Can Online Doctors Prescribe Blood Pressure Medication?

Written by

Jessica Guht

Jessica is a medical writer with an unquenched thirst to discover something new. She believes that medical content should be accessible to everyone and strives to write content that every single person can understand. When Jessica isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading a book with a dog cuddled in her lap. Jessica has a Masters of Engineering degree in Biomedical Engineering.

Medically reviewed by

Amy Dougherty, FNP-BC, AGAC

Amy is a Board Certified Family Health Nurse Practitioner (FNP) with over 15 years of experience working in Hospital Medicine, Urgent Care and Primary Care practices. Amy graduated Thomas Jefferson University with high distinction earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2008, a Master of Science in Nursing in 2010 and a Post Master's Certificate in Adult Gerontology Acute Care (AGAC) in 2014. She was recognized by the Elite American Nurses Association in 2013 for her dedication, achievements and leadership in the field Nursing. She served as a clinical preceptor for a number of Nurse Practitioner students and enjoys teaching the bright minds of future NPs.

As the popularity of telemedicine continues to grow, it is now shown that 93% of patients would be happy to use it for managing their prescriptions. Before that can happen, though, patients must confirm that it is a possibility. Consequently, asking “Can an online doctor prescribe blood pressure medication?” has become an increasingly common question.

Here’s everything you need to know about using telemedicine in relation to blood pressure medication.

Table of Contents

• Can Online Doctors Treat Hypertension?
• Can Online Doctors Prescribe Blood Pressure Medication?
• How Else Could You Get Blood Pressure Medication?
• What Types of Medication Can’t Online Doctors Prescribe?
• How Can DrHouse Help You?

Can Online Doctors Treat Hypertension?

Before asking whether an online doctor can prescribe blood pressure medication, it is equally crucial to understand what an online doctor can do to treat hypertension. The great news is that studies have shown telehealth to be as effective as clinic visits for treating high blood pressure. More specifically, it is a particularly beneficial treatment option for patients who have moderately severe, uncontrolled high blood pressure.

When treating hypertension through telemedicine-led services, home blood pressure telemonitoring is often required. However, effective treatments can help lower the patient’s blood pressure with superior results thanks to the data-driven decisions and the ability to spend more time with the doctor – albeit virtually.

Telemedicine also encourages patients to actively participate in the management of their blood pressure. Given that only 24% of Americans with hypertension have it under control, this is hugely significant. 

The harsh reality is that many patients who persist with traditional medical care will find that they do not schedule appointments as frequently as they should or monitor their blood pressure effectively. This offers further insight into why telehealth has emerged as the best solution for many hypertension patients. Better still, the ability to gain quick advice and prescriptions can help reduce the risk of all conditions linked to high blood pressure, such as kidney disease, diabetes, or obstructive sleep apnoea. 

Can Online Doctors Prescribe Blood Pressure Medication?

If you’ve been asking “Can online doctors prescribe blood pressure medication?”, the short answer is that they can. More importantly, they can prescribe a wide range of medications for treating high blood pressure. While 95% of cases are classified as essential hypertension, which is considered a significant risk factor for strokes or cardiovascular disease (CVD), it should be noted that the best medication for treating the issue will vary from one patient to the next.

This is because there are several contributing factors to consider when looking at online high blood pressure treatments. The patient’s age, gender, weight, family history, lifestyle, and other health conditions could all influence which type of medication is prescribed for managing the issue. Similarly, if other medications have previously been tried without success, it may influence the next choice of medication.

The most commonly prescribed medications for high blood pressure and hypertension are as follows;

• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), 
• Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), 
• Beta-blockers, 
• Calcium channel blockers,
• Diuretics.

In addition to medications, an online doctor may also encourage lifestyle changes ranging from exercise to nutrition. The correlation between obesity (a body fat percentage of over 20%) and hypertension has been proven multiple times. Taking the right steps to reduce your BMI can be highly effective, especially when combined with the right blood pressure medication. Improved sleep patterns and reduced stress are highly effective too.

An online doctor can provide the holistic support needed to deliver a truly personalized plan designed with the best patient outcomes in mind.

How Else Could You Get Blood Pressure Medication?

If you have high blood pressure, there is a relatively long list of FDA-approved medications that may be used to help manage your condition. The bad news, however, is that you cannot obtain any FDA-approved blood pressure medications without a prescription. As such, any over-the-counter medications you find will be ineffective.

While you may see some benefits from implementing the aforementioned lifestyle upgrades, medication must be gained via a prescription. As well as an online doctor, you may obtain a prescription for hypertension medication by;

• Visiting your family doctor for an in-person doctor appointment,
• Having a cardiologist appointment at the hospital,
• Visiting other physicians who have prescription authority,
• Other relevant medical doctors (MDs) or doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs).

Depending on the route taken, prescriptions can be made valid for local pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, or online pharmacies. However, blood pressure medication will only be prescribed when a patient shows high readings. This means having a systolic pressure of 130 or higher, or a diastolic pressure of 80 or higher.

High blood pressure could be noted following your concerns or during a general health examination.

What Types of Medication Can’t Online Doctors Prescribe?

Online doctors can prescribe all of the main blood pressure medications mentioned above. However, there are some prescriptions that they are not permitted to make. For starters, unlicensed medicines cannot be prescribed. Meanwhile, online doctors cannot prescribe medications characterized as controlled substances. 

When dealing with online prescriptions, it is possible to acquire new prescriptions or prescription refills. Before telemedicine, you would have had to make an in-person appointment to get these. Now the process is far quicker, affordable, and convenient. 

How Can DrHouse Help You?

If you need to see a doctor about your blood pressure concerns or other health issues, DrHouse can help you gain a virtual meeting with an online doctor almost immediately. Most patients will get an appointment within the hour, allowing them to gain a quick prescription for their blood pressure medication. The support can extend to repeat prescriptions too.

DrHouse’s online doctors boast extensive experience with hypertension, which is one of the most common health issues for adults in America. Whether it’s an entirely new issue or picking up from knowledge of a long-term blood pressure problem, we can help.

Key Takeaways

If you have known or suspected high blood pressure, online doctors can prescribe blood pressure medication through telehealth services in the same way that a traditional practice could. Better still, scheduling a virtual appointment is convenient and cost-effective while tracking symptoms and potential side effects will ensure that the best patient outcomes can be achieved. In the long-term as well as the short.

Sources:

• Facts About Hypertension. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm 
• Four new statistics that prove that telemedicine isn’t just a pandemic fad. Medical Economics. Available from: https://www.medicaleconomics.com/view/four-new-statistics-that-prove-that-telemedicine-isn-t-just-a-pandemic-fad 
• Karen L. Margolis, Anna R. Bergdall, A. Lauren Crain, Meghan M. JaKa, Jeffrey P. Anderson, Leif I. Solberg, JoAnn Sperl-Hillen, MarySue Beran, Beverly B. Green, Patricia Haugen, Christine K. Norton, Amy J. Kodet, Rashmi Sharma, Deepika Appana, Nicole K. Trower, Pamala A. Pawloski, Daniel J. Rehrauer, Maria L. Simmons, Zeke J. McKinney, Thomas E. Kottke, Jeanette Y. Ziegenfuss, Rae Ann Williams, Patrick J. O’Connor. Comparing Pharmacist-Led Telehealth Care and Clinic-Based Care for Uncontrolled High Blood Pressure: The Hyperlink 3 Pragmatic Cluster-Randomized Trial. %D 2022, Hypertension, pages 2708-2720, Vol79, Issue12 Doi: https://www.doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.122.19816   
• Oscar A. Carretero and Suzanne Oparil. Essential Hypertension Part I: Definition and Etiology. 25 Jan 2000, Circulation. 2000;101:329–335. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1161/01.CIR.101.3.329 
• Jiang SZ, Lu W, Zong XF, Ruan HY, Liu Y. Obesity and hypertension. Exp Ther Med. 2016 Oct;12(4):2395-2399. doi: 10.3892/etm.2016.3667. Epub 2016 Sep 6. PMID: 27703502; PMCID: PMC5038894.
• High Blood Pressure. FDA. Available from: https://www.fda.gov/consumers/free-publications-women/high-blood-pressure 
• High Blood Pressure and Older Adults. National Institute of Aging. Available from: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/high-blood-pressure-and-older-adults