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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Sleeplessness And Shortness Of Breath Be Due To BP Medication?

I was told I had atrial fibrillation in early December, and I m now taking warfarin and two different high blood pressure medications. My cardiologist is pleased with my progress, but recently I have had more trouble sleeping even with relatively mild sleeping pills and I experience shortness of breath easily after very little physical activity. And last night I couildn t sleep because I wasn t breathing easily. I also have sleep apnea and I use a device to help me breathe nightly. Do you think I m taking too much high blood pressure medication?
Mon, 16 Mar 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hi,

Whats your age?
Are you a diabetic?
What was the cause of your atrial fibrillation?

Sleep apnoea and exertional dyspnoea(breathing difficulty after physical activity)can be due to congestive cardiac failure(Which is one cause for atrial fibrillation).

If your b.p levels are within the normal limit,then anti-hypertensives need not be changed as they do not cause sleep disturbances.So i suggest you to get your B.P checked.
To get proper sleep,you can have benzodiazepines like clonazepam.

If your problem still persists,get a chest x-ray done and consult with a pulmonologist to rule out any pulmonary hypertension which can cause sleep apnoea and exertional dyspnoea.

Take care
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Could Sleeplessness And Shortness Of Breath Be Due To BP Medication?

Hi, Whats your age? Are you a diabetic? What was the cause of your atrial fibrillation? Sleep apnoea and exertional dyspnoea(breathing difficulty after physical activity)can be due to congestive cardiac failure(Which is one cause for atrial fibrillation). If your b.p levels are within the normal limit,then anti-hypertensives need not be changed as they do not cause sleep disturbances.So i suggest you to get your B.P checked. To get proper sleep,you can have benzodiazepines like clonazepam. If your problem still persists,get a chest x-ray done and consult with a pulmonologist to rule out any pulmonary hypertension which can cause sleep apnoea and exertional dyspnoea. Take care