Central-acting agents are medicines that slow the heartbeat and lower blood pressure. They block the signals from the brain to the nervous system that narrow blood vessels and make the heart beat faster. As a result, the heart does not pump as hard. Blood flows more easily through the body's veins and arteries. This makes blood pressure go down.

Central-acting agents also are called:

• Central adrenergic inhibitors.
• Central alpha agonists.
• Central agonists.