Wellness

[chrystaltree]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I take a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) for my recently new diagnosis of HBP and it causes terrible tinnitus and headaches. I can't go a day w/o taking ibuprofen for the headaches. I'd rather have dry skin any day than what I've been experiencing with this nifedipine. Swelling legs, feet, face...ughhh!  

         You might be doing yourself more harm than good by taking Ibuprofen and especially everyday. Ibuprofen raises blood pressure, that's why doctors advise hypertension patients not to take it.  As for all your other complaints, you discuss ALL of that with your doctor.  All of those things can't be related to Nifedipine.  

[Kachina624]

There is a product data sheet with all possible reported side effects that come with every prescription.  If dry skin isn't mentioned, I'd say no.  There are lots of BP medications so it's best to discuss with your doctor.

[SilleeMee]

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@Tinkrbl44 wrote:

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I take a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) for my recently new diagnosis of HBP and it causes terrible tinnitus and headaches. I can't go a day w/o taking ibuprofen for the headaches. I'd rather have dry skin any day than what I've been experiencing with this nifedipine. Swelling legs, feet, face...ughhh!

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@SilleeMee 

Uh oh ....  Having made the rounds of various HBP meds, I hope you're going to tell your doc that this one doesn't work for you.  There are other meds that can do the trick without all the nasty side effects.

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@Tinkrbl44 

Yes, I will tell my doc about the side-effects. I have pulmonary hypertension, Raynauds and other scleroderma vascularopathies. Unfortunately treatment options are limited.

[JeanLouiseFinch]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I take a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) for my recently new diagnosis of HBP and it causes terrible tinnitus and headaches. I can't go a day w/o taking ibuprofen for the headaches. I'd rather have dry skin any day than what I've been experiencing with this nifedipine. Swelling legs, feet, face...ughhh!

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@SilleeMee @You don't need to live that way. There are others your doctor can try. It took a few before I got to the Losartan.  Lisinopril caused constant coughing and Norvasc made my legs swell badly. 

[SilleeMee]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I take a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) for my recently new diagnosis of HBP and it causes terrible tinnitus and headaches. I can't go a day w/o taking ibuprofen for the headaches. I'd rather have dry skin any day than what I've been experiencing with this nifedipine. Swelling legs, feet, face...ughhh!  

         You might be doing yourself more harm than good by taking Ibuprofen and especially everyday. Ibuprofen raises blood pressure, that's why doctors advise hypertension patients not to take it.  As for all your other complaints, you discuss ALL of that with your doctor.  All of those things can't be related to Nifedipine.  

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@chrystaltree 

Nifedipine does cause all of those side-affects. 

[chrystaltree]

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@SilleeMee wrote:

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@chrystaltree wrote:

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I take a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) for my recently new diagnosis of HBP and it causes terrible tinnitus and headaches. I can't go a day w/o taking ibuprofen for the headaches. I'd rather have dry skin any day than what I've been experiencing with this nifedipine. Swelling legs, feet, face...ughhh!  

         You might be doing yourself more harm than good by taking Ibuprofen and especially everyday. Ibuprofen raises blood pressure, that's why doctors advise hypertension patients not to take it.  As for all your other complaints, you discuss ALL of that with your doctor.  All of those things can't be related to Nifedipine.  

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@chrystaltree 

Nifedipine does cause all of those side-affects. 

You know there are other medications for hypertension.....   

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[bikerbabe]

@SilleeMee

I’m sorry about your struggles with nifedipine/Procardia. You are correct that your side effects are known but face swelling and significant limb edema are considered serious and if you haven’t already, you need to report immediately to your doctor. I know finding the right medication for your PHTN is challenging. Sending hugs.

[SilleeMee]

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@bikerbabe wrote:
@SilleeMee

I’m sorry about your struggles with nifedipine/Procardia. You are correct that your side effects are known but face swelling and significant limb edema are considered serious and if you haven’t already, you need to report immediately to your doctor. I know finding the right medication for your PHTN is challenging. Sending hugs.

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@bikerbabe 

Thank you.

I've already spoken with my doctor about the edema on face and limbs. Doc says that's what many calcium channel blockers do in some people. I also have an inflammatory AI disease, scleroderma, and nifedipine is what is used to treat hbp and pulmonary arterial hypertension also. PAH, that's not your ordinary kind of hbp. It's different from regular kinds of hbp and more life-threatening. People with scleroderma-related PAH can die from it if not treated. PAH is not common. It only affects a small number of people compared to just pulmonary hypertension.

Nifedipine has a proven record of treating PAH in scleroderma people. Changing to another med could be risky b/c there isn't enough research about other drugs with regards to treating scleroderma-related PAH. I don't want to take that risk.

[SilleeMee]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

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@SilleeMee wrote:

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@chrystaltree wrote:

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@SilleeMee wrote:

I take a calcium channel blocker (nifedipine) for my recently new diagnosis of HBP and it causes terrible tinnitus and headaches. I can't go a day w/o taking ibuprofen for the headaches. I'd rather have dry skin any day than what I've been experiencing with this nifedipine. Swelling legs, feet, face...ughhh!  

         You might be doing yourself more harm than good by taking Ibuprofen and especially everyday. Ibuprofen raises blood pressure, that's why doctors advise hypertension patients not to take it.  As for all your other complaints, you discuss ALL of that with your doctor.  All of those things can't be related to Nifedipine.  

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You know there are other medications for hypertension.....   

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No, there isn't for my condition. I don't have regular hypertension.

[bikerbabe]

@SilleeMee

I understand. I am less familiar with scleroderma but have had a number of patients with pulmonary HTN and patients on Ca channel blockers. I just wanted to make sure you’ve discussed with your physician. 💕

Yes, for others reading, treating pulmonary hypertension is not the same as “typical” HTN and is also complicated when other co-morbidities are present.

Thank you for sharing @SilleeMee and I wish you the best.