Blood Pressure Medication: WHAT ARE THE REGULAR SIDE EFFECTS OF HIGH-BLOOD PRESSURE?
The side effects of various kinds of blood pressure medicine vary.
Diuretics
Hypokalemia, a condition brought on by diuretics that cause increased potassium loss, can impair the performance of muscles, especially the heart muscles.
With diuretics, there is also a higher chance of developing gout, as well as a chance of experiencing weakness, thirst, dehydration, and increased urination.
It’s also possible for blood sugar levels to change.
Thiazide diuretics (like hydrochlorothiazide) can cause skin responses, some of which can be very severe.
Spironolactone (Aldactone), a potassium-saving diuretic, can make men’s breasts expand.
Beta-blockers
Blood Pressure Medication
Some of the side effects of beta-blockers can be attributed to the fact that they reduce the heart rate.
It’s possible to feel weak, faint, dizzy, or tired.
Shortness of breath, breathing difficulties, and chest pain are additional side effects of beta-blockers because they also have an impact on the respiratory system.
Beta-blockers shouldn’t be abruptly stopped because doing so could cause a heart attack or rapid death.
ACE blockers
Blood Pressure Medication
The most frequent adverse reaction to ACE Inhibitors is a peculiar one: a dry cough. It usually disappears with continued medication use, but it can take weeks.
When blood pressure is excessively low, ACE inhibitors may cause hypotension, which can impair kidney function and cause headaches, lightheadedness, and fainting.
Blockers of the angiotensin II receptor
Blood Pressure Medication
Hyperkalemia, or an elevated potassium level in the blood, is the angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) adverse effect that occurs the most frequently.
Along with weariness, dizziness is another typical symptom.
There have also been reports of upper respiratory tract infections and gastrointestinal problems like upset stomach and diarrhea.
Blockers of calcium channels
With calcium channel blockers, up to one-third of patients may experience the following negative effects:
ankle and other extremity swelling, flushing, and lightheadedness.
Heartburn and nausea are two additional frequent adverse effects.
Alpha-blockers
An alpha-blocker’s most prevalent, brief, but upsetting initial side effect is
hypotension while posturing.
Standing up causes a dramatic reduction in blood pressure.
It can be severe enough to make you feel faint or dizzy.
Alpha-blockers might also make you feel weak and increase your heart rate.
Methyldopa
Although most patients tolerate methyldopa well, some may have
headaches, dry mouth, sleepiness, weakness, and vertigo.
agonists in the brain
About a third of individuals on clonidine (Catapres) will develop tiredness, headaches, and sleepiness, while up to 40% of patients may experience dry mouth.
Constipation, lightheadedness, and local skin responses when using the Catapres-TTS skin patch are some additional common adverse effects.
Use of reserpine is associated with adverse reactions that may include nightmares, stuffy nose, sadness, and difficulty falling asleep. Also probable are heartburn and diarrhea.
Diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems, as well as lightheadedness and sleepiness, can be brought on by guanadrel and guanethidine.
Vasodilators
The use of minoxidil may cause excessive body hair growth, weight gain, and wooziness.
Headaches, heart palpitations, eye puffiness, and joint pain are all associated with hydralazine use.
IS IT SAFE TO TAKE MEDICATION FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE WHILE GETTING PREGNANT?
Certain high blood pressure medications should never be taken while pregnant because they could harm the mother and the growing fetus. These medicines consist of
ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers.
Reserpine may potentially be dangerous during pregnancy and should only be taken when no other alternatives exist.
Methyldopa, as well as maybe some beta-blockers like labetalol and diuretics, are safe drugs to take.
IS IT SAFE TO DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE TAKING MEDICATIONS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
Some high blood pressure drugs first make people feel sleepy, lightheaded, and woozy. Some even make people dizzy after the first dose. Usually, the negative effects of these medications subside as the body gets used to them. It could be dangerous to drink alcohol during the initial stages of antihypertensive therapy because alcohol can also induce
lightheadedness, sleepiness, and vertigo.
Additionally, drinking alcohol causes a brief increase in blood pressure that could become persistent if it exceeds the “moderate” range.
CAN A HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AFFECT WEIGHT?
In fact, some high blood pressure drugs can make you gain weight. Older beta-blockers like propranolol (Inderal) and atenolol (Tenormin) are common offenders.
There may be a number of causes for this, one of which is the possibility that the drug may make the patient feel exhausted and less inclined to exercise.
Weight gain is another side effect of minoxidil tablets (Loniten), which should only be taken when other antihypertensive drugs have failed.
Doxazosin (Cardura) is known to have a number of adverse effects, including weight gain. Weight loss is more likely to result from diuretics.
ATRIAL FIBRILLATION: WHAT IS IT?
An irregular heartbeat, or AFib, is one that increases the risk of blood clots, heart failure, stroke, and other consequences.
Describe AFib. The abnormal heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation (AFib) is brought on by a malfunction in your heart’s electrical system. Your heart contracts normally when electricity travels from the top chambers (atria) to the bottom chambers (ventricles).
RED FLAG: UNEVEN PULSE
A fluttering sensation and an irregular heartbeat are two AFib symptoms.
An erratic heartbeat is brought on by atrial fibrillation. You could have a “fluttering” sensation when you check your pulse. You will frequently experience heart racing when atrial fibrillation is first diagnosed or inadequately controlled by medication. If this rapid, irregular heart rate is not treated and regulated right away, it could be hazardous. Because of the rapid and erratic heartbeat associated with AFib, your body may not receive an appropriate supply of blood.
NORMAL HEART RHYTHM VS. AFIB
AFib patients have a fast and erratic heart rate. Electricity travels from the top of your heart to the bottom of your heart during a typical heartbeat, contracting your heart muscle and pumping blood through your body. The bottom chambers of your heart contract erratically and the electricity flows erratically when you have AFib. This ‘fluttering’ or ‘fibrillation’ is one of the hallmark AFib symptoms.
