Is it safe to take Alprazolam for white coat hypertension?
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
I am a 71-year-old female with white coat hypertension, which I have had all my life. I have seen numerous psychologists and therapists. I am in good health and take 1 mg of Levothyroxine daily. When I visit the doctor's office, my blood pressure skyrockets. At home, it is around 120/70 mmHg. Last Monday, before leaving for my appointment, my blood pressure was 140/80 mmHg. At the appointment, it rose to 180/90 mmHg, and my pulse was 123 beats per minute. An hour after returning home, my blood pressure was 120/75 mmHg again. I have had a great fear of high blood pressure since childhood. During my last appointment, I took 37.5 mg of Alprazolam, which was the first time I had ever taken medication like that in hopes of calming myself down. I guess it did not work. I am very worried that my high blood pressure will harm me, and I am tired of constantly worrying about it.
Please help.
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
These blood pressure spikes related to white coat syndrome are not dangerous and do not cause any permanent damage to your heart or blood vessels. They are caused by anxiety when consulting with your doctor and do not require treatment, as they do not increase your cardiovascular risk. I also suggest checking your thyroid hormone levels to make proper dose adjustments to Levothyroxine, if necessary.
Regards.
Patient's Query
Hello doctor,
Thank you for the reply.
Do you think increasing the dose of Alprazolam before the appointment will help?
Hello,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
I would not recommend taking Alprazolam regularly, as it can lead to addiction and tolerance. When consulting with your doctor, I recommend taking 0.5 mg of Alprazolam. Please consult your specialist about obtaining an online prescription; discuss it with them and start taking the medication with their consent.
I also recommend avoiding caffeine and engaging in regular physical activity (such as walking, aerobics, or recreational sports), which can help improve your anxiety. Additionally, yoga can be very helpful for anxiety. In my opinion, you should not worry about this as long as you maintain normal blood pressure most of the time.
Regards.
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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