Final answer:
Alpha-2 agonists used in treating hypertension include clonidine and methyldopa, although they are less commonly prescribed as first-line treatments. They work by decreasing heart rate and dilating blood vessels to lower blood pressure. Other more commonly used antihypertensive medications include thiazide diuretics, calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Alpha-2 agonists are a class of medication used in the management of hypertension. While this question specifically asks about alpha-2 agonists, it is important to note that alpha-2 agonists such as clonidine and methyldopa are less commonly used as first-line therapies for hypertension compared to other antihypertensive medications. However, they can be prescribed as additional therapy in cases where blood pressure is difficult to control with standard treatments. Clonidine works by decreasing heart rate and relaxing blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Methyldopa functions in a similar manner.
The primary medications used to treat hypertension often include thiazide-diuretics, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications help manage hypertension by various mechanisms such as by reducing the volume of fluid in the bloodstream with diuretics, by widening blood vessels with calcium channel blockers, or by blocking the effects of angiotensin with ACE inhibitors and ARBs.