I'm currently taking Norvasc (5 mg) to control my hypertension. A physician prescribed the medication in early-November, and, since then, I have not consumed any alcohol for precautionary reasons. Prior to my diagnosis, I would have described myself as an "occasional drinker" (sometimes I'd go months between drinks).
However, with the start of a new year upon us, I'm feeling the urge to indulge a little bit. So, that leads to my question (s) -- has anybody consumed alcohol while taking Norvasc? What are the repercussions? I take Norvasc in the morning; thus, would the adverse effects associated with the interaction of Norvasc and alcohol still manifest themselves during the night? Would choosing beer as opposed to "hard liquor" make any difference?
I know those are loaded questions, so I'd really appreciate any insights that you guys may have!
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of Norvasc. I would have fun, but no need to go crazy. I would stretch it out and just drink beer if it were me. Have fun!
The Following User Says Thank You to soflsun For This Useful Post: JEV20000 (12-29-2011)
My doctor said that 1-2 beers is fine. If you want to go crazy just realize that alcohol can lower your blood pressure, you might also be more drunk than you were before the medications. I would just try to keep it in moderation. I notice that the day I drink my pressure is fine, but the day after it is always more elevated than usual.
The Following User Says Thank You to dantescritic For This Useful Post: JEV20000 (12-29-2011)
Thanks for the responses! I wasn't planning on drinking inordinately to begin with as I presumed that excessive alcohol intake would not be prudent for anybody who's hypertensive in the first place. With that said, I appreciate the clarification. I did tell my physician that I "drink occasionally" and he simply shrugged it off when writing the prescription. Anyway, I'm going to follow up on some of your suggestions and stick to beers when I drink in the future. And again, thanks for the input!
