I am 56 yo male asian taking 5 mg Norvasc for the last 8 yrs, lately my pressure is hovering around 145 to 150 / 90 to 95. My doctor wants to add a low dose of the new drug Bistolic or Bystolic to the 5mg Norvasc. I don't like the idea of a beta blocker from what i read. Do you think Exforge /lowest dosage would be a good alternative choice..are there any bad side effects .What about relative safety compared to Bystolic ( i read that there are questions as to its safety as a new drug and that it was rushed into approval by the drug companies ..again profit over safety....thing like probability of angina, heart attack with withdrawals )
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Q: is exforge a relatively safe high blood pressure medication
Answers (1)
12/18/08 4:02pm
limhrl,
Thanks for your question.
Exforge is a combination of amlodipine (norvasc) and valsartan. Valsartan is an Angiotensin II receptor blocker. Both of these drugs have been on the market for years and the addition of valsartan would pose minimal risk of side effects. By themselves, as well as in combination, they have proven to be effective drugs for the treatment of high blood pressure.
Bistolic (nebivolol) is a beta blocker that is relatively new on the market. There are many potential side effects to beta blockers, but most patients do very well with this class of drug.
You need to sit down with your doctor and discuss it. First, ask him/her if there is a specific reason that he/she favors the addition of a beta blocker at this time. Sometimes, doctors use specific drugs to cover other problems or symptoms that patients may be having. For example, some patients have a high pulse rate, and a beta blocker would not only treat their pressure, but help control their heart rate. Next, express your concerns about this medication, and then discuss the possibility of using the exforge instead. If there is no specific reason to use a beta blocker, more than likely your physician will work with you and use a medication that you are more comfortable with.
Best wishes.
Martin Cane, M.D.
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By limhrl— Last Modified: 11/16/10, First Published: 12/10/08
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