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Taking Losartin, Atenolol And Amlodipine. Continue Medication?
Question: my 98 year old mother take 50mg losartin once a day
amlodipine besylate 5mg per day
atenolol 100mg once a day
hydrochlorothiazide once a day
Her blood pressure is about 110/55
Are all these pills necessary for someone her age? She is quite tired all day
also, and can't sleep well. I learned that she has GFR of 41. Last January it was 48.
Otherwise, she is in quite good health. Lives in an apartment in my building.
Gets her food ready most days and showers and dresses herself. Never had a stroke, heart attack or cancer.
amlodipine besylate 5mg per day
atenolol 100mg once a day
hydrochlorothiazide once a day
Her blood pressure is about 110/55
Are all these pills necessary for someone her age? She is quite tired all day
also, and can't sleep well. I learned that she has GFR of 41. Last January it was 48.
Otherwise, she is in quite good health. Lives in an apartment in my building.
Gets her food ready most days and showers and dresses herself. Never had a stroke, heart attack or cancer.
Brief Answer:
No, the medicines should be reduced.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic!
You are right in wondering if your mother needs all those medicines at her age. All the medicines that you have mentioned are used to lower the blood pressure and were probably prescribed to her many years back when she used to have high blood pressure. However, currently her blood pressure is on the lower side and this might be responsible for making her feel tired. Considering her low blood pressure and gradual fall in GFR, in my opinion, the antihypertensive medicines should be reduced in dosage and may even be stopped. However, this must be done slowly and under medical supervision.
In my opinion, the first medicine that should be lowered and ultimately stopped, is atenolol. This is for the following reasons:
1) Atenolol is almost completely excreted by the kidneys and so in people with poor renal function, the levels may rise dangerously.
2) The dose of atenolol that your mother is taking is higher than what should be advisable for an elderly person with poor kidney function.
3) Atenolol is not the first line agent for treatment of hypertension, unlike the other medicines she is taking.
4) The adverse effects of atenolol include low heart rate, fatigue and depression. Some of these may be contributing to her tiredness.
So, I suggest that you review her medication regimen with her doctor and try to get her off atenolol first. Once that is done, depending on her blood pressure, decision may be taken on whether to continue, reduce or stop the other three medications.
Hope this answers your query. Please feel free to ask if you need any clarifications.
Best wishes.
Dr Preeti Parakh
MD Psychiatry
No, the medicines should be reduced.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Welcome to Healthcare Magic!
You are right in wondering if your mother needs all those medicines at her age. All the medicines that you have mentioned are used to lower the blood pressure and were probably prescribed to her many years back when she used to have high blood pressure. However, currently her blood pressure is on the lower side and this might be responsible for making her feel tired. Considering her low blood pressure and gradual fall in GFR, in my opinion, the antihypertensive medicines should be reduced in dosage and may even be stopped. However, this must be done slowly and under medical supervision.
In my opinion, the first medicine that should be lowered and ultimately stopped, is atenolol. This is for the following reasons:
1) Atenolol is almost completely excreted by the kidneys and so in people with poor renal function, the levels may rise dangerously.
2) The dose of atenolol that your mother is taking is higher than what should be advisable for an elderly person with poor kidney function.
3) Atenolol is not the first line agent for treatment of hypertension, unlike the other medicines she is taking.
4) The adverse effects of atenolol include low heart rate, fatigue and depression. Some of these may be contributing to her tiredness.
So, I suggest that you review her medication regimen with her doctor and try to get her off atenolol first. Once that is done, depending on her blood pressure, decision may be taken on whether to continue, reduce or stop the other three medications.
Hope this answers your query. Please feel free to ask if you need any clarifications.
Best wishes.
Dr Preeti Parakh
MD Psychiatry
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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