Got Uterus Removed. Feeling Giddiness, Fear And High Blood Pressure. How Long Should I Continue Medicine?

Posted on Tue, 31 Jul 2012

Question: Hi, I am 55 years old,female, got uterus removed three months back. 2 weeks back When i got up early in the morning i got giddiness,fear and unawareness of surrounding. When I went for consultation my blood pressure levels were observed at 160/100. During the time urinary infection was also diagonised.I was admitted in the hospital for about 5 days and administered antibiotic IV. My doctor also prescribed me TALY-40(telmisartan) tablets @ 1 per day for my BP problem. I was asked to continue TALY-40 for 1-2 years. My doctor also told me the problem I suffered might have occurred due to hormonal changes . I am worried whether it's advisable to continue the current dosage of telmisartan tablets as few of my friends told me 5mg is enough if BP variation is not high. Currently I feel normal but I continuously take tablets as prescribed by my doctor. kindly guide me on the following
1) reduce the dosage?
2) how long the current medication needs to be continued?
3) possibility of any side effect?
4)any other precaution I need to take due to side effects of such heavy dosage?

Answered by Dr. Sourav Ganguly (1 hour later)

Hi,

Thanks for your question.

First I like to clear some of your misconception. Telmisartan is not available in 5 mg tablets. Its doses start from 20 mg and we use 20 mg only in renal impaired patients; otherwise the regular dose is 40 mg and doses can be increases up to 160 mg. This is a very effective drug with fewer side effects.

There are other antihypertensive tablets which are available as 5mg dose. Perhaps what your friends mentioned are related to another antihypertensive medication. So my suggestion is please trust your doctor and not your friends at least when it comes to treatment of medical problem.

Now about your query,

1) You need not reduce the dose of drug. We can lower it with your doctor's consent if blood pressures are managed appropriately.

2) Like all other antihypertensive it should be continued lifelong unless recommended by your doctor.

3) It has some side effects like hypotension, hyperkalemia (lowering body potassium level), persistent cough, skin rashes, angioedema (sudden swelling of lip, mouth), dysguesia or reversible loss or alteration of taste sensation, etc. But don't worry about these, most people tolerate the drug very well.

4) You may get serum urea, creatinine and serum potassium level done. Discuss with your doctor about it.

Should not be used with other potassium sparing diuretic (can cause kyperkalemia). The dose should be altered and adjusted if you have associated with liver, renal impairment and in those who are on digoxin, lithium, heparin, etc.

Please consult a cardiologist to take his advice on the following point.

Hope this answers your query. If you have any other queries please let me know.

Best wishes,

Dr Sourav Ganguly

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad