General Side Effects of BP Meds & Interactions?

Q:  What are the general side effects one can expect when taking hypertension medication and when mixing with other medications?  For example, cholesterol medications.

A:  Every drug has side effects.  This is why I like the Resperate.  It has been clinically proven to lower blood pressure naturally and without side effects.  In addition it does not interact with other drugs.

In General, it is hard to know exactly who will develop a side effect from a drug although certain drugs may be more likely to cause a problem for specific populations.  For example, women over the age of 65 are at greater risk of having a side effect from the cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins.  Many side effects are not serious but still are annoying. Also, the more medicine you take the more likely you are to experience a drug interaction.

Before you start taking any medicine you should ask your doctor some questions.  It is important to know up front why you are being prescribed a drug and what to expect.  Some basic questions I feel you should have answered include:

1. Why do I need to take this specific drug?
2. What benefit should I get from this drug?
3. What is the main risk to my health in taking this drug?
4. When can I expect to see the drug start working?
5. How can I tell if the drug is working?
6. When is the best time to take this drug?
7. Do any foods interfere with this drug?
8. Will this drug create a problem with any drug or supplement I take?
9. What happens if I forget to take a dose?
10. How long should I expect to be on this drug?

Speak With Your Pharmacist

Another good source of information about drugs is your pharmacist.  Most pharmacies have a separate consultation area so you can ask questions in private.  Your pharmacy can track all the drugs you order at that pharmacy or a branch, even when the prescriptions are written by different doctors. Many times one of your doctors is not aware of drugs a different doctor has prescribed. By tracking your prescriptions the pharmacist can alert all your doctors and you about any dangerous combination of drugs or similarily acting prescriptions.

That said, certain drugs may be more likely to cause a problem for specific populations.  For instance, women over the age of 65 are at greater risk of having a side effect from the cholesterol lowering drugs known as statins.  Many side effects are not serious, but are annoying.  Also, the more medicine you take the more likely you are to experience a negative drug interaction.

Always Communicate With Your Doctor

Please keep in mind when communicating with your doctor, he/she is not a mind reader.  If you don’t like what the prescribed medicines are doing to your body, you must tell your doctor. Suffering in silence will not make side effects or interactions go away.  Be open with your doctor and tell him/her that you hate the way a medicine makes you feel.  There are many different medicines to choose from and alternatives to consider.  You and your doctor can find the best solution for your problems, but only if you speak your mind.  If you doctor is not willing to listen, I would recommend finding one that will.  After all, it is your body and your health that is on the line.

Helpful Resource:

Tips for Avoiding Drug Interactions