Hello doctor,
I have hypertension and also suffer from asthma. I have been prescribed ARBs. However, I have experienced respiratory side effects (dyspnea) that lead me to discontinue the medication. The side effects are class effect and all drugs from this class will have these effects. I cannot use ACE Inhibitors or ARBs or beta blockers due to asthma. I can only use CCBs and/or diuretics. Regarding CCBs, I have tried Amlodipine but felt much fatigue, then Nifedipine XL that caused intolerable headaches. Then I have been suggested to use Felodipine but it is not available in my country. Finally, I have been prescribed Dilzetem 90 mg BID and low dose Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5 mg). However, I can no longer take HCTZ because it causes me severe sciatica. In my country, the medication Clortalidone is not available. What should I take instead of HCTZ? The Diltiazem alone cannot help me. My current blood pressure shows 150/95 mmHg and pulse rate 87 beats per minute. Should the dose of Diltiazem be adjusted? Or perhaps another medication should be added? Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I have reviewed your health query and can understand your worries about hypertension and appropriate medications. Although thorough physical evaluation is mandatory here, I would assist you based on the details provided here. I would suggest you start afresh with lifestyle changes and medications together. You need to get your BMI within normal limits. Every 10 pounds you lose will lower your blood pressure by 5 mmHg. Meanwhile, you need to consult a dietitian to fix your diet according to the healthy lifestyle. You need to take your weight and lipids (cholesterol) within limits via lifestyle changes. I am sure you can do this but it needs a lot of serious efforts. All medications would then depend on your efforts. If you take control of your weight and cholesterol, you would not need much of medications to lower your blood pressure. Yes, if needed your physician can alter the dosage of Diltiazem according to it until you get your blood pressure within normal limits. Hope it helps. Thank you.
Hello doctor,
Thanks for your response. I suffer from depression, anxiety, and insomnia. I am currently taking medication for mental illness. Two of them are known to increase body weight through increasing appetite and slowing metabolism. However, I know I need to lose weight urgently and I am willing to visit a dietician and make all the necessary efforts. Regarding the medication, I would like to ask you specifically about Diltiazem. I am currently taking 90 mg twice a day, and I think it is already a high dose. Unfortunately, since I stopped hydrochlorothiazide my blood pressure went higher again. What should I do regarding the medication? Should I take more doses of Diltiazem? What risks would I face in case I take 120 mg twice daily? Thank you.
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Yes, it would be really helpful for you to consult a dietician as you need to work on this issue in depth and get a prescription renewal. Diltiazem 90 mg twice is high but not the highest limit you may take in a day. You may consult your treating physician for proper guidance and to see how can they titrate the dose according to your needs. It can safely be increased in many patients. Many patients take more than 120 dosages per day and there is no issue (480 to 540 mg per day is mostly the limit in hypertension). Your doctor may titrate it over a couple of weeks and see how it works. But, again this all depends on your physician's evaluation. Hope this helps. Thank you.
.. ED (erectile dysfunction), definitely your age can be a factor. But, if ED developed suddenly, then this could be caused by anxiety. It is one of the most important causes of ED. Yes, some ARBs (angiotensin receptor blockers) can cause ED as a side eff Read full
• I was diagnosed with AFib . Should I be on beta blocker?.. you must have undergone echo in order to find out the cause of atrial fibrillation. Now, regarding your doubt, as such the risk of stroke is not high in you so blood thinners are not absolutely necessary for you. Read full
• Hypertension - How Aware Are You?.. your knowledge and teaches you hypertension facts .. ... Read full
Comprehensive Medical Second Opinion.
I have side effects from BP medications. Please help.
Query: Hi doctor, I am a cardiac patient since 16 years after a massive MI followed by an angioplasty. Thereafter, I was taking medication to control high BP along with Aspirin as well as for cholesterol. Recently, I have another mild attack and did my second angioplasty. My BP is fluctuating between 150/9... Read Full »
Hypertension and Skipping Anti-Hypertensive Pills - A Small Step Towards a Big Mistake
Article Overview: This article tells in detail about the misconceptions prevalent among people about having anti-hypertensive pills. Read Article
Introduction: Blood pressure is basically the pressure faced by the walls of the blood vessels when the blood is ejected from the heart with a level of force. Under normal circumstances, this force is essential for the blood to circulate well in the body, but if it rises above the normal value, it i... Read Article
What is Ecosprin AV 75 used for?
Query: Hi doctor, Sometimes, my father used to get chest pain. Angiography showed that he has a LAD bridging and vessels are normal and clear. His echo is normal. His BP, blood sugar and cholesterol are normal. After the chest pain, he was given the following medicines for one year. They are Stator, Ismo, ... Read Full »
Ask your health query to a doctor online?
Ask a Cardiologist Now