Swollen Legs And Blood Pressure Medication

[Bazile]

Do you / do you know anyone , who suffers from swollen legs , as a result of taking blood pressure medication ?

[Mamyalynne]

Depends on the medication, it can be the cause. Get it checked in case the dose needs altering.

[Bazile]

I should add that the swelling is in the lower legs of the lady

[jennyjoan]

If the legs are swelling and I am only saying if she has heart disease - she does suffer from oedema - a painful swelling of the the poor legs. I don't know the lady in question but does she take blood pressure medicine. Poor lady.

[Sqad]

I know of no BP medication that would give, as a side effect, swollen legs.

There must be another reason........see her GP.

[Mamyalynne]

I beg your pardon then, I was under the impression it was one of the possible side effects of calcium channel blockers.

[Sqad]

I suppose if one scan's the websites of the internet, particularly medical websites, then one would surely find almost surely find any sign or symptom listed as a side effect of any drug.

My answer is based on my experiences and personal contact with colleagues.

If a patient had swollen legs and ankles, then the last thing that I would attribute this sign to would be a side effect of a drug.

It could happen......it might happen......medicine is not a pure science and can fool both professional and patient alike.

[dunnitall]

I do know of one drug that causes swelling in the ankles for sure and that's Amlodipine.

[queen 1954]

yes, i was taken off amlodipine as it made my ankles swell.

[Sqad]

Well Amlidopine is a calcium channel blocker, so 00.02 post by mamyalynne, seems to be the accurate post.

[Bazile]

she's on the following-

Verapamil
Doxazosin
Atorvastatin
Lisinopril & Hydrochlorothiazide

[Sqad]

Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker, but Doxazosin and Lisinopril are both BP lowering drugs but NOT calcium channel blockers.

I have not changed my opinion, as if she is having ankle swelling,then other causes should be eliminated e.g congestive cardiac failure.

[Bazile]

The swelling is from just below the knee down to the ankles .
Perhaps a bit on the feet as well .

She has had an Echocardiogram - '' normal Echocardiogram with good cardiac function''

Anything else that you can think of that might be the problem ?

[Sqad]

Well if the heart is fine, then she will need kidney function tests to rule out a renal problem, as you are describing quite degree of oedema(fluid).

[Sqad]

I have been giving further thought to the problem that your lady friend is suffering and another factor is incompetent veins in the legs, such as is seen in varicose veins.

I have to say that it is not unusual to investigate fully, cases such as this and come up with no obvious cause...idiopathic oedema (fluid of no obvious cause.)

[beso]

Might not be in this case but fluid retention is sometimes related to circulatory problems due to chronic lack of exercise.