I am also on Norvasc, 5 mg per day. I also take atenolol which is a beta blocker. I haven't noticed too much swelling (except in my hands at times) on the 5 mg of Norvasc and I tried 10 mg awhile back but it didn't reduce my blood pressure by much and I was worried about the increased swelling. However, adding 25 mg of atenolol significantly lowered my blood pressure into the normal range 95% of the time. I do attribute some of the blood pressure reduction to the opioid medications that I take as well.
There are other calcium channel blockers like Norvasc out there that may not produce as much swelling. I would talk to your doctor to see if there is a different medication you could try. You also might want to consider adding a beta blocker like atenolol especially if you have a high pulse rate as this can cause your blood pressure to be higher.
I'm assuming you want a medication that lowers blood pressure without swelling versus one that dilates blood vessels, even though that may be what it does to lower blood pressure, correct? Have you tried a beta blocker before? Are there other blood pressure medications that you take? How well is your blood pressure controlled on your current medications?
femmy
thank you for your informatiion -
the norvasc if for having Raynauds and real small blood vessles - taking 10mgs daily.. I'm looking into finding something else to replace Norvasc that doesn't have the bad side effect of the swelling feet. I was just hopping someone might know right off hand, sense the doctors I've been too, don't seem to know anything.. Thanks, Michelle
Hi Michelle,
I'm sorry I couldn't be more help and that the doctor's you have seen haven't been helpful either. I do know that morphine is an excellent blood vessel dilator, probably the best there is. EMTs use it as a first line treatment for heart attack patients as it quickly alleviates pain and reduces blood pressure by dilating blood vessels to alleviate pressure off the heart. I am not sure if Raynaud's causes any pain but if so, it seems like morphine would be a win-win for you.
femmy