Question Title: Edema in lower and upper extremities

If heart failure has been ruled out, what could be other possible causes of swelling in the legs, particularly in the ankles (but also progresses up the leg), and swelling which sometimes occurs in the hands, particularly, the fingers (both hands)? Patient is taking Niaspan, Prilosec, and Cardizem.

Dear Linda,

A number of things can cause swelling: low protein states, kidney failure, liver failure, hormone shifts and calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem are some of the potential causes.

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