Skip Navigation U.S. Department of Health and Human Services www.hhs.gov/
Agency for Healthcare Research Quality www.ahrq.gov
www.ahrq.gov/
Diabetes Planned Visit Notebook

Blood Pressure Control Medication


Diabetes planned visits address several health topics of concern to the diabetic patient, including high blood pressure. This document, created by the Summa Health System, provides an overview of available blood pressure medications and Medicaid coverage.



Medicaid Coverage/
Summa Tier

Medication/Dose Availability

Titration Schedule

ACE

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  1

Captopril (Capoten)
12.5mg, 25mg, 50mg, 100mg

 

Start 12.5mg Q 8H,
Increase every two weeks

25mg Q 8H, 50mg Q 8H, 75mg Q8H, 100mg Q8H, 125mg Q8H,
MAX 150mg Q 8H

Goal DM nephropathy
25mg Q 8H

GFR <50 give Q 12H

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  1

Enalapril (Vasotec)
2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg 40mg

 

Start 5 mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

10mg QD, 20mg QD, 30mg QD 
  Max 40mg daily

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  1

Lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil)
2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg

 

Start 5mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

10mg QD, 20mg QD, 40mg QD
Max 80mg QD

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 3

Quinapril (Accupril)
5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg

 

Start 10mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

20mg QD, 40mg QD
Max 80mg QD

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 3

Ramipril (Altace)
1.25mg, 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg

 

Start 2.5mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

5mg QD, 10mg QD, 15mg QD,
Max 20mg QD

GFR <40
Max 5mg daily

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier ??

Benazepril (Lotensin)
5mg, 10mg, 20mg, 40mg

 

Start 10mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

20mg QD, 40mg QD
Max 80mg QD

ARB

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  3

Candesartan (Atacand)
4mg, 8mg, 16mg, 32mg

 

Start 8mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

16mg QD, 24mg QD
MAX 32mg QD

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 3

Eprosartan (Teveten)
400mg, 600mg

 

Start 400 mg QD
Increase to 800mg QD  in 2 weeks

Max 800 mg daily

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 3

Telmisartan (Micardis)
20mg, 40mg, 80mg

 

Start 20mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

40mg QD, 60mg QD
Max 80mg QD

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  2

Losartan (Cozaar) 25mg, 50mg, 100mg

 

Start 25mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

50mg QD,
Max 100mg QD

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 3

Irbesartan (Avapro)
75mg, 150mg, 300mg

 

Start 75mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

150mg QD,
Max 300mg daily

Goal DM nephropathy 300mg

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  3

Valsartan (Diovan)
40mg, 80mg, 160mg, 320mg

 

Start 40mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

80mg QD, 160mg QD,
Max 320mg daily

Goal  LV dysfunction
160mg BID

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  2

Olmesartan (Benicar)
5mg, 20mg, 40mg

 

Start 10mg QD
Increase Q 2 weeks

20mg QD,
Max 40mg

Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB)

Non-dihydropyridine

Verapamil SR
(Calan, Verelan, Isoptin, Covera)
120mg, 180mg, 240mg

Preferred CCB in DM

Start 120 mg QD
Increase Q 1-2 weeks

Contraindicated in 2nd or 3rd degree AV block,  Severe LV dysfunction, CHF

240mg QD, (dose >240mg may only increase side effects) 360mg QD,
Max 480mg QD

Diltiazem SR
(Cardizem, Tiazac, Dilacor)
120mg, 180mg, 240mg, 300mg, 360mg, 420mg

 

Start 120mg QD
Increase Q 1-2 weeks

240mg QD, 360mg QD,
Max 480mg QD

Dihydropyridine

   

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  1

Nifedipine ER
(Procardia, Adalat)

 
Start 30mg daily
Increase Q 1-2 weeks

60mg, 90mg (dose > 90mg may only increase side effects)
Max 120mg

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 2

Amlodipine (Norvasc)
5mg, 10mg

 

Start 5mg
Increase in 1-2 weeks

Max 10mg

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  2

Felodipine (Plendil) CR  
Start 5mg QD
Increase Q 1-2 weeks

10mg QD, 15mg QD,
Max 20mg QD

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  1

Nicardipine (Cardene)
30mg, 45mg, 60mg

 

Start 30mg BID
Increase Q 1-2 weeks

45mg BID,
Max 60mg BID

Not covered Medicaid
Summa Tier 3

Isradipine (DynaCirc)
5mg, 10mg

Max 20mg QD

Start 5mg QD
Increase Q1-2 weeks

10mg, 15mg
Max 20mg

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier  3

Nisoldipine (Sular)
20mg, 30mg, 40mg

 

Start 20mg QD
Increase Q1-2 weeks  

40mg QD (dose >40mg may only increase side effects)
Max 60mg

Beta Blockers

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier 1

Atenolol (Tenormin)
25mg, 50mg, 100mg

 

Begin 50 mg daily
Increase Q 2 weeks

100mg QD (dose above 100mg/day unlikely to lower BP)
Max 2oomg QD

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier 2

Carvedilol (Coreg)
3.125mg, 6.25mg, 12.5mg, 25mg

 

Start 3.125mg BID
Increase Q 2 weeks

6.25mg BID, 12.5mg BID,
Max 25mg BID

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier 1

Labetalol (Normodyne, Trandate)
100mg, 200mg, 300mg

DM may require higher dose

Start 100mg BID
Increase Q 2-3 weeks

200mg BID, 300mg BID, 400mg BID, etc
Max 1,200mg BID

Medicaid covers
Summa Tier 1

Metoprolol (Lopressor, ToprolXL)
25mg, 50mg, 100mg

 

Start 12.5mg (1/2 tablet) BID

25mg BID, 50mg BID, 75mg BID, 100mg BID, 150mg BID, 200mg BID
Max 225mg BID

Return to Diabetes Planned Visit Notebook Contents
Proceed to Next Section

 

AHRQAdvancing Excellence in Health Care