Taking AMLODIPINE and diving for blood pressure

[deepbreath]

Hi folks, my doctor has asked me to take amlodipine 5mg once per day to help with my blood pressure, at present I am taking bendroflazide which is a diuretic, and does seem to of helped my pressure, which now is around 135/80, and as far as I know this one is ok to dive with, but its the new drug he wants me to take that I am unsure about, I did ask him but does not know how diving will effect it, so until I find out he has told me not to take it, can anybody help.

Regards Nick.

[ric morte]

Hi folks, my doctor has asked me to take amlodipine 5mg once per day to help with my blood pressure, at present I am taking bendroflazide which is a diuretic, and does seem to of helped my pressure, which now is around 135/80, and as far as I know this one is ok to dive with, but its the new drug he wants me to take that I am unsure about, I did ask him but does not know how diving will effect it, so until I find out he has told me not to take it, can anybody help.

Regards Nick.

Sorry to hear about your problems, Nick. As far as I can tell, amlopidine is a class II calcium channel blocker which, accordimng to the following website is 'allowable' See:

<a href="http://www.peebsac.ukdiver.com/peebsac_highbloodpressure.htm" >http://www.peebsac.ukdiver.com/peebsac_highbloodpressure.htm</a>

There is contact information near the end of the article.

There are other issues too concerning your general health, potential end-organ damage, so maybe the best advice is to seek the guidance of one of the medical referees. You might also want to take a look at:

<a href="http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020801/445.html" >http://www.aafp.org/afp/20020801/445.html</a>

And, if he picks up on this thread, maybe Chris Edge will be able to offer you some advice. Certainly I think it best to check with a 'diving' doctor before proceeding.

Hope it works out for you.

Best wishes,

Ric

[Nigel Hewitt]

Certainly I think it best to check with a 'diving' doctor before proceeding.

This is actually easy, not a big problem and worth it. I'm on one of the "Medication requiring further assessment" entries on that list and have to be 'done' every year. The diving specialists are helpful and want you to stay diving if possible.

nigelH

[deepbreath]

:= Certainly I think it best to check with a 'diving' doctor before proceeding.

This is actually easy, not a big problem and worth it. I'm on one of the "Medication requiring further assessment" entries on that list and have to be 'done' every year. The diving specialists are helpful and want you to stay diving if possible.

nigelH

A big thank you to both of you, clears some things up for me thanks again.

Nick.

[Gordon Archer]

Hi folks, my doctor has asked me to take amlodipine 5mg once per day to help with my blood pressure, at present I am taking bendroflazide which is a diuretic, and does seem to of helped my pressure, which now is around 135/80, and as far as I know this one is ok to dive with, but its the new drug he wants me to take that I am unsure about, I did ask him but does not know how diving will effect it, so until I find out he has told me not to take it, can anybody help.

Regards Nick.

Hi Nick

I have been taking a calcium channel blocker for several years now and have had this cleared buy a diving doctor. The product was called Istin, I was converted to Amlodipine for reasons that it was a new safer cheaper option, but it did not suit and blood pressure went haywire. I have now returned to the Istin brand and no further problems. Do monitor you pressure and seak diving doctors advice, but do not give up the diving its the least stressful place on earth to be underwater.

[deepbreath]

:=Hi folks, my doctor has asked me to take amlodipine 5mg once per day to help with my blood pressure, at present I am taking bendroflazide which is a diuretic, and does seem to of helped my pressure, which now is around 135/80, and as far as I know this one is ok to dive with, but its the new drug he wants me to take that I am unsure about, I did ask him but does not know how diving will effect it, so until I find out he has told me not to take it, can anybody help.
:=
:= Regards Nick.

Hi Nick

I have been taking a calcium channel blocker for several years now and have had this cleared buy a diving doctor. The product was called Istin, I was converted to Amlodipine for reasons that it was a new safer cheaper option, but it did not suit and blood pressure went haywire. I have now returned to the Istin brand and no further problems. Do monitor you pressure and seak diving doctors advice, but do not give up the diving its the least stressful place on earth to be underwater.


Thanks for that gordon.

Nick.

[Chris Edge]

Amlodipine should be fine to dive with. Normally one would use an ACE inhibitor or an AII antagonist with a diuretic, which would be the recommended way to go.

I'm slightly amused by the subsequent messages. Amlodipine and Istin are one and the same drug. Istin is the Pfizer trade name and, when I was working in Pfizer, there was a proud boast that Istin was 1st in the world (it was the biggest selling cardiovascular drug at the time, grossing over $1 billion/annum). I don't know how much some advertising agency was paid to come up with that, but it beat my salary.

You must have your blood pressure and other cardiovascular parameters measured on an annual basis. You should also have a lipid and cholesterol screen.