Re: Coreg and low blood pressure

Posted By Elizabeth on June 04, 1999 at 10:28:53
My husband suffered a heart attack five years ago, but unlike most heart patients, his blood pressure is very low. His doctor started him on Coreg last August on a very low dosage - approximately 3.75 mg. He had a very hard time adjusting, mainly due to fatigue. Since then, his doctor has been slowly increasing the dosage and just recently he has gone from 12 mg daily to 25 mg daily. (The goal is to move up to 50mg daily) With this latest increase, his dizziness has become more pronounced, along with the fatigue and he has begun slurring his words. Since his doctor has only patients with high blood pressure on this medication, I'm wondering if you have had an experience with patients taking this medication who have low blood pressure. If so, are they more susceptible to certain side effects and do they take longer to adjust - is there an average adjustment period? Are there any additional precautions we should be aware of?
Thank you in advance for any in

[CCF CARDIO MD DLB]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on June 06, 1999 at 10:03:42
Dear Elizabeth
I do not understand why the goal is to get your husband on 50 mg of Coreg. If his blood pressure is already low and he is dizzy, it sounds like he needs less medicine, not more. Also, the slurred speech is concerning. You should have him re-evaluated.
I hope this has been useful. Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck.
Information provided here is of a general nature.  Specific diagnoses and treatments can only be made by your doctor.  If you would like to be seen at the Cleveland Clinic, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE for an appointment with a cardiologist at Desk F15.

[Elizabeth__0__0]

Posted By Elizabeth on June 09, 1999 at 12:01:37
The purpose, we're told, of getting him up to 50mg is to provide maximum help in strengthening his heart. I thought I read that slurred speech is a side effect. Is this true?
Thank you for your help.

[CCF CARDIO MD DLB]

Posted By CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on June 14, 1999 at 08:11:17
Dear elizabeth
While it is theoretically true that he may derive more benefit from a higher dose, this reasoning no longer applies if he is experiencing side effects at a lower dose. Slurred speech is not a side effect of this medication, unless it is lowering his blood pressure dramatically - this symptoms needs to be evaluated promptly.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. 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.

[Elizabeth__0__0]

Posted By Elizabeth on June 24, 1999 at 09:35:43
Thank you for your insight. It was helpful to us in challenging his current treatment plan. As a result, his treatment has been reevaluated also his speech and a new plan is now in place. He still suffers from extreme fatigue, but his dosage is not being increased, and if he doesn't adjust, his dosage will be decreased.
Thank you again.











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