Suggest Treatment For High BP And Vaginal Irritation

Posted on Mon, 28 Sep 2015

Question: My wife was diagnosed with Angina at age 52. She rarely gets an Angina pain and uses her nitro spray if she has one and this is effective. However, in recent years (she is now 73) she has had high blood pressure, and her GP has tried various meds in an attempt to control this. She has been on Candesartan 32mg one a day with 2.5mg of Bendroflumethiazide. This has not been able to control her blood pressure at normal levels. On 27th July 2015 she completed 14 days of AM and PM BP readings and at least 50% of the readings were normal while the highest of the remainder was 148/105/87. The GP gave her a prescription for 5mg Nifedipine twice a day, in addition to the Candesartan and Bendroflumethiazide. While this brought her BP down to normal levels, unfortunately the side effects were throat/larynx pain, eye pain, and vaginal irritation, and deafness in one ear and about 50% loss of hearing in the other ear. This was reported back to the GP the response was "There is no infection that can cause these problems, please go and see a dentist". No dental appointment until 17.Nov so we have stopped taking Nifedipine. Is this the correct thing to do?

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
It is a rational choice changing this medication with a safer alternative

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Thank you for asking on HCM!

I read carefully your question and would explain that there is no medical based evidence to support hearing loss and throat/larynx pain and eye pain as potential adverse effects of nifedipine.

I would suggest to discuss with your doctor for investigating other potential alternative causes of such a clinical symptomatology.

I recommend a careful physical examination by the ENT specialist, performing an audiogram, a complete blood count, a throat discharge culture, a microbial vaginal culture, PCR, sedimentation rate.

A comprehensive differential diagnosis should be performed to exclude many alternative causes like: a viral infection, an allergic reaction or an immunological disorder.

As there are suspicions uncertainties regarding this medication, it is a rational choice changing this medication with a safer alternative.

Hope to have been helpful!

Best regards,

Dr. Iliri

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (4 hours later)

Many thanks for your reply. It seems that there are other avenues for us to follow that you have referred to in your text. We will take up your suggestions with our GP to seek a solution to her problem.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (8 hours later)

Brief Answer:
You are welcome!

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

I am glad to have been helpful!

Feel free to ask any other questions whenever you need!

Best wishes,

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar