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Does Bidil Taken For Hypertension Have Side Effects?
My name is Miles. My doc prescribed bidil for high BP not completely responsive to Coreg and Norvasc. I ve read up on bidil and it sounds scarey. Why is it for African Americans in heart failure? My medical history is a mile long. My BP was nicely under control with a 25 mg dose of metoprolol for a few years and all of a sudden my systolic started to increase. 160/80 not uncommon. The dyalstolic did not change. DQ metoprolol after no response to dosage increase and now take Coreg, 25mg tid and Norvasc, 5mg bid and now bidil added. Don t know the dose yet, have not picked up from pharm. hx oh MI in 2008 with 4 stents placed. I take plavix and Coumadin for MI and DVT respectively. Immunosuppressed for post kidney/pancreas transplant in 2005. Creatinine around 2.1. I m not crazy about throwing more meds at high BP without knowing the cause. Last time my BP increased like this I ultimately had my mi and stents placed. My BP with my drug dose now stays around 135-140/80. Nephrologist wants it under 130 for the kidney. That only happens on occasion. Could you enlighten me on bidil s expectations, please? Thank you, Miles
Mon, 15 Sep 2014
Hi,
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
BiDil (isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine hcl) is a fixed-dose combination of isosorbide dinitrate,a vasodilator with effects on both arteries and veins,and hydralazine hydrochloride,a predominantly arterial vasodilator.
In the African-American heart failure trial (AHeFT) fixed-dose isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine (HISDN) reduced mortality in black patients with advanced systolic heart failure. The predominat cause of heart failure in AHeFT was hypertension. Benefits of HISDN are partially derived from nitric oxide (NO),which results in vaso-relaxation,inhibition of cardiac hyprertrophy, and improved cardiac remodelling.
Possible serious side effects of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil):allergic reaction ,blurred vision and dry mouth,irregular heartbeat; or
blood in your urine or stools;numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of your arms or legs;fainting.However they are less common and generally the drug is well-tolerated by most patients.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D.
Mumbai
Thank you for your query. I can understand your concerns.
BiDil (isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine hcl) is a fixed-dose combination of isosorbide dinitrate,a vasodilator with effects on both arteries and veins,and hydralazine hydrochloride,a predominantly arterial vasodilator.
In the African-American heart failure trial (AHeFT) fixed-dose isosorbide dinitrate and hydralazine (HISDN) reduced mortality in black patients with advanced systolic heart failure. The predominat cause of heart failure in AHeFT was hypertension. Benefits of HISDN are partially derived from nitric oxide (NO),which results in vaso-relaxation,inhibition of cardiac hyprertrophy, and improved cardiac remodelling.
Possible serious side effects of hydralazine and isosorbide dinitrate (BiDil):allergic reaction ,blurred vision and dry mouth,irregular heartbeat; or
blood in your urine or stools;numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness of your arms or legs;fainting.However they are less common and generally the drug is well-tolerated by most patients.
Regards
Dr. T.K. Biswas M.D.
Mumbai
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