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Suggest Treatment For High Blood Pressure, Swollen Tongue And Memory Loss
Question: I have high blood pressure and lately I cannot take any medication that does not make me feel drunk. The medication goes straight to my brain. I get memory loss, my heart seems to pound louder, more rapid breathing and I just am totally disoriented. My cardiologist has tried about 8 different medicines and all have the same result. The only one that seemed to work was Lisinopril which I had been on for years. Last week I ended up in the hospital with a large swollen tongue and my throat closing. They thought it may be the Lisinopril, so I am now at a loss on what to take. My cardiologist told me he could not help me anymore because he had run out of ideas and I should find someone else. Does anyone know why I have such reactions to medications? I am 72 years old, diabetes and on Metformin and am 175 pounds. What kind of doctor should I see next?
Brief Answer:
Brain symptoms may be related to the brain. Anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concerns. Thank you for your question.
Well, since you have been on lisinopril for a long time, it is more likely that it did not cause the swollen tongue and angioedema.
Since it is claimed that you are allergic to so many medications and, I am sure, if eight different medicines have been tried, practically all of the drug classes were tried, then I will provide my insight.
A beta-blocker should be tried in the therapy, and I would recommend, in your case, propranolol (one of the oldest beta-blocker, but very effective). Also, diuretics are known to cause allergies in extremely rare cases, if none.
However, if you had been my patient, I would have had you admitted in the department of internal medicine, and would install treatment in in-hospital care, so that we can rule out the "dangerous" drugs to you and confirm the "safe" drugs for you.
The pounding louder of the heart, more rapid breathing and feeling disoriented, are signs of anxiety. If you may remember a situation where you have been scared, frightened or startled, you may recall that you have felt the same way. These are not symptoms related to any anti-hypertensive medication.
I would like to add also that the feeling of being drunk and memory loss are two symptoms that also may be related to any organic condition of the brain, with no relation to anti-hypertensive drugs. There are certain age-related conditions of the brain tissue that are often accompanied with these symptoms. My recommendation regarding this is that you should also consult a neurologist.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Brain symptoms may be related to the brain. Anxiety.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to HCM. I understand your concerns. Thank you for your question.
Well, since you have been on lisinopril for a long time, it is more likely that it did not cause the swollen tongue and angioedema.
Since it is claimed that you are allergic to so many medications and, I am sure, if eight different medicines have been tried, practically all of the drug classes were tried, then I will provide my insight.
A beta-blocker should be tried in the therapy, and I would recommend, in your case, propranolol (one of the oldest beta-blocker, but very effective). Also, diuretics are known to cause allergies in extremely rare cases, if none.
However, if you had been my patient, I would have had you admitted in the department of internal medicine, and would install treatment in in-hospital care, so that we can rule out the "dangerous" drugs to you and confirm the "safe" drugs for you.
The pounding louder of the heart, more rapid breathing and feeling disoriented, are signs of anxiety. If you may remember a situation where you have been scared, frightened or startled, you may recall that you have felt the same way. These are not symptoms related to any anti-hypertensive medication.
I would like to add also that the feeling of being drunk and memory loss are two symptoms that also may be related to any organic condition of the brain, with no relation to anti-hypertensive drugs. There are certain age-related conditions of the brain tissue that are often accompanied with these symptoms. My recommendation regarding this is that you should also consult a neurologist.
I hope I was helpful with my answer. I am happy to help, if you have follow-up questions.
Best regards,
Dr. Meriton
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
Answered by
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