Blood Pressure Tablets – Watch Point
This article is taken from the Autumn 2009 issue of LymphLine, the LSN’s quarterly newsletter available to all LSN members. For details of how to become a member, click here.
At the patient conference held at Ascot in April 2009, Professor Peter Mortimer commented on a type of blood pressure tablet that was discouraged for patients living with lymphoedema. For the benefit of members unable to attend the conference, the class of drug is a calcium channel blocking agent and includes such drugs as Nifedipine, Amlodopine and Felodopine – in other words any heart or blood pressure drug ending in ‘…ine’.
50% of patients on these drugs develop swollen ankles and the mechanism is likely to be paralysis of lymphatic vessel pumping. Their use is therefore discouraged by anyone diagnosed with lymphoedema.
Anyone concerned about their use of these drugs should contact their GP before taking any action.