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Suggest Alternative Medicines For Treating Hypertension
Question: Hello,
I have hypertension and also suffer from asthma, I have been prescribed ARBs, however, I have experienced respiratory side effects (dyspnea) that lead me to discontinue the medication.
The side effects are class effect and all drugs from this class will have these effects.
I cannot use ACE Inhibitors or ARBs or Beta Blockers due to asthma. I can only use CCBs and/or diuretics.
Regarding CCBs I've tried Amlodipine but felt much fatigue, then Nifedipine XL that caused intolerable headaches. Then I've been suggested to use Felodipine but it is not available in my country. Finally, I've been prescribed Diltiazem 90mg BID + low dose Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5mg). It worked very well. However, I can no longer take HCTZ because it causes me severe Sciatica. In my country, the medication Clortalidone is not available. What should I take instead of HCTZ? The Diltiazem alone cannot help me.
My current blood pressure shows 150/95 mmHg and pulse rate 87 per minute.
Should the dose of Diltiazem be adjusted? or perhaps another medication should be added?
Thanks in advance for your response,
I have hypertension and also suffer from asthma, I have been prescribed ARBs, however, I have experienced respiratory side effects (dyspnea) that lead me to discontinue the medication.
The side effects are class effect and all drugs from this class will have these effects.
I cannot use ACE Inhibitors or ARBs or Beta Blockers due to asthma. I can only use CCBs and/or diuretics.
Regarding CCBs I've tried Amlodipine but felt much fatigue, then Nifedipine XL that caused intolerable headaches. Then I've been suggested to use Felodipine but it is not available in my country. Finally, I've been prescribed Diltiazem 90mg BID + low dose Hydrochlorothiazide (12.5mg). It worked very well. However, I can no longer take HCTZ because it causes me severe Sciatica. In my country, the medication Clortalidone is not available. What should I take instead of HCTZ? The Diltiazem alone cannot help me.
My current blood pressure shows 150/95 mmHg and pulse rate 87 per minute.
Should the dose of Diltiazem be adjusted? or perhaps another medication should be added?
Thanks in advance for your response,
Brief Answer:
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir
After going through the medical details provided by you I understand your concern for your health and I would like to appreciate your understanding of your problem.
Here I would like to tell you that not all the ACE inhibitors causes the problem of cough or dyspnoea. Captopril and enalapril have very good results with minimal respiratory side effects.
Also HCTZ do not causes sciatica. Anorexia, nausea, Dizziness, fatigue and headache along with electrolyte derangements are the common side effects.
Now as Diltiazem is working for you and you don't feel like using HCTZ so instead of just increasing the dose of Diltiazem it's better to add so other drug. So in my opinion you can add Minipress (prazosin) to it. Start with the minimal dose of 1 mg bd and up titrate the dose of it over couple of week (1mg/week) till desired effect is achieved.
But still I would like to suggest you to discuss this personally with your treating doctor and get a written prescription.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hello Sir
After going through the medical details provided by you I understand your concern for your health and I would like to appreciate your understanding of your problem.
Here I would like to tell you that not all the ACE inhibitors causes the problem of cough or dyspnoea. Captopril and enalapril have very good results with minimal respiratory side effects.
Also HCTZ do not causes sciatica. Anorexia, nausea, Dizziness, fatigue and headache along with electrolyte derangements are the common side effects.
Now as Diltiazem is working for you and you don't feel like using HCTZ so instead of just increasing the dose of Diltiazem it's better to add so other drug. So in my opinion you can add Minipress (prazosin) to it. Start with the minimal dose of 1 mg bd and up titrate the dose of it over couple of week (1mg/week) till desired effect is achieved.
But still I would like to suggest you to discuss this personally with your treating doctor and get a written prescription.
I hope this information will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
The Doctor has advised me to take a medication that is not available in my country (prazosin)
Unfortunately, it is one of the limitations here, most doctors have good medical options but here they are not available.Dear Dr,
Unfortunately, prazosin is not available in my country, could you please advice me another drug or diltiazem adjustment, whatever you consider the best option.
Thanks in advance for your response,
Unfortunately, it is one of the limitations here, most doctors have good medical options but here they are not available.Dear Dr,
Unfortunately, prazosin is not available in my country, could you please advice me another drug or diltiazem adjustment, whatever you consider the best option.
Thanks in advance for your response,
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
If that the case you can look for Torsemide 5mg bd in addition to the ongoing dose of Diltiazem.
In case that's also not avaliable then you can increase the dose of Diltiazem to 120 mg bd along with regular blood pressure monitoring for initial few days of increasing the dose.
Hopefully it will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
If that the case you can look for Torsemide 5mg bd in addition to the ongoing dose of Diltiazem.
In case that's also not avaliable then you can increase the dose of Diltiazem to 120 mg bd along with regular blood pressure monitoring for initial few days of increasing the dose.
Hopefully it will be helpful.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Dear Dr,
I have searched and found that Torsemide is available in my country. I would like to ask you if you prefer me to take Torsemide or to increase the Diltiazem dosage, which of both is the best option for me?
About Torsemide, if you compare it to HCTZ, would you say that Torsemide has more side effects? would you say that it is more dangerous to me?
Thanks in advance for your response,
I have searched and found that Torsemide is available in my country. I would like to ask you if you prefer me to take Torsemide or to increase the Diltiazem dosage, which of both is the best option for me?
About Torsemide, if you compare it to HCTZ, would you say that Torsemide has more side effects? would you say that it is more dangerous to me?
Thanks in advance for your response,
Brief Answer:
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Which is a best option and which is not will be cleared only after using it. As hctz was working for you so most likely this will work fine.
Regarding side effects I would like to tell you that every medicine has its own side effects. No medicine is side effect free. Both hctz and Torsemide has low side effect profile so don't worry about it.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Please refer to the detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Which is a best option and which is not will be cleared only after using it. As hctz was working for you so most likely this will work fine.
Regarding side effects I would like to tell you that every medicine has its own side effects. No medicine is side effect free. Both hctz and Torsemide has low side effect profile so don't worry about it.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hello Dr,
About Torsemide, should I begin with 2.5mg or directly 5mg? Do you consider that 2.5mg would be insufficient?
About Torsemide, should I begin with 2.5mg or directly 5mg? Do you consider that 2.5mg would be insufficient?
Brief Answer:
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Yes you can start with 5 mg one tablet in the morning. Keeping an eye on your blood pressure reading.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Hello Again
Detailed Answer:
Yes you can start with 5 mg one tablet in the morning. Keeping an eye on your blood pressure reading.
Kind regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Dear Dr,
I have been searching information about HCTZ on the internet, to see if it can cause Sciatica or low back pain, but I see that there is nothing coming out. I should conclude as you earlier said that it doesn't cause Sciatica.
Could you please tell me if HCTZ is prefered over Torsemide? I'm willing to rechallenge HCTZ.
I have been searching information about HCTZ on the internet, to see if it can cause Sciatica or low back pain, but I see that there is nothing coming out. I should conclude as you earlier said that it doesn't cause Sciatica.
Could you please tell me if HCTZ is prefered over Torsemide? I'm willing to rechallenge HCTZ.
Brief Answer:
HCTZ will be better for you
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for finally relying on my advise, appreciate that.
As HCTZ was working fine for you in controlling bp so you should continue with that only.
Wish you all Good Health.
Regards
Dr Bhanu partap
HCTZ will be better for you
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for finally relying on my advise, appreciate that.
As HCTZ was working fine for you in controlling bp so you should continue with that only.
Wish you all Good Health.
Regards
Dr Bhanu partap
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
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