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With List Of Medications, Getting Drowsy, Fatigue And Sleepy. Have Swelling. Using Bipap But Breathing Stops. Suggest?
Question: With my list of medications, the side affects and inter action is this what is making me drowsy, weak, fatiqued and felling I want to sleep all the time. Also have a lot of swelling. My wife has recently told me that even though I use a Bi Pap Machine that I stop breathing when I am sleeping. I also have on both my arms what looks like Blood Bruising and I do not use Bl;ood Thinners. Iam 77 years old had two years ago my Aorta Valve replaced and my Left Knee replaced at the beginning of this year. What do you suggest? XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
I have a number of suggestions.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for using Healthcare Magic.
You clearly have a number of significant medical conditions. You do not mention what drugs you are taking for these illnesses but I can make some reasonable assumptions regarding your medications.
The comment your wife makes is probably very significant. Although you are using a BiPap machine at night, you are still experiencing spells of apnea, this is when you stop breathing. Therefore, your sleep is somewhat disturbed. This will lead to tiredness during the day and could be the main cause of your fatigue problem. There are many BiPap machines available so I would not be able to suggest adjustments to be made. I would suggest you consult your specialist who looks after this for you.
The swelling may be related to either your sleep apnea or your COPD. These conditions can lead to changes in your lungs and heart which causes fluid to be retained by the body. Typically this produces swelling of the ankles and legs. It could be that a diuretic or water tablet may help with this. Your doctor could advise.
The bruising on your arms could be a side-effect of steroids if you take these for asthma or COPD. Alternatively, it could be related to the normal ageing process. As we age our blood vessels become increasingly fragile and more likely to bleed with minor trauma that may not even be noticed. There is no cure for this problem.
I have tried to address each of your troublesome symptoms. I hope this is of help to you. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger,
MBChB FRCA
I have a number of suggestions.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for using Healthcare Magic.
You clearly have a number of significant medical conditions. You do not mention what drugs you are taking for these illnesses but I can make some reasonable assumptions regarding your medications.
The comment your wife makes is probably very significant. Although you are using a BiPap machine at night, you are still experiencing spells of apnea, this is when you stop breathing. Therefore, your sleep is somewhat disturbed. This will lead to tiredness during the day and could be the main cause of your fatigue problem. There are many BiPap machines available so I would not be able to suggest adjustments to be made. I would suggest you consult your specialist who looks after this for you.
The swelling may be related to either your sleep apnea or your COPD. These conditions can lead to changes in your lungs and heart which causes fluid to be retained by the body. Typically this produces swelling of the ankles and legs. It could be that a diuretic or water tablet may help with this. Your doctor could advise.
The bruising on your arms could be a side-effect of steroids if you take these for asthma or COPD. Alternatively, it could be related to the normal ageing process. As we age our blood vessels become increasingly fragile and more likely to bleed with minor trauma that may not even be noticed. There is no cure for this problem.
I have tried to address each of your troublesome symptoms. I hope this is of help to you. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger,
MBChB FRCA
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
PRESCRIPTION PHYSICIAN PHONE STRENGTH DOSAGE Comments
Bystolic Dr. XXXXXXX Grasso 216 - 445 - 7131 5mg 1 TAB EVENING Control High Blood Pressure
AMLODIPINE Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 10mg 1 DAILY Control High Blood Pressure
Nexium Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 40 mg 1X DAILY Before Breakfast Control Acid Reflux
Torsemide Dr. XXXXXXX Grasso 216 - 445 - 7131 20 mg 2 TAB Breakfast 1 TAB Lunch 1 TAB Supper replaces Lasix
Asset Bold Mail Order 2 Tabs DAILY Lose Weight, Build Muscle, Improve Energy, Boost Immune System
Glimipride Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 4mg 1 X DAILY Control Type 2 Diabetis
Lisinopril Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 20 mg 1 X DAILY
Metanx Dr. Lansing Malusky 937 - 293 - 6896 2 X DAILY Multi Vitamin
Tamsulosin Dr. XXXXXXX Litscher 937 - 425 - 0003 Fax 425 - 0004 .4 mg 1 Tab Morning 1 Tab Bedtime Empty Bladder w/ good urine flow
Pravastatin Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 40 mg 1 X DAILY Raise Good Cholesterol
KLOR-CON Dr. XXXXXXX Gibson M20 TAB APA 2 TAB MORNING 1 TAB EVENING Potassium
Systane BALANCE Dr. XXXXXXX Wilding 937- 440 - 7715 10 ml 1 drop each eye 1 weekly or as req'd keep eyes moist
Tums Over the Counter 1 Tab @ bedtime
ProAir-HFA Dr. XXXXXXX Quadri 937 - 832 - 5292 2 puffs every 4 hours as needed Improve Breathing exhale
SYMBICORT Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 80-4.5AER ASTZEN LP 2 puffs DAILY each nostril Improve Breathing
LEVOTHYROXINE Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 25mcg 1 X DAILY before breakfast Improve THYROID Performance
BENZONATATE Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 100 mg As Required Stop Cough
Claritan D Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 1 X DAILY Allergy Medicine
hydrOXYzine XXXXXXX XXXXXXX Levitt 937 - 433 - 7536 10 mg 1 TAB 2 X DAILY Skin Care
LIPO-FLAVONOID Over the Counter 2 Tabs 3 X DAILY Tinnitus
These are my Rx and concerns for interaction and side affects.
Bystolic Dr. XXXXXXX Grasso 216 - 445 - 7131 5mg 1 TAB EVENING Control High Blood Pressure
AMLODIPINE Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 10mg 1 DAILY Control High Blood Pressure
Nexium Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 40 mg 1X DAILY Before Breakfast Control Acid Reflux
Torsemide Dr. XXXXXXX Grasso 216 - 445 - 7131 20 mg 2 TAB Breakfast 1 TAB Lunch 1 TAB Supper replaces Lasix
Asset Bold Mail Order 2 Tabs DAILY Lose Weight, Build Muscle, Improve Energy, Boost Immune System
Glimipride Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 4mg 1 X DAILY Control Type 2 Diabetis
Lisinopril Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 20 mg 1 X DAILY
Metanx Dr. Lansing Malusky 937 - 293 - 6896 2 X DAILY Multi Vitamin
Tamsulosin Dr. XXXXXXX Litscher 937 - 425 - 0003 Fax 425 - 0004 .4 mg 1 Tab Morning 1 Tab Bedtime Empty Bladder w/ good urine flow
Pravastatin Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 40 mg 1 X DAILY Raise Good Cholesterol
KLOR-CON Dr. XXXXXXX Gibson M20 TAB APA 2 TAB MORNING 1 TAB EVENING Potassium
Systane BALANCE Dr. XXXXXXX Wilding 937- 440 - 7715 10 ml 1 drop each eye 1 weekly or as req'd keep eyes moist
Tums Over the Counter 1 Tab @ bedtime
ProAir-HFA Dr. XXXXXXX Quadri 937 - 832 - 5292 2 puffs every 4 hours as needed Improve Breathing exhale
SYMBICORT Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 80-4.5AER ASTZEN LP 2 puffs DAILY each nostril Improve Breathing
LEVOTHYROXINE Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 25mcg 1 X DAILY before breakfast Improve THYROID Performance
BENZONATATE Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 100 mg As Required Stop Cough
Claritan D Dr. XXXXXXX Schatzel 937 - 832 - 9322 1 X DAILY Allergy Medicine
hydrOXYzine XXXXXXX XXXXXXX Levitt 937 - 433 - 7536 10 mg 1 TAB 2 X DAILY Skin Care
LIPO-FLAVONOID Over the Counter 2 Tabs 3 X DAILY Tinnitus
These are my Rx and concerns for interaction and side affects.
Brief Answer:
Some of your meds may be causing these problems.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the further information. You are on an extensive list of medicines which I have looked through carefully. Some of them are known to produce side-effects, some of which it would appear that you are experiencing. I will mention some of the relevant side-effects.
Amlodipine is known to cause sleepiness and swelling in 1 in 100 people.
Lisinopril can cause tiredness and muscle weakness in 1 in 1000 people.
Pravastatin may cause weakness in 1 in 100 and tiredness in 1 in 1000 people.
I consider that your sleepiness, weakness and swelling probably is related to the medicines that I have noted. Therefore, you may wish to discuss with your physician the possibility of trying alternatives. There are a number of alternatives for most of the medicines you are on. However, all medicines will have side-effects. Not all people will suffer these side-effects but with the long list of medicines that you take, the chances are that you will experience some side-effects. There would need to be an acceptable balance between the benefits that you are receiving from the medicine and the severity of side-effects. This is an important discussion you would need to have with your physician prior to changing any medications.
I hope this is useful further information for you. If I can be of any more help, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger,
MBChB FRCA
Some of your meds may be causing these problems.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thank you for the further information. You are on an extensive list of medicines which I have looked through carefully. Some of them are known to produce side-effects, some of which it would appear that you are experiencing. I will mention some of the relevant side-effects.
Amlodipine is known to cause sleepiness and swelling in 1 in 100 people.
Lisinopril can cause tiredness and muscle weakness in 1 in 1000 people.
Pravastatin may cause weakness in 1 in 100 and tiredness in 1 in 1000 people.
I consider that your sleepiness, weakness and swelling probably is related to the medicines that I have noted. Therefore, you may wish to discuss with your physician the possibility of trying alternatives. There are a number of alternatives for most of the medicines you are on. However, all medicines will have side-effects. Not all people will suffer these side-effects but with the long list of medicines that you take, the chances are that you will experience some side-effects. There would need to be an acceptable balance between the benefits that you are receiving from the medicine and the severity of side-effects. This is an important discussion you would need to have with your physician prior to changing any medications.
I hope this is useful further information for you. If I can be of any more help, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger,
MBChB FRCA
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Kerry Pottinger
Pain Medicine & Palliative Care Specialist
Practicing since :1983
Answered : 1337 Questions
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