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Can I Continue Lotrel And Lithium For High BP?
Question: I take Lotrel 5/20mg and Lithium Carbonate with no adverse reactions.
Should I ask my XXXXXXX care provider for a different anti hypertension medication?
Should I ask my XXXXXXX care provider for a different anti hypertension medication?
Brief Answer:
no interaction may not occur
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
If you are not currently having any complications then you can consider monitoring for now.
Lotrel is a combination of two medications, one of the two medications is benazepril.
Benazepril is in the family of drugs called ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors can potentially cause depletion or reduction of the levels of sodium though many persons do not experience any change in sodium levels.
Low sodium can cause the kidneys to retain lithium.
There are other electrolytes in the kidneys for example bicarbonate that have to be reabsorbed or taken back into the body along with another type of electrolyte (called a cation) such as sodium. The sodium is taken up with the bicarbonate.
If there is lack of sodium the body looks for another cation. Lithium is also a cation, in persons using lithium, the body may then take back up the lithium causing high levels of lithium in the system.
This is only a potential problem, if your sodium levels are normal then it is not going to occur.
Your doctor will monitor for any problems but you can continue since you do not have any effects noted.
If you are not comfortable using the combination then you can ask your doctor to change your hypertensive medication to one that would not affect sodium levels
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
no interaction may not occur
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
If you are not currently having any complications then you can consider monitoring for now.
Lotrel is a combination of two medications, one of the two medications is benazepril.
Benazepril is in the family of drugs called ACE inhibitors.
ACE inhibitors can potentially cause depletion or reduction of the levels of sodium though many persons do not experience any change in sodium levels.
Low sodium can cause the kidneys to retain lithium.
There are other electrolytes in the kidneys for example bicarbonate that have to be reabsorbed or taken back into the body along with another type of electrolyte (called a cation) such as sodium. The sodium is taken up with the bicarbonate.
If there is lack of sodium the body looks for another cation. Lithium is also a cation, in persons using lithium, the body may then take back up the lithium causing high levels of lithium in the system.
This is only a potential problem, if your sodium levels are normal then it is not going to occur.
Your doctor will monitor for any problems but you can continue since you do not have any effects noted.
If you are not comfortable using the combination then you can ask your doctor to change your hypertensive medication to one that would not affect sodium levels
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other questions
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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