Suggest Treatment For Anxiety And High Blood Pressure

Posted on Sat, 11 Oct 2014

Question: I am suffering from anxiety and high blood pressure, i have taken medicines for the same like Alprazolam which was prescribed by a doctor and i have also tried clonazepam, i have not taken the medication regularly as i did not want to get addicted to it. I was a smoker before and smoked an average of 20 cigarettes per day, but now i dont smoke i have quit smoking for the last 6 months now. I drink over the weekends approximately 360 ml of alcohol on an average.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Hi, you should take antianxiety drugs

Detailed Answer:
Hi, thanks for your query.

First of all, your anxiety may be related to quitting smoking, but you have quit is good..congrates for that.

You are suffering from anxiety and hypertension. first of all, the alcohol use is not recommended. so you should stop it. though this much amount is not harmful but the amount can not remain same always.it will gradually increase and alcohol affects every single organ of the body. it also interferes with action of the drugs..

The alprazolam and other benzodiazepines add to the effects of alcohol and there are chances of severe intoxication by alcohol when person is also taking benzos.
so you should avoid taking alcohol.

I dont know what how you can say that you have high blood pressure. is there any recording of high blood pressure continuously for a week twice a day morning and evening. if not than go for blood pressure monitoring..

If you have significant anxiety than apart from taking benzodiazepine you should also take antidepressant medications which are SSRI drugs. these drugs are to be taken for long duration which will reduce and cure anxiety from the base, it will affect your neurotransmitter in the brain.

In my opinion you should consult a psychiatrist who will guide you both fore leaving alcohol and treating anxiety.

I hope this will be helpful to you..if you have further queries feel free to ask. best of luck...

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

Follow up: Dr. Ravi Soni (32 minutes later)

I have taken a blood pressure recording as as per the recording the blood pressure on both my hands differ, but for sure its high, the left arm has a higher blood pressure than the lower arm.

Answered by Dr. Ravi Soni (34 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Ask to the physician about the difference in BP

Detailed Answer:
Hi. thanks for writing again..

I f your blood pressure is different in both your arms then you should go for further investigations because it may cause many problems later on. You should consult a physician and tell about the problems. If you have already consulted a physician then ask him about the possibility why BP is different, if the difference is more than 10 mmhg then it is significant. there are many vascular causes for that..

Apart from that as per my advice consult a psychiatrist and follow the advice. You should not take benzodiazepine drugs without advice from the psychiatrist. Anxiety can be treated without benzos..

I hope you will find this advice helpful..best of luck..

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

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