Amlodipine and constipation
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 15 2010
Q: I have been taking 5 mg of Amlodipine daily for about one year. My blood pressure has been good since I started taking it, but I have noticed that I get constipated with this medication and I was wondering if there is another kind of medication in the same group of meds that would not have that side effect.
A: Amlodipine is a type of drug known as a calcium channel blocker. Constipation is a frequent complaint with this type of medication. Since you are doing well on Amlodipine, you might want to try increasing the fiber in your diet. A couple of prunes a day can make a difference.
Tags: amlodipine, blood pressure, calcium channel blocker, constipation, diet, Diet & Exercise, medication, side effect, Taking BP MedsDrug side effects
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Mar 02 2010
Q: I have been taking Diovan 80 for two years. I have tolerated it well with the exception of ringing in my ears. I now am having a nervous feeling and have rapid pounding in my ears. This happened when I was on topryl xl. Is it possible to not tolerate meds after a few years? I am also on thyroid medication. Levothyroxin 75 which was changed recently to Levothyroxine. Any suggestions? My doctor does not want to change meds but I do.
A: Talk to your doctor. You can develop reactions to a medication at any time. Usually reactions occur when you first start taking a drug. You have been taking the Diovan for two years but just recently changed your thyroid medication. It is more likely your new symptoms are related to your thyroid medication. Some people are sensitive to different brands of the same type of thyroid medication.
Tags: Diovan, drug side effects, levothyroxine, ringing in my ears, side effect, Taking BP Meds, thyroid, thyroid medicationSwelling with amlodipine
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 12 2010
Q: While taking Amlodipine, I have noted the side effect of swollen feet and lower eyelids. Is there something I can do to remedy this side effect? I am taking 5MG tablet daily as prescribed by my Doctor. My BP ranges between 117 and 128 in the evening but 130-140 in the morning when I wake up. I have also been using RESPeRATE device.
A: Talk to your doctor about your swelling. Sometimes it is better to change drugs than to try to treat a common side effect. Your doctor will know the next best step.
Tags: amlodipine, bp, drugs, hypertension, RESPeRATE, side effect, swollen feet, Taking BP MedsDizziness from lisinopril-hctz
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Feb 10 2010
Q: I have been taking BP meds for 6 days and it makes me feel dizzy and lightheaded. The doctor said my body needs to get used to it and sometimes it takes a while. Is this normal? I take lisinopril-hctz 10-12.5 MG, he told me to take half of this to see if that helped the problem.
A: It sounds like your blood pressure medicine is working. Dizziness, especially when you stand up suddenly, is a common side effect of blood pressure drugs. It also may mean your blood pressure has been lowered too much. This is why your doctor wants to see how you do on a lower dose.
Tags: blood pressure, blood pressure drug, blood pressure drugs, blood pressure medicine, bp, Dizziness, dizzy, hctz, hypertension, Lisinopril, medicine, side effect, Taking BP MedsSide effects from medication
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Dec 29 2009
Q: In the last couple of years it seems that many of the drugs they have given me for High Blood Pressure cause bad side effects. They blister my lips or even cause sore skin around my mouth. It is beyond frustrating and the doctors don’t know what to do. Can you help?
A: It is difficult to know how an individual will react to a drug ahead of time. I am sure your doctors are doing their best to choose drugs in different categories in hopes of finding one that will control your blood pressure without side effects. The lack of side effects is one of the reasons I like to recommend use of the RESPeRATE.
Tags: drugs, high blood pressure, medication, RESPeRATE, side effect, side effects, Taking BP MedsSide effects of drug Benicar
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Dec 14 2009
Q: How safe is the drug Benicar and what are the side effects?
A: All drugs have side effects. No drug is 100% safe as everyone responds differently to medication. Talk to your doctor about any problems you are having. Dizziness is a common side effect of Benicar. To read about other known side effects click here.
Tags: benicar, Dizziness, drugs, medication, side effect, side effects, Taking BP MedsFDA review process of drugs
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Dec 14 2009
Q: I have always been pre-hypertensive. At age 48 I agreed to go on some BP meds to appease my life insurance company in order to lower my premium: Lotrel 5-20. I had a stroke 4 months later. Why is it that it takes a Freedom of Information request to find out the real adverse side effects of these dangerous drugs?
A: If you have been following the news, you understand that studies showing positive outcomes are the ones that get reported. Negative results aren’t always presented by the manufacturer. The FDA review process determines if benefits of a drug seem to outweigh the risks. Serious side effects may not be publicly discovered until many people have been taking the drug for a long period of time. A recent example of this is the association of the arthritis drug Vioxx and heart disease. To learn more about the FDA review process click here.
Tags: adverse side effects, bp, dangerous drugs, FDA, freedom of information, freedom of information request, hypertensive, lotrel, Misc, side effect, Taking BP Meds, vioxx, vioxx and heart diseaseEcosprin gold and flatulence
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Sep 23 2009
Q: I am taking Metapur AM 10mg and Ecosprin gold for about one and a half years and my BP is in control. But I am facing a problem with farting resulting in lot of embarrassment. Please advise me if this problem is because of the above medication and what can I do?
A: Ecosprin gold is a drug used to prevent clot formation. It helps prevent heart attacks and strokes. One of the side effects of the drug is increased gas. You should discuss with your doctor, changing how you take your medicine. Sometimes changing the time of day and taking your medicine with food can help with this problem.
Tags: clot formation, Ecosprin gold, farting, flatulence, heart attacks, Medication Interactions, Misc, side effect, side effectsSexual relations and hypertension
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Aug 28 2009
Q: How many times can one who has high blood pressure have sex in a day or week? Is it advisable to use any sex enhancing drug?
A: Frequency of relations is usually determined by the participating individuals. Doctors determine when it is safe to return to sexual activity after an illness, not how much is appropriate. Talk to you doctor about any problems you are having that would lead you to consider taking a sex enhancing drug. Drugs of this class can have life threatening side effects.
Tags: high blood pressure, hypertension, Sex, sex enhancing drug, sexual activity, sexual relations, side effect, side effectsRelationship between hypertension and bradycardia
Written by: Dr. Rowena | Posted: Jul 14 2009
Q: How can a person have hypertension and bradycardia at the same time and what does this mean?
A: High blood pressure and a slow heart beat, bradycardia, are two different problems that may or may not be related. A side effect of certain drugs is a slow heart beat. Damage to the heart from uncontrolled high blood pressure and other conditions may result in a slow heart beat. To understand the source of your bradycardia, you need to talk to your doctor.
Tags: Blood Pressure & Hypertension, bradycardia, high blood pressure, hypertension, Medical Conditions, side effect, slow heart beat, uncontrolled high blood pressure
