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I Will Soon Have Routine YAG Laser Surgery On Eyes.

Posted on Fri, 28 Feb 2020

Question: I will soon have routine YAG laser surgery on eyes. I have high blood pressure (roughly 160/95 but can drop to 140/90) but not taking HBP meds or any other meds. Have bisoprolol (10mg) and atenolol from 2 year old prescription (I did not finish either bottle). Can I take either med for a couple of days prior to surgery to lower my blood pressure just long enough to qualify for the surgery and then immediately stop the drug post-op? I do not like HBP meds and will not agree to take them long term.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (2 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello!

Welcome to Ask a Doctor service!

I understand your concern and would explain that it is Ok to start bisoprolol a week prior to the intervention in order to help maintain normal blood pressure and heart rate values ( this drug can help against anxiety too).

Later, you can start reducing the dose to hatlf a week after the surgery, and then stop it after another week, in order to reduce possible rebound tachycardia.

Anyway, with your actual blood pressure values, I would strongly recommend continuing taking blood pressure medication, because your blood pressure values are high, indicating an increased cardiovascular risk.

A natural way to lower blood pressure values without the need of medication would be to reduce maximally salt and caffeine intake and try to lose some weight. Regular physical exercise is also very conc in this regard.

Hope you will find this answer helpful!

Kind regards,

Dr.Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Ilir Sharka (24 hours later)

Thanks for your advice Dr. Sharka. Just to close the circle on our consultation I will tell you that at 0600 this morning my BP was 144/95/68. I took 5mg (split a 10mg tab) Zebeta. At 1200 I went to the gym for 30 min weight lifting. At 1300 my BP was 118/76/77. Great! But, I had some swelling in my r/l leg/calf and ankle, my left ankle was turning red, the skin was rough and itchy. Small raw/sore throat. These are some of the same side effects that I experienced with Norvasc, but Norvasc was terrible and I quickly quit the drug. It took me over a year for my ankle/leg to start to return to normal color and size. I tell you this because that is the reason I do not want to take HBP meds...I do not want to live the rest of my life with ugly, painful, disfigured skin and limbs. Chlorthalidone (a diuretic) precipitated a painful gout attack. I will stop Zebeta soon. Thanks agai for your advice - it will do what I want for my eye op.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

Thank you for the additional information!

I understand your concern and would explain that norvasc has a totally different pattern of adverse effects compared to Zebeta.

Zebeta does not cause leg swelling normally.

The symptoms that you are experiencing could be related to a possible allergic reaction to Zebeta or just local inflammation related to physical activity and not to the drug.

Anyway, this drug will certainly help maintain normal blood pressure values and heart rate values during your surgery.

And if similar adverse effects occur while taking it again, I would not recommend taking it any more because of possible intolerance ( allergic reaction).

Hope you will find this information helpful!

Wishing all the best,

Dr. Iliri

Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar