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Suggest Treatment For Accidental Ingestion Of Double Dosage Of BP Medication

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Posted on Thu, 27 Oct 2016
Question: I accidently took a 2nd dose of my bp medication. 75 mg of atenolol, 5 mg of amlodipine, and 100 mg of losartan. Am I in trounble.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (12 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
you may have low blood pressure or heart rate...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

the most likely effect of taking a double dose of these medicines is low blood pressure and/or heart rate. Atenolol is the drug that reduces the heart rate. If you've taken 75mg of atenolol and took another dose soon after the first then be warned that 150mg of atenolol is a high dose and you should be vigilant for low heart rate. If your heart rate drops below 50 then urgent medical measures might have to be taken.

Regarding the blood pressure, all of the aforementioned drugs may reduce it. If you don't feel like fainting and your systolic blood pressure is above 90mmHg then you'll probably do fine. In any case you'd better visit the local ER to get as many drugs as they can out of your stomach. The lethal doses are higher than the doses you've taken but what can be safe for a patient can be very serious for another.

I hope you find my comments helpful!
Don't waste any more time. Visit the ER as soon as possible!

Best wishes!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 minutes later)
I had one dosage wrong. I take 250 of atenolol every day not 75. Sorry
doctor
Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (5 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
this sounds too high...

Detailed Answer:
250mg sounds too high. Most patients take less than 100mg and 200mg is the maximum dosage. Are you sure about the dosage?

Anyway, the same advice applies. Taking a high dosage of atenolol increases the risk for various side effects, the most immediate being a low heart rate. Since this low heart rate cannot be reversed until the drug is cleared from your body, you'd better visit the ER for assessment and perhaps removal of stomach contents.

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

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis

Internal Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1999

Answered : 3809 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Accidental Ingestion Of Double Dosage Of BP Medication

Brief Answer: you may have low blood pressure or heart rate... Detailed Answer: Hello, the most likely effect of taking a double dose of these medicines is low blood pressure and/or heart rate. Atenolol is the drug that reduces the heart rate. If you've taken 75mg of atenolol and took another dose soon after the first then be warned that 150mg of atenolol is a high dose and you should be vigilant for low heart rate. If your heart rate drops below 50 then urgent medical measures might have to be taken. Regarding the blood pressure, all of the aforementioned drugs may reduce it. If you don't feel like fainting and your systolic blood pressure is above 90mmHg then you'll probably do fine. In any case you'd better visit the local ER to get as many drugs as they can out of your stomach. The lethal doses are higher than the doses you've taken but what can be safe for a patient can be very serious for another. I hope you find my comments helpful! Don't waste any more time. Visit the ER as soon as possible! Best wishes!