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What Causes Drop In BP Levels After Taking Bactrim-DS?
Question: My 70 yr old mother takes Olvance 20 1 tablet daily for hypertension since last 2 years. Her BP hovers around 125/72 after taking this tablet. But she has low BP(98/53) for 2 days after finishing a 5 day course of Bactrim DS. She took the antibiotic course for dental infection. Also she is having a constant heaviness in the head.
Should we be worried? Should she stop the High BP medicine temporarily. What else do you recommend.
Could it be a symptom on an impending heart problem. I Please advise?
Should we be worried? Should she stop the High BP medicine temporarily. What else do you recommend.
Could it be a symptom on an impending heart problem. I Please advise?
Brief Answer:
Improve hydration and protein rich nutritious diet.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Her blood pressure was well in control with medication before infection phase.
2. Now due to weakness, dehydration and reduced nutrition, she is having low blood pressure.
3. Not to be worried. It is not a symptoms of heart problem.
4. Need to improve her hydration (atleast 5-6 liters of water/day for the next few days) along with protein rich nutrition. No salt or spicy diet restriction is necessary. Mild exercises along with rest should help.
5. If she has dizziness, and there is no improvement with good hydration and nutrition, the medication can be stopped for a day only. However, monitoring blood pressure every 6-8 hours is essential.
If hydration and nutrition is improved along with good rest, symptoms will improve. She is weak, as she is recovering from infection. Not to worry.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Improve hydration and protein rich nutritious diet.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking.
I am Dr. Prakash HM and I will be answering your query.
Based on your query, my opinion is as follows:
1. Her blood pressure was well in control with medication before infection phase.
2. Now due to weakness, dehydration and reduced nutrition, she is having low blood pressure.
3. Not to be worried. It is not a symptoms of heart problem.
4. Need to improve her hydration (atleast 5-6 liters of water/day for the next few days) along with protein rich nutrition. No salt or spicy diet restriction is necessary. Mild exercises along with rest should help.
5. If she has dizziness, and there is no improvement with good hydration and nutrition, the medication can be stopped for a day only. However, monitoring blood pressure every 6-8 hours is essential.
If hydration and nutrition is improved along with good rest, symptoms will improve. She is weak, as she is recovering from infection. Not to worry.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thanks for your detailed response. I do have a few further queries as below.
1. My mother did not take her BP medicine(Olvance 20) yesterday morning after breakfast. Her BP today morning was 105/62. So she did not take the medicine again today morning. At 4:00 pm today evening her BP was 114/67. In case her BP tomorrow morning turns out to be similar to today morning can she skip the BP medicine again? What is the harm of skipping the medicine?
2. Since a month, my mother complains of weakness after breakfast. She feels Ok when she wakes up at around 6:00 am, but after breakfast at 10:00 am she starts feeling very weak. She again feels better around 12:00 noon. Her blood sugar results have always been normal. Can you please suggest a reason for this? Please advise a remedy for the same too?
1. My mother did not take her BP medicine(Olvance 20) yesterday morning after breakfast. Her BP today morning was 105/62. So she did not take the medicine again today morning. At 4:00 pm today evening her BP was 114/67. In case her BP tomorrow morning turns out to be similar to today morning can she skip the BP medicine again? What is the harm of skipping the medicine?
2. Since a month, my mother complains of weakness after breakfast. She feels Ok when she wakes up at around 6:00 am, but after breakfast at 10:00 am she starts feeling very weak. She again feels better around 12:00 noon. Her blood sugar results have always been normal. Can you please suggest a reason for this? Please advise a remedy for the same too?
Brief Answer:
Follow up blood pressure
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again.
1. She is on a moderate dose of Blood pressure medication. Olvance can be active upto 5 days at low rates, so her blood pressure could be under moderate control. Nothing harm in skipping the medicine at present, as the blood pressure is low, and its low due to her dehydration and weakness. However, if the morning BP crosses, 130/80, better to take the medication. Do keep a watch on her blood pressure.
2. Weakness after breakfast could be due to blood supply being more towards the gut (for food absorption), as other organs are at rest. This could present as weakness. Hopefully, it is a nutritious diet, and not a weight control diet. Do check if she has any abdominal pain/ gastritis/ any other specific symptoms. As blood sugar is normal, there is possibly no other cause. Mild walking after breakfast, could improve energy levels, by increasing blood supply to the muscles. This will reduce weakness.
Hope, her hemoglobin levels are normal.
Hydration is important, do concentrate on it.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Follow up blood pressure
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for asking again.
1. She is on a moderate dose of Blood pressure medication. Olvance can be active upto 5 days at low rates, so her blood pressure could be under moderate control. Nothing harm in skipping the medicine at present, as the blood pressure is low, and its low due to her dehydration and weakness. However, if the morning BP crosses, 130/80, better to take the medication. Do keep a watch on her blood pressure.
2. Weakness after breakfast could be due to blood supply being more towards the gut (for food absorption), as other organs are at rest. This could present as weakness. Hopefully, it is a nutritious diet, and not a weight control diet. Do check if she has any abdominal pain/ gastritis/ any other specific symptoms. As blood sugar is normal, there is possibly no other cause. Mild walking after breakfast, could improve energy levels, by increasing blood supply to the muscles. This will reduce weakness.
Hope, her hemoglobin levels are normal.
Hydration is important, do concentrate on it.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Doctor,
Thanks a lot for your advice. My Mom has been regularly monitoring her BP over the last 2 days. It was 128/71 yesterday morning, 128/69 tomorrow evering. Today morning it was 134/71. Therefore as per your advice she has resumed the High BP med today morning.
I have been emphasizing her to eat a nutritious diet too.
She does not have abdominal pain but has irregular bowel movements since a long time. She is not constipated but her bowel movement does not happen regularly (not everyday/ sometimes at different times in the day) and is also not adequate. She takes Triphala to resolve this but it is still an ongoing problem. Can you please suggest some remedy for this.
Also her haemoglobin values were normal when we got it checked some months back.
Thanks a lot for your advice. My Mom has been regularly monitoring her BP over the last 2 days. It was 128/71 yesterday morning, 128/69 tomorrow evering. Today morning it was 134/71. Therefore as per your advice she has resumed the High BP med today morning.
I have been emphasizing her to eat a nutritious diet too.
She does not have abdominal pain but has irregular bowel movements since a long time. She is not constipated but her bowel movement does not happen regularly (not everyday/ sometimes at different times in the day) and is also not adequate. She takes Triphala to resolve this but it is still an ongoing problem. Can you please suggest some remedy for this.
Also her haemoglobin values were normal when we got it checked some months back.
Brief Answer:
Should improve diet, if she is worried about it
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.
Do continue with limb elevation and diuretics for swelling reduction. As swelling reduces, redness and ulceration will reduce.
Regarding bowel movements, regular nutritious and fiber rich diet is essential. Triphala may be continued for overall well being. However, it has no specific role in bowel movement.
Diet, regular sleep, good hydration ( 4-6 liters water per day minimum) mild morning exercises and warm water in morning can help in bowel movements. If no fiber is present in diet, stool volume will be low and hence when volume increases, bowel movements will occur.
Increasing fiber in diet through fruits and vegetables will be helpful. However, not to be worried too much about it as up to two times a week bowel movement is also adequate. She does not have constipation and so not to be worried. If she is keen on improvement, fiber in diet along with improved nutrition is essential.
No constipation, so no laxatives.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
Should improve diet, if she is worried about it
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for asking again.
Do continue with limb elevation and diuretics for swelling reduction. As swelling reduces, redness and ulceration will reduce.
Regarding bowel movements, regular nutritious and fiber rich diet is essential. Triphala may be continued for overall well being. However, it has no specific role in bowel movement.
Diet, regular sleep, good hydration ( 4-6 liters water per day minimum) mild morning exercises and warm water in morning can help in bowel movements. If no fiber is present in diet, stool volume will be low and hence when volume increases, bowel movements will occur.
Increasing fiber in diet through fruits and vegetables will be helpful. However, not to be worried too much about it as up to two times a week bowel movement is also adequate. She does not have constipation and so not to be worried. If she is keen on improvement, fiber in diet along with improved nutrition is essential.
No constipation, so no laxatives.
Hope it helps.
Any further queries, here to help again.
Dr. Prakash HM
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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