All beta blockers and some calcium channel blockers definitely do blunt peak exercise performance, especially in active people.
For what it's worth, I am a 46 year old male who exercises a great deal (6-10 times per week) and row in competitions. I have had hypertension for the last couple of years and along the way, had a mitral valve repair.
My physician had me try a combination of medications and I can assure that for maximal effort exercise (i.e. close to or above the anerobic threshold) beta blockers and Calcium Channel Blockers to inhibit performance. My doctor for a time used a combination CCB-Ace Inhibitor called Lotrel. It comes in various doses and works reasonably well. It still reduced my maximal heart rate about 10 beats.
With my cardiologist's permission I switched to a higher dose of an ace inhibitor which does not seem to inhibit athletic performance.
All in all the combination CCB-ace inhibitor seems to be the most effective drug for controlling my blood pressure but the ace inhibitor provides the best athletic performance.
All medicines are with possible side effects. Calcium channel blockers can affect heart rate and thus blunt peak exercise performance, but this is not an issue with ones like Norvasc.
Thank you for your reply to my question.
Three points: First, It is clear to me that the hydrochlrothiazide is, at least, partially responsible for the changes in libido that I have experienced. Two trials without the diuretic show improvement. Second, I have consulted my physician. It was he that assured me that Terazosin would show little side effects. Third, my understanding is that the calcium channel blockers affect exercise capacity. Is this true to your knowledge? Whcih channel blckers are usually most easily tolerated?
M
First of all, it is not obvious to me that it is the thiazide component that is causing the erectile dysfunction. It could be something else, and you should discuss the matter with your physician.
Other anti-hypertensive medications include calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem or Norvasc, which could be safely paired with Vasotec.