2381/44010 Matthew Charlton Matthew Charlton Jonathan Thompson Jonathan Thompson Drugs acting on the heart: antihypertensive drugs University of Leicester 2019 Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Anesthesiology Antihypertensive agents autonomic nervous system blood pressure hypertension renin-angiotensin system vasomotor system HYPERTENSION TRIAL 2019-05-08 09:11:33 Journal contribution https://figshare.le.ac.uk/articles/journal_contribution/Drugs_acting_on_the_heart_antihypertensive_drugs/10239704 Antihypertensive drugs are used commonly in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. Patients might require antihypertensive drugs before surgery for the treatment of essential hypertension, pre-eclampsia or, occasionally for conditions such as phaeochromocytoma; during surgery as part of a deliberate hypotensive anaesthetic technique; or to reduce postoperative cardiovascular complications. Here, we discuss the physiology of blood pressure control, the pharmacology of antihypertensive drugs, current guidelines, and practical applications of antihypertensive therapy.