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What Should I Do About Dizziness And Headaches While On Losartan And Bystolic For BP?
Question: Dr. Sharka,
My doctor has prescribed BP meds (Bestolic, Losartan) which create a terrible balance (dizziness) problem + terrible headaches. I've fallen several times already. He said they are doing a very good job controlling the BP but I want to stop taking them and take something else. What should I do?
My doctor has prescribed BP meds (Bestolic, Losartan) which create a terrible balance (dizziness) problem + terrible headaches. I've fallen several times already. He said they are doing a very good job controlling the BP but I want to stop taking them and take something else. What should I do?
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I would explain that both these drugs may lead to dizziness as a common adverse effect. For this reason, I would recommend trying to stop first one of them and see if your situation improve. I would like to know your actual heart rate and blood pressure values.
Bystolic acts mainly on the heart rate by reducing it, while losartan acts mainly on blood pressure values by reducing it.
Coming to this point, we can try stopping losartan and see if your situation improves. In the meantime, it would be necessary starting another antihypertensive drug (I would suggest amlodipine or lercanidipine) to help maintain your blood pressure under control. If this does not help, I would recommend stopping Bystolic and see if your situation (dizziness) improves.
In the meantime, you should closely monitor your blood pressure and heart rate values.
If stopping both these drugs does not help improve your symptoms, I would recommend consulting with an ENT specialist in order to exclude a possible inner ear disorder, which could be the cause of dizziness, and also perform some further tests : complete blood count, a Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries, a cervical spine X ray study and thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Wishing all the best.
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I would explain that both these drugs may lead to dizziness as a common adverse effect. For this reason, I would recommend trying to stop first one of them and see if your situation improve. I would like to know your actual heart rate and blood pressure values.
Bystolic acts mainly on the heart rate by reducing it, while losartan acts mainly on blood pressure values by reducing it.
Coming to this point, we can try stopping losartan and see if your situation improves. In the meantime, it would be necessary starting another antihypertensive drug (I would suggest amlodipine or lercanidipine) to help maintain your blood pressure under control. If this does not help, I would recommend stopping Bystolic and see if your situation (dizziness) improves.
In the meantime, you should closely monitor your blood pressure and heart rate values.
If stopping both these drugs does not help improve your symptoms, I would recommend consulting with an ENT specialist in order to exclude a possible inner ear disorder, which could be the cause of dizziness, and also perform some further tests : complete blood count, a Doppler ultrasound of the carotid arteries, a cervical spine X ray study and thyroid hormone levels for possible thyroid gland dysfunction.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Wishing all the best.
Regards,
Dr. Iliri
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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