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Q. I am having a problem with swollen legs and feet. About two months ago the doctor changed my hypertension medications. I was on Hyzaar and he changed this to losartan and Lasix. About a month before this he had increased my nifedipine (Procardia) from once a day to twice a day because my blood pressure was elevated.
Recent blood work shows that I am dehydrated and have a urinary tract infection. I have stopped taking Lasix and I am only taking the nifedipine once a day.
I have never been bothered with swollen legs as I am now. Could the losartan be responsible?
A. It is much more likely that the nifedipine is the culprit. About 10 percent of people taking nifedipine in clinical trials developed swollen legs and feet. In clinical trials, about one percent of people taking losartan developed swelling, but just as many people on placebo had this problem.
Don’t stop any of your blood pressure pills on your own. Get in touch with your doctor soon. Another possible cause of swelling in your legs could be heart failure, and Lasix is an important drug for treating that problem.
Bernadine
NC
I have been taking Losartan for about two (2) years. I have had swelling and pain in my feet, ankles, legs, wrists, fihatngers and hands for what seems like all of that tine. What can you suggest because none of the doctors I’ve seen offer solutions to these issues. I did not have these problems before taking BP medication. What can I do because this is serious to me but does not seem to be so to the doctors.
Barry
MI
My doctor switched me to a daytime med for HBP (Losartan HCTZ 100-25). About a month into taking this medication I developed pedal edema in my left foot and ankle. I became concerned about CHF, and a check-up my physician found nothing wrong with heart. About a week ago I stopped taking this medication because I didn’t like the effects, and my BP was normal. I have noticed a significant difference in the edema, and my BP still is very good.
Roger
france
It is OK to say ask the doctor first before stopping meds, BUT I had so swollen legs that shoes did not fit, the socks were soaked as was my bed taking socks off allowed little fountains of water to come out of my legs, doctor was on holiday for 2 weeks and the hospital said see the doctor!! One othe the other drugs Eupresyl, gave serious chest pains on left side really really bad.
And getting worse by the day. problem started about an hour after taking drug and lasted for about 6 hours, next day worse pains after an hour seriously painful chest, neck and back!! and so on. I am to see the specialist monday I have serious problems with all meds, eg need to take Aerius with Insulins, had nightmare problems with metformin that took 6 weeks to clear, had serious problems with eye drops/beta blockers.
judy
texas
I cannot take anything with a diuretic because I have kidney problems. My doc prescribed nifedipine cause my b.p. was extremely high and the nifedipine worked for me, but now I have swollen feet, legs and ankles. What other B.P. meds can I take that do not cause side effects
Marji
southwest
I have been trying to stay on 80mgs of Diovan, but have terrible aching joints, headaches and generally feel like garbage. What else can I take? What natural supplements can I take?
Elizabeth
New York
Since I started taking blood pressure medications my knees swell. I went off the medication and in about 6 weeks all the swelling was gone. Do you have any suggestions as to what medication may not have this side affect?
ESH
I have been on BP medicine for about 4 years now. They tried different ones because one caused coughing another swelling in my joints now I am on Amlodipine 5mg and Hydrochlorothiazide 25mg daily. When I wake up my hands are swollen so bad I can barely make a fist. The rest of my body seems swollen and my joints ache. Most days I have a dull headache or just feel tired. I do yoga to stretch and strengthen daily. Should I be taking calcium or eating bananas daily? Or is there a better BP medicine I should try?
DMP
I have been on Ziac for hypertension and recently my doctor added nifedipine (Procardia). He warned me that one side effect is swelling of the legs. I have started having the swelling all the time now, with redness of my feet. In the meantime I had a knee replacement and did very well post-operatively. Am 6 months post op and the swelling from the nifedipine seems to be affecting my knee also. Is this possible? I had been doing very well with my knee and now it just seems stiffer. Since both legs are swollen it’s hard not to relate it to the nifedipine.
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY RESPONSE: Tell your doctor about this. There should be another drug that could be substituted for the nifedipine.
CAD
I have been taking Nifedipine because I have Raynauds Phenomena for the past 2 years and noticed that my lower legs and feet were swollen occasionally. Now it’s every day. I take it at bedtime, and by 10 AM the next day my legs start to swell.
I stopped taking Nifedipine because it’s not a critical med for me, since I have low BP anyway.
If Nifedipine was the culprit for my swollen legs, how long should I expect it to take before my legs stop swelling?
Thanks
joe
hi which is the potassium sparing diuretic?
thanks
People’s Pharmacy response: Usually triamterene is considered a potassium sparing diuretic. ACE inhibitors like lisinopril also conserve potassium.
Janet L.
I have diabetes II and the doctor put me on BP medication to protect my kidneys, but Norvasc is causing me to have extremely swollen legs and feet. He first put me on Cozzar and I had extreme pain in my groin area and couldn’t pick up my leg so he took me off of that. Thank’s when he gave me the Norvasc, now I am on Lisinopril and I cough constantly. What is wrong with me and is there a BP medication that is less intrusive to my system? Thank you.
BD
I have had high blood pressure for the last 10 years. For years low dosage ACE inhibitors worked until the dosage was increased and I broke out in severe hives on my face. A condition my Dr. told me is common. I was put on Losartan and it did make my blood pressure come down but made me very constipated.
I also was taking a potassium wasting diuretic at the same time. This diuretic made my muscles and joints ache severely. My knees developed a “crunching” sound and going up and down steps became difficult. Since I am only 53 this was very disturbing.
People’s Pharmacy offered a pamphlet on high blood pressure a few weeks ago. I purchased it online for just $3.00 and it has been the most enlightening information I have ever read on HBP medications and their usage. With this pamphlet in hand I went back to my Dr. and he put me on a potassium sparing diuretic and told me to take 2 Phillips of Magnesia tablets daily. He told me that I had become Magnesium deficient and this combination would set me back on track.
I have been using this for the last several days and feel better already. My knees are no longer making a “crunching” sound. Bowel movements are coming back to normal and I no longer have that full feeling that Losartan caused.
I never knew there was a difference in diuretics. Thank you People’s Pharmacy making this information available.