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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
Hypertension medicine options for 'sensitive' systems
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Hypertension medicine options for 'sensitive' systems
by bilt, Jan 29, 1999 12:00AM
I was diagnosed with hypertension about two months ago, but I'm still in the 'find the right drug' hunt. I have been on 100mg of atenelol since the beginning, but that only gets me to about 155/90 on avg. My doctor (who I have a lot of confidence in) has tried to add first Lysinoprol(sp), which made me sick, and now nifedipine (30mg). The nifedipine actually controls the bp (140/80 on avg), but after a week it too has side affects (nausea, fautigue, flushing) i can't live with for long. My complication is that I have borderline hyponatremia, so my doctor is uncomfortable prescribing a diuretic till I see an endocrinologist. I should add I was worked up a couple of times for the hyponatremia and no secondary causes were identified.
My doctor appreciates me being an active participant in my treatment, so my question is what are some other good bp medicine options for those with apparently sensitive systems?
Dear Bill
There are several other potential blood pressure medications that your doctor could try. No one can say whether you will react to them ahead of time. You were on nifedipine, but there are several other types of calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine. There are other ACE inhibitors other than lisinopril. There is also a newer class of high blood pressure medications called the angiotensin receptor blockers, that are similar to ACE inhibitors. These are just some of the options you could discuss with your doctor.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.
