Primary Care Medication Management for Mrs. Lyons- Evidence-Based Responses and Rationales for Hypertension and Dyslipidemia Question One: The First-Line Treatment Recommendations
The JNC8 recommends that pharmacologic therapy be started when the blood pressure (BP) is 150/90 mmHg or higher in individuals aged 60 years and older and 140/90mmHg or higher in individuals younger than 60 years (Khera et al., 2018). Initial drugs should be thiazide diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, or ARBs in non-black patients, and calcium channel blockers or thiazide diuretics in black patients (Khera et al., 2018). For the AHA/ACC guidelines, the target BP is less than 130/80 and the first-line medications are CCBs, thiazide diuretics, ARBs or ACEIs (Reboussin et al., 2018). Our assignment writing help is at affordable prices to students of all academic levels and disciplines.
Question Two: Recommended Medications
The patient is an African American and has stage 2 hypertension. She will have a combination of two first-line agents. The agents are thiazide diuretic and calcium channel blocker (Khera et al., 2018). The medications will start on chlorthalidone and Amlodipine. The brand name for chlorthalidone is thalitone. The starting dose is 15mg once daily (Kerndt & Patel, 2020). Clorthalidone is a thiazide-like diuretic. The brand name for Amlodipine is Norvasc. The starting dose for Amlodipine is 25mg once daily (Bulsara & Cassagnol, 2021). Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker.
Question Three: The Mechanism of Action of the Listed Drugs
Chlorthalidone blocks the sodium-chloride transporter in the distal convoluted tubule, resulting in the inhibition of sodium reabsorption (Kerndt & Patel, 2020). The enhanced sodium excretion results in the lowering of intravascular volume. Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It blocks type L calcium channels which inhibits the influx of calcium, resulting in reduced contractility and increased vasodilation (Bulsara & Cassagnol, 2021).
Question Four: Side Effect Profile of the Listed Medication
The side effects of Amlodipine include peripheral edema, abdominal pain, skin rash, nausea, drowsiness, headache, and flushing (Bulsara & Cassagnol, 2021). The side effects of Chlorthalidone include hypokalemia, hyponatremia, anorexia, stomach irritation, orthostatic hypotension, weakness, impotence, and muscle spasms.
Question Five: Interactions between the Prescribed Medications
There are no significant interactions between the two medications.
Question Six: Suggestions for Other Non-Pharmacological Interventions
Non-pharmacological interventions will include weight loss, dietary sodium restriction, physical activity, and reduced intake of saturated fats (Khera et al., 2018).
References
Bulsara, K. G., & Cassagnol, M. (2021, April 7). Amlodipine – StatPearls – NCBI bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519508/