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What Causes Heaviness And Tightness In Chest While On Lotrel?
Question: I have been taking Lotrel 10-20 mg since February. I have had heaviness and tightness in my chest for over a week and my pressure today is 151/105. I have been dealing with some fairly serious family issues (my husband going through early stage dementia, one son going through a divorce, and a sister facing foreclosure of her home. So I attributed my symptoms to stress. I had been taking amiodipine besylate for years and am thinking of going back to that. Suggestions?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I carefully reviewed your recent medical history and would like to explain that you are right about an anxiety and psychological stress component in your actual uncontrolled high blood pressure status and chest discomfort.
As your blood pressure has been properly controlled for months now under Lotrel (which in fact is a combination of 10 mg Amlodipine and 20 mg Benazepril) and actually your BP values get high whereas you are under extreme stress, means that your therapy (Lotrel) should not be blamed for this BP disbalance.
Furthermore, it contains also Amlodipine, which you have been taking before.
The only rationale reason for switching from Lotrel to Amlodipine, it the possibility of unlimited dose increase of Benazepril (or any other ACEI or ARB representatives) at least until the stressful period is over.
Meanwhile, I recommend adding an anxiolytic drug (such as Alprazolam 0.25 mg one to twice daily) for relieving your anxiety and its adverse effect on blood pressure values and its underlying complaints.
Coming to this point, I would advise to discuss with your attending doctor on the above mentioned issues, including also the possibility of perfoming a basic cardiac check up (resting ECG and if necessary cardiac enzymes).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I carefully reviewed your recent medical history and would like to explain that you are right about an anxiety and psychological stress component in your actual uncontrolled high blood pressure status and chest discomfort.
As your blood pressure has been properly controlled for months now under Lotrel (which in fact is a combination of 10 mg Amlodipine and 20 mg Benazepril) and actually your BP values get high whereas you are under extreme stress, means that your therapy (Lotrel) should not be blamed for this BP disbalance.
Furthermore, it contains also Amlodipine, which you have been taking before.
The only rationale reason for switching from Lotrel to Amlodipine, it the possibility of unlimited dose increase of Benazepril (or any other ACEI or ARB representatives) at least until the stressful period is over.
Meanwhile, I recommend adding an anxiolytic drug (such as Alprazolam 0.25 mg one to twice daily) for relieving your anxiety and its adverse effect on blood pressure values and its underlying complaints.
Coming to this point, I would advise to discuss with your attending doctor on the above mentioned issues, including also the possibility of perfoming a basic cardiac check up (resting ECG and if necessary cardiac enzymes).
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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