Should I Stop Norvasc Inspite Of Having Normal BP Readings?

Posted on Fri, 28 Aug 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 28 Aug 2015 Answered on

Mon, 14 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I started norvasc a few months ago due to 150/90 in doctors office. . Half of a 2.5 daily in am. ( based on my own cutting of tablet due to dizziness). I walk 5 miles / a day /male-age62 weight 170. No alcohol. No nicotine -no caffeine -my pressure is about 160 /95 in am at 6 when I arise. It goes to 140/90 by 830. After the norvasc dose at 9 am only at 1.25 it is as low as 126/65 in the afternoons. It has to be helping because I stopped it two weeks ago deciding that it wasn't doing anything -- 4 days later it went to 170/100 and I initiated norvasc again starting with a 2.5 that day only. Perhaps I should take it at night to avoid the am increase ---the web says there is no data that a 1.25 does anything but am thinking for me I must be sensitive. Am thinking I need the 1.25 again in the evening for night time ----thanks for comments

Answered by Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
norvasc dosages with BP fluctuations

Detailed Answer:
Hi!

Welcome to health care magic!

I am Dr. Saddiq Ul Abidin. I have read your problem in detail and will try to help you in best way possible.

First of all, none of the readings you mentioned were low enough to stop the medication. Most of the readings fall under uncontrolled ones so taking an antihypertensive regularly is almost a compulsion for you.

Dizziness, yes it is one of the established side effects of norvasc aka amlodipine.

Having such fluctuations in morning and evening blood pressures, so you can switch your antihypertensive.

Since you had serious issues with lisinopril so that whole group of ACE inhibitors or ARB should be avoided.

You can switch to a diuretic like hydrochlorothiazide or continue with same group which norvasc belong to. If you were my patient i would have either switched your drug to adalat LA 30 mg in am initially, and if evening or early morning high readings were seen so advising in in both an and pm, or would have considered shifting norvasc 2.5 mg at night and adding diuretic in the morning.

Hope this has answered your query, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask. kindly rate me generously before closing, and leave your feedback if possible.

Regards,
Dr. Saddiq Ul abidin.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (3 hours later)

I realize the nitrates are the only ones totally contraindicated on the ED drugs like Levitra, however, are you comfortable with your patients taking a small amount of Levitra, say 2.5 or 5 mg weekly for ED, at at least 8 hours from the anti hypertensive dose.?
Thank you.

Answered by Dr. Saddiq Ulabidin (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
levitra use with nitrate or antihypertensives

Detailed Answer:
Hi! Levitra cause muscle of vessels to relax, and same does nitrates or antihypertensives directly or indirectly.

Using nitrate with levitra can be fatal as it increases preloaded on heart by dilation of vessels and thus increases work load of heart and make it fatigued.

Using antihypertensives alongside levitra may have much more effects on lowering blood pressures more than direct effects in heart.

Normally a gap of 24-48 hours is suggested to decrease adequate blood levels of the levitra to cause any pharmacological effects.

So a gap of of 6 hours will not be sufficient or carries same risks as been explained earlier. I would rather recommend skipping the dose of antihypertensive for a day, or take it after monitoring blood pressure but atleast after 12 hours.

Hope you got answer to your queries. Kindly rate generously before closing the discussion and leave the review if possible. Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina