Mr. Roberson, age 42, is diagnosed with essential hypertension. His blood pressure has been ranging between 150 and 184 mm Hg systolic and 94 and 110 mm Hg diastolic. His average blood pressure is 154/94 mm Hg. There is a positive family history of hypertension and stroke on both sides of the family. He is married, with two school-age children, and works full-time as a local truck driver for a seafood company. His elevated blood pressure was found during a routine physical examination. He has no other symptoms. Mr. Roberson is to begin taking atenolol, 50 mg daily, and hydrochlorothiazide, 50 mg daily. Required:
a. How do each of these drugs work to control blood pressure?
b. Why are both drugs prescribed at this time?
c. What patient teaching is important with these medications? (Include teaching about potential adverse effects.)

a. Atenolol is a beta-blocker, while Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic.  

b. Atenolol and Hydrochlorothiazide can be used together to decrease the blood pressure and to slow the heart rate down.

c. The patient needs to have into consideration that both medications may cause irregular heartbeats, dizziness, weakness and fainting.

Explanation:

Atenolol is a beta-blocker, it means that this drug slows down the heart rate by changing how the body responds to nerve impulses, which enhances the pumping of blood. Moreover, Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic or 'water pills' drug that can be used to treat edema conditions (i.e., excess fluid in tissues), thereby enhancing blood pressure that can damage the heart. It has been shown that the combination of both drugs may decrease the blood pressure and the incidence of hypertension.

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