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Can Norco Be Taken For Headache?

Posted on Sat, 31 Oct 2015

Question: My husband is in dialysis for acute renal failure. He is currently taking norvasc 10 mg , catapres patch .2 weekly. This past week his blood pressures have gone up as high as 190/100 and we can't get it lower than 170/80. He has developed severe headaches was up all night with one after dialysis. The dialysis NP gave script for Imdur 30. I gave to him last night for the first time. Headache worse thru night. Finally gave him 2 norco. Today has headache all day about level 4-5. Went to PCP today. He said don't take Imdur. He prescribed toprol xl 50 mg. I read about interactions of catapres and toprol with norvasc. Now I don't know what to do Please help with some direction.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Norco is not a good drug for headaches

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

Looks like your husband is having headaches because of uncontrolled hypertension. The only solution is to bring down the headaches. In order to do that I have to get a clear picture of his clinical condition. Please get back to me with the following details. I would like to add here that Tab Toporol is a dialysable drug so it might not be very effective when taken before dialysis

I suggest you to give him Tab Tylenol for headaches, it can be taken three times a day

1. Please let me know the anti hypertensives he is on and the frequency
2. Does he have edema of feet
3. How many times does he undergo dialysis in a week and what is his usual weight gain?

Please get back to me, I am awaiting your reply

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (42 hours later)

He takes Norvasc 10 mg.in AM. and Clonodine patch weekly .2 mg. His PCP put him on Toprol XL 50 2 days ago. Today is BP is elevated. 190/100. PCP just increased his Toprol to 100 mg now. He started Aranesp Sept 30, He gets 40 mcg i every Wednesday with Dialysis. I was wondering if that 's causing the uncontrolled bp's. Seems to have gotten much worse since then. Yesterday they gave him .2 clondine at Dialysis due to increased BP.
He does have ankle and foot edema, especially when upright. He is very fatigued and weak. Uses a walker since illness. Is Imdur an appropriate med for him?
Is Toprol and Clonodine appropriate as i read it has moderate interactions with
Norvasc. It appears that Norvasc and Clondine patch are not working. Wondering if i should have Nephrology team manage his BP meds? Is that standard? I am very concerned since that excrucating headache and all the side effects i read of Aranesp.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (28 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Suggested to add Prazocin

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for getting back

Here are my recommendations

1. I recommend tablet clonidine instead of the patch. It can be taken as 0.1 mg three times a day. We go upto 0.2 three times a day
2. I suggest Tab Prazocin which is a selective alfa blocker 5mg twice a day
3. If the the above two does not work then I usually add Tab Minoxidil as a last resort
4. Norvasc can be split into half as AM and PM dosing, I have seen it helps in certain groups of people.
5.Increasing Toprol might not be good idea because it gets dialysed and its effect is negated following dialysis

I would also like to add here that my seniors add ACE/ARB because most often this is a renin mediated hypertension. It works very well to control hypertension but close follow up of potassium is required

You should get a Neprho team to manage blood pressure. Nobody handles it better than us.

Regards

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj