Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Medication For High BP In An Elderly
Question: i am the care taker for my my 88 year old mother who has a history of high blood pressure. currently her systolic is running normal to slitely elevated but the diostolic is running low 160/45 150/52. my question is would there be a better Rx or Rx's to try to help level this out?? current Rx's listed below
Brief Answer:
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that this big difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (also called pulse pressure), is related to the age.
I would also like to know her symptoms. Does she feel dizziness, lightheadedness or fatigue?
I agree with you that her therapy may influence in her low diastolic blood pressure values. But before coming into this conclusion, I would first recommend performing some tests to investigate for other possible disorders (beside age), that may lead to this clinical scenario:
- a chest X ray study
- a cardiac ultrasound and resting ECG, to examine her heart function and structure
- complete blood count for anemia
- fasting glucose for diabetes
- kidney and liver function tests
- blood electrolytes
- thyroid hormone levels.
If all these tests result normal and she has symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness, I would recommend discussing with her doctor on the possibility of stopping amlodipine, and switching to another anti-hypertensive drug, like moxonidine.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I passed carefully through your question and would explain that this big difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure (also called pulse pressure), is related to the age.
I would also like to know her symptoms. Does she feel dizziness, lightheadedness or fatigue?
I agree with you that her therapy may influence in her low diastolic blood pressure values. But before coming into this conclusion, I would first recommend performing some tests to investigate for other possible disorders (beside age), that may lead to this clinical scenario:
- a chest X ray study
- a cardiac ultrasound and resting ECG, to examine her heart function and structure
- complete blood count for anemia
- fasting glucose for diabetes
- kidney and liver function tests
- blood electrolytes
- thyroid hormone levels.
If all these tests result normal and she has symptoms like dizziness or lightheadedness, I would recommend discussing with her doctor on the possibility of stopping amlodipine, and switching to another anti-hypertensive drug, like moxonidine.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
