Medicine is supposed to help you maintain a disease or cure an illness, but if you are dealing with multiple medications, the combination can be dangerous or even fatal.
If you suffer from high blood pressure, it’s likely that your doctor prescribed you medication to take in order to lower your levels. While medication can be an effective treatment, it can also be dangerous if mixed with antibiotics. The following are a few things you need to know about blood pressure medication and antibiotics.
Combining both medications can do more harm than good.
Although you hope that the medication you’re taking will help cure you, combining antibiotics and blood pressure medication can actually do more harm than good. In fact, most patients who take both medications experience a severe spike in their BP levels, which is known as hypotension. If blood pressure levels are very low, patients will need to go to the hospital for immediate treatment. If you are currently taking one medication or the other, be sure to talk with your doctor or your pharmacist before taking both at the same time.
Know who is at risk.
Although the combination of both drugs can be dangerous to any individual at any age, the risks get worse as the patient gets older. Typically, an older body has a harder time coping with the symptoms of a drug interaction, which means that a 60 year old can suffer more than a 30 year old who takes the same combination of pills. If you are currently taking antibiotics or blood pressure medication, make sure you thoroughly talk about the risks with your doctor, or avoid taking one of the pills altogether.
Not all medications have the same risk.
If you need to take both medications, you’re not entirely out of luck. Although the combination of medication can be dangerous, not all medications have shown to have the same negative interaction with one another. For example, erythromycin and clarithromycin are the two medications commonly known to have a negative interaction with blood pressure medication. However, azithromycin doesn’t seem to have the same effect, which makes it a better choice for those individuals who need an antibiotic and a blood pressure medication. If you need to be on both, be sure to talk with your doctor to ensure that he or she opts to use the safer choices.
Consider natural options.
If you don’t want to put yourself at risk, you can avoid the interaction between both drugs by using natural options to lower your blood pressure instead of medication. For example, changing your diet to one that is low in fat and sodium can help reduce your levels. Regular exercise is another great way to improve the health of your heart and lower your BP levels. Thirty minutes of cardio every other day is enough to help you see a significant improvement.
Eliminating the stress from your life is another great way to naturally lower your BP levels. Get a massage or do some yoga to relieve stress, or spend some quality time with family or friends to help you settle your mind and body. The more you can do to relax, the better it will be for your heart.
Know all the other risks.
When you’re taking medication, it’s important that you educate yourself on all the risks associated with that medication. For example, grapefruit juice is also known to have a negative interaction with blood pressure medication, so if you’re taking this, you need to avoid consuming grapefruit juice. If you’re taking an antibiotic while also on oral contraceptives, the medications may interact and make the birth control ineffective. Be sure to read the disclaimers and warnings on all your medication to ensure you thoroughly understand the risks associated with taking it.
Medication is not something you should take lightly, as a drug interaction can be a scary experience. Be sure that you talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the medication you’re taking to determine any possible risks. If you’re uncomfortable, you can always opt for a natural remedy instead.
Article Submitted By Community Writer