Hypertension medication and Peripheral Neuropathy
 

Hi there,

I was reading somewhere that some Hypertension medications can cause Peripheral Neuropathy. I wondered if any had experience of this? I do take high blood pressure medication. I have been diagnosed with PN by neurologist - have put in my story under another thread, but have put in a query under a new thread about the medication.

what is the specific medication?

Ibedartan/HCT Sandoz is the one I’m taking. The one discussed is Hydralazine. I believe they work in similar ways,.

Hey suzyt

I found information on Irbesartan/HCT Sandoz but the potential side effects list, like for most medications is longer than War and Peace but there's no evidence for it causing PN.

Instead I point you in the more useful direction of The Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy

Drugs Causing Peripheral Neuropathy - Medications List

and from there I reproduce:-

Some of the drugs that may cause peripheral neuropathy include:

Anti-alcohol drugs (Disulfiram)
Anticonvulsants: Phenytoin (Dilantin®)
Cancer medications (Cisplatin)
Vincristine
Heart or blood pressure medications (Amiodarone)
Hydralazine
Perhexiline
Infection fighting drugs (Metronidazole, Flagyl®, Fluoroquinolones: Cipro®, Levaquin®)
Nitrofurantoin
Thalidomide
INH (Isoniazid)
Skin condition treatment drugs (Dapsone)


You'll see that Hydralazine is included but Irbesartan is not. Although they are both vasodilators they belong to different drug classifications. In fact the drug classification for Hydralazine hasn't really been identified.


Irbesartan is in a class of medications called angiotensin II receptor antagonists. It works by blocking the action of certain natural substances that tighten the blood vessels, allowing the blood to flow more smoothly and the heart to pump more efficiently.

The vasodilator Hydralazine, used clinically in cardiovascular therapy, relaxes arterial smooth muscle by inhibiting accumulation of intracellular free Ca2 via an unidentified primary target. The exact mechanism of how hydralazine causes arterial smooth muscle relaxation is not yet understood. Hydralazine affects calcium movement within blood vessels.

Hope this helps. Of course discuss your meds with your doctor if you are worried.

Atty

Thank you, this is good information as I am trying to eliminate possible causes as to date there seems to be no identifiable causes for my PN. I had an MRI on lower back last week and haven’t got results but my GP doesn’t think it will show up anything, again eliminating process. All this info will be going to the neurologist I will seeing in a week or so.

I am not hopeful that I will come away from Neurologist with anything helpful.

Hey Susyt,
good luck and keep us posted on your progress