What You Should Know Before Taking Norvasc For
High Blood Pressure
Heather Colman
Norvasc belongs to a class of medications called calcium
blockers. It is used to widen blood vessels, veins and arteries
to reduce the pressure put on the heart while pumping blood.
Norvasc is also used to treat high blood pressure and angina,
which is accompanied by chest pains in a patient.
Before taking Norvasc it is important for a patient to discuss
with a doctor any illnesses that they are suffering from, like
liver disease, other diseases of the heart or blood vessels
that are not related. Illnesses that are important to mention
to the doctor are sick sinus syndrome, aortic stenosis, heart
failure or low blood pressure. Patients who suffer from these
symptoms may still be able to take Norvasc with regular
monitoring by their doctor.
Some of the possible severe side effects form taking Norvasc
are difficulty in breathing, fast or slow heartbeat, chest pain
or dizziness and fainting. Some other severe reactions may be
psychosis, jaundice or swelling in the legs and feet. If a
patient suffers from any of the above-mentioned symptoms they
should seek immediate medical attention.
Some of the less harmful side effects include fatigue,
headaches, insomnia and abdominal pain. A patient may also
notice nausea or difficulty urinating. If a patient is
suffering from any of the above-mentioned side effects, or is
experiencing any uncomfortable symptoms they should discuss
these with the doctor who prescribed the medication.
This medication is not recommended for women who are pregnant
or breast-feeding. Norvasc is known as a category C medication
which means that the effects on an unborn baby are not yet
known and neither are the risks of the medication being passed
on through the milk to a breast-fed baby.
Elderly people, especially those who are over the age of 65,
are more likely to suffer from the side effects when taking
Norvasc. If this is the case, Norvasc will often be avoided or
it may be prescribed at a lower dosage and monitored.
Norvasc should be taken exactly as it has been prescribed and
taken with a glass of water, not swallowed dry. It is
recommended that patients who are taking Norvasc should under
no circumstances stop taking their medication without first
consulting with their doctor, as their condition could become
worse if the medication is stopped suddenly.
Patients who miss a dose of their medication should skip that
dose and continue to their next dose as usual, they should not
double the dose. Patients taking Norvasc can overdose. The
symptoms of an over dose include dizziness, chest pain
shortness of breath, coma or an unusually slow or fast
heartbeat. If a patient suspects that they have overdosed on
Norvasc they should immediately seek medical attention.
Disclaimer - The information presented here should not be
interpreted as or substituted for medical advice. Please talk
to your doctor for more information about Norvasc.
About The Author: Copyright © 2006, Heather Colman. Find more
Norvasc resources at:
http://www.norvasc-hub.info/sitemap.html
and http://www.ebookpalace.com
Find More Free Natural Health Information
Back To:
All Free Info about Heart & Circulatory System Health
Choose Natural Health Site Map
