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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Does Carvedilol Interact With Amlodipine?

I am researching the side effects of Carvedilol for my cousin who is taking this medication along with Amlodipine, Lisinopril-HCTZ and Simvastatin. She has been diagnosed with end stage renal disease. After taking Carvedilol and Amlodipine together her ankles swell and her legs become very weak. She has fallen several times as her legs give out. The most recent time she fell backward and hit her head on a ceramic tile floor. We have tried to get her doctors to recognize there is a problem but to no avail. What do you suggest?
Wed, 12 Oct 2016
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General & Family Physician 's  Response
Hello.

I can understand your concern. You are right in suspecting an interaction between Carvedilol and Amlodipine. Both of them are medications which cause a fall in the blood pressure. The combined effect of the current doses of both of these may be causing her BP to fall to a level which causes less supply to the brain that in turn may be the cause of her falls. It is important to check her BP in the standing and sitting positions to rule this out. (It is called postural hypotension).

However, the swelling of her legs seems more likely to be due to her end stage renal disease which causes water retention. She may need an additional or a different diuretic. However, before adding a diuretic, her BP medications need to be reviewed as altogether may cause even more fall in BP.

Carvedilol is also known to cause some amount of raise in the levels of potassium. This may be harmful for the heart if she already has end stage renal disease (ESRD). However, if she is on maintainence dialysis, it can be given.

Other possible causes for her fall are irregular heartbeats or vertigo due to benign positional paroxysmal vertigo. These can be confirmed by and ECG and clinical examination respectively.

Overall, I am of the opinion that she does need a review of her medications based on this history.

Hope this helps. Wishing her good health.

Regards,
Dr Geeta
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Does Carvedilol Interact With Amlodipine?

Hello. I can understand your concern. You are right in suspecting an interaction between Carvedilol and Amlodipine. Both of them are medications which cause a fall in the blood pressure. The combined effect of the current doses of both of these may be causing her BP to fall to a level which causes less supply to the brain that in turn may be the cause of her falls. It is important to check her BP in the standing and sitting positions to rule this out. (It is called postural hypotension). However, the swelling of her legs seems more likely to be due to her end stage renal disease which causes water retention. She may need an additional or a different diuretic. However, before adding a diuretic, her BP medications need to be reviewed as altogether may cause even more fall in BP. Carvedilol is also known to cause some amount of raise in the levels of potassium. This may be harmful for the heart if she already has end stage renal disease (ESRD). However, if she is on maintainence dialysis, it can be given. Other possible causes for her fall are irregular heartbeats or vertigo due to benign positional paroxysmal vertigo. These can be confirmed by and ECG and clinical examination respectively. Overall, I am of the opinion that she does need a review of her medications based on this history. Hope this helps. Wishing her good health. Regards, Dr Geeta