Posted by ed_uk on November 6, 2005, at 15:40:44
In reply to Re: Sublingual Nifedipine? » ed_uk, posted by tecknohed on November 6, 2005, at 7:27:42
Hi Kev
I got your email :-) Sorry for not responding yet, I'm often so tired when I get home from work. I will reply soon :-)
>I took Largactil (same med?)
Yes! Largactil is the brand name for chlorpromazine.
>Both times I was in excruciating pain and agony (first time was worst) and was scared I might die and both times I ended up in A&E. They did nothing to help at all! Said there was nothing they could do! Appaling!
My experiences of A&E have been disturbing. I think it would be useful to prepare some information to take to the A&E department in the event of suffering a hypertensive crisis. You may be treated by doctors who have not even heard of Nardil! They should, however, be familiar with the treatment of other types of acute severe hypertension. Phentolamine (injection) is the traditional drug of choice for the treatment of an MAOI-induced hypertensive crisis. It's quite possible that the hospital will not have any supplies of phentolamine though. As such, sodium nitroprusside infusion could be used to control the hypertension. Sodium nitroprusside is a potent vasodilator which can be precisely titrated in order to control hypertensive emergencies safely.
>Anyway, I had the impression that nifedipine was sublingual as people often say ther 'bite' into them.
If you do decide to use nifedipine, I'd suggest taking a single 5mg capsule initially followed by a further 5mg capsule after 60 minutes if your BP is still very high - although you should already be in hospital at this point! Avoid the temptation to take a high dose, 5mg may be sufficient! The capsule should be swallowed whole or bitten then swallowed. There is no reason to hold it under the tongue - it tastes horrible and little is absorbed until it reaches the intestine.
Here is some information RE the risks of nifedipine IR.......
http://www.ptcommunity.com/ptjournal/fulltext/27/7/PTJ2707362.pdf
Do you have a BP monitor? You'd need a monitor to use nifedipine. Don't try to normalise your BP using nifedipine, the aim should be to reduce your BP until it's no longer critical.
Kind regards
Ed
poster:ed_uk
thread:575395
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051106/msgs/576049.html