxidil grew back a bit of hair. Today the drug is sold in liquid form under the name Rogaine as a hair-growth tonic.

For more information on diabetes, and its effect on blood pressure and heart ailments, try the following links:
  • Diabetes and Heart Disease explains the relationship between these two conditions.
  • Diabetes Symptoms covers the diverse signs of the disease, from increased thirst and hunger to sudden weight loss.
  • To learn more about diabetes in general, including diagnosis, causes, symptoms, and treatment, visit our main Diabetes page.
  • For more information on medications that treat hypertension, read Blood Pressure Medications.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Timothy Gower is a freelance writer and the author of several books. His work has appeared in many magazines and newspapers, including Prevention, Health, Reader's Digest, Better Homes and Gardens, Men's Health, Esquire, Fortune, The New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times.

ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS:

Dana Armstrong, R.D., C.D.E., received her degree in nutrition and dietetics from the University of California, Davis, and completed her dietetic internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. She has developed educational programs that have benefited more than 5,000 patients with diabetes. She specializes in and speaks nationally on approaches to disease treatment, specifically diabetes.

Allen Bennett King, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., C.D.E. is the author of more than 50 papers in medical science and speaks nationally on new advances in diabetes. He is an associate clinical professor at the University of California Natividad Medical Center and cofounder and medical director of the Diabetes Care Center in Salinas, California.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.