Effects of antihypertensive drug classes on plasma renin and aldosterone
| Medication class | Effect on plasma renin | Effect on plasma aldosterone |
|---|---|---|
| Beta-blockers | Decrease | Moderate decrease |
| Central agonists (eg, clonidine, alpha-methyldopa) | Decrease | Moderate decrease |
| Potassium-wasting diuretics | Increase | No change or moderate increase |
| Potassium-sparing diuretics | Increase | Moderate increase |
| Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors | Increase | Moderate decrease |
| Angiotensin receptor blockers | Increase | Moderate decrease |
| Dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers | Moderate increase | No change or moderate increase |
| Renin inhibitors | Moderate decrease or increasea | Moderate decrease |
↵a Renin inhibitors lower plasma renin activity but raise plasma renin concentration.
Based on information in reference 6.