AboutDr. Ravindra Bhaskar Ghooi Expertise I can provide information on drugs and medicines, their actions, uses, interactions and adverse effects. To avoid confusion, generic names of
medicines may please be provided. I am a pharmacologist, having worked
on animal and human pharmacology, and presently I am the Dean of Bilcare Research Academy, where we teach courses on clinical research. We dont work on saturdays and sundays, hence questions reachng me on these days will be replied on Monday, please bear with me.
Question Dear Doctor
I am 37 male Indian, non-smoker, fairly regular food and exercise habits.
I was diagnosed with Essential Hypertension of around 160-170/90-100 levels around 4 months ago.
I was initially given Losartan 25mg and after a week shifted to Losartan 50mg + Hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 one daily.
After 2 months of this dosage, average readings were around 145-150/85-90.
My physician felt these levels were still high and advised me to take Nebivolol, but since I had been reading a lot about lack of use of B Blockers these days, I consulted another doctor who advised me to add Amlodipine 2.5mg.
The readings fell to around 130/85 and my doctor felt it was fine.
Since I was uncomfortable with taking 3 drugs on my own, I cut down my medicine to Amlodipine 2.5mg and Losartan 25 mg only. After around 2 weeks on this reduced dosage, readings continued at near normal.
I have now tried to further cut out the Losartan and for the past 3 weeks am on Amlodipine 2.5mg alone. Current home readings are around 140/90 (a little higher and a little lower at times). Should I add either Losartan 25mg or maybe a diuretic to present Amlodipine 2.5mg.
I have a family history of diabetes (mother’s side) and would like to be careful in taking a medicine, which could later induce diabetes.
I am fed up with experimenting and would like to have a simple yet effective regime, which I can stick to.
Please advice me what combination I should go for.
Thanks
Answer Hi Vijay,
My personal advise to you would be to stop experimentng. It can be dangeros unless you know everything about medicines. Reducing from three medcines to two and then to one is not the right strategy. We use more than one medicine rather than using a high dose of a single medicine to reduce side effects and adverse reactions. My suggestion would be to take the drugs as adviced by the doctor. I would suggest that Losartan HCT and amlodipine seems to control your BP and you should take it.
Ravi Ghooi
