Comments on: Question on blood pressure medication?

By: mspharmtech

mspharmtech — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:08:59 +0000

Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker. Calcium channel blockers slow the rate at which calcium passes into the heart muscle and into the vessel walls, thus relaxing and widening blood vessels so blood can flow more easily, thus lowering blood pressure.

Diuretics also treat high blood pressure, although in a different way. They cause the body to rid excess salt and fluid. (One of the side effects of diuretics, as you’ve learned, is a decrease of potassium).

So, although both of these meds fight against high blood pressure, they do so in different manners. It is not uncommon for patients with hypertension to take several meds.

What the previous two answerers stated is also correct; the higher the dosage the higher the risk of side effects.
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By: ckm1956

ckm1956 — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:22:59 +0000

Hypertensive patients usually require more than one medication. When treating a condition, it's usually better to add a second medication rather than "max out" the dose of one single medication. The higher the dose on any drug, the more risk of side effects.
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By: mbestevez

mbestevez — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:36:59 +0000

The golden reason is because it would enhance indesirable effects of your Norvasc. Potassium is important to keep a normal heart rate. Low potassium can enhance arrhythmia.
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