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Taking Irbesartan For Blood Pressure Daily. Feeling Weak And Obese. At What Blood Pressure Reading Should The Medicine Be Taken?
Question: I am 62 and my doctor thinks I need to be on blood pressure irbesartan 300 mg. My blood pressure is normally under 140/90. He said I should always take my blood pressure medicine. Tonight my blood pressure was 92/50 in left arm. I took it in the right arm and it was 96/43. Heart rate was 71. I took 1/4 pill earlier in the day when it was 129/70. At what blood pressure reading should I take my blood pressure medicine? I feel so weak when it gets like this, it really scares me. What do I need to do? I am a woman and obese.
Brief Answer:
need to look for the causes as detailed below
Detailed Answer:
Respected Ma'm
If you are having this much of low blood pressure for the first time and you have any trouble or symptoms, please go to emergency room (ER) and get a consultation. Else the following discussion is there:-
1. I concur with first advise of your doctor; Since you are a diabetic and hypertensive (high blood pressure) you must take this drug and you must take it regularly. These medicines are protective not only as blood pressure lowering agents but they protect your kidneys also. Of course, the dosage has to be tailored as per your blood pressure levels and some biochemical parameters..
2. The dosage should be fixed by your doctor as per your body's response. You must not alter it's dose on day to day basis. That is not recommended.
3. You are correct; that you will feel weak with this much of drop in blood pressure.
4. The reasons for these fluctuations can be wrong instrument reading, faulty techniques/ instruments, poor compliance for intake of medicines, associated kidney disease, associated neuropathies (nerve disorders) or large changes in fluid/salt intake. Alcohol intake is one common factor behind such large fluctuations.
I recommend you to consult your doctor on priority, so that he can look into the reasons for such large fluctuations and can rectify them accordingly.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder Singh
need to look for the causes as detailed below
Detailed Answer:
Respected Ma'm
If you are having this much of low blood pressure for the first time and you have any trouble or symptoms, please go to emergency room (ER) and get a consultation. Else the following discussion is there:-
1. I concur with first advise of your doctor; Since you are a diabetic and hypertensive (high blood pressure) you must take this drug and you must take it regularly. These medicines are protective not only as blood pressure lowering agents but they protect your kidneys also. Of course, the dosage has to be tailored as per your blood pressure levels and some biochemical parameters..
2. The dosage should be fixed by your doctor as per your body's response. You must not alter it's dose on day to day basis. That is not recommended.
3. You are correct; that you will feel weak with this much of drop in blood pressure.
4. The reasons for these fluctuations can be wrong instrument reading, faulty techniques/ instruments, poor compliance for intake of medicines, associated kidney disease, associated neuropathies (nerve disorders) or large changes in fluid/salt intake. Alcohol intake is one common factor behind such large fluctuations.
I recommend you to consult your doctor on priority, so that he can look into the reasons for such large fluctuations and can rectify them accordingly.
Hope this helps.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder Singh
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
My blood pressure hardly ever runs high. I do not drink. The only medications I take are what my doctor prescribes for me to take. However, it is hard to take the prescribed dosage when it drops my bloodpressure this low. The blood pressure machine might be off a little but when it drops this low I can barely function. I know it is correct because of the way I feel. I appreciate your response and I will either go to ER or call and see if my doctor can work me in. Thank you,
Brief Answer:
agreed, issue must be sorted out
Detailed Answer:
Respected Ma'm
I fully agree with you that at this much of low blood pressure, it is not recommended to take the medicines and the issue must be sorted out before you take any further dosage.
Even if the physician has to prescribe these drugs for kidney protection only (not for blood pressure lowering), the dosage has to be tailored as per your body's and blood pressure response. He must look into the fact that everyone is unique and will tolerate a particular dose only and it will not be feasible to achieve target dose (dose used in clinical trials) in every patient.
Hope this gives more insight into the issue.
feel free to discuss further.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder Singh
agreed, issue must be sorted out
Detailed Answer:
Respected Ma'm
I fully agree with you that at this much of low blood pressure, it is not recommended to take the medicines and the issue must be sorted out before you take any further dosage.
Even if the physician has to prescribe these drugs for kidney protection only (not for blood pressure lowering), the dosage has to be tailored as per your body's and blood pressure response. He must look into the fact that everyone is unique and will tolerate a particular dose only and it will not be feasible to achieve target dose (dose used in clinical trials) in every patient.
Hope this gives more insight into the issue.
feel free to discuss further.
Sincerely
Sukhvinder Singh
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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