Zafnol is one of the best medication use for the treatment of high blood pressure. People are really interested in antihypertensive drugs that regularly work for them with any side effect. A slight overdose of a beta-blocker such as Zafnol which is an anti-hypertensives medication could prove fatal, or at least lead to syncope.
WHY IS ZAFNOL USE?
Zafnol is a prescription drug use to control high blood pressure, it reduces blood pressure by reducing cardiac output. Some people can reduce their high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, between 3 days to 3 weeks. Zafnol starts to work within a few hours to reduce high blood pressure, but it may take a few weeks for it to take full effect.
Zafnol as a beta blocker, tends to slow down the heart rate. Normal heart rate is typically around 60 to 100. In an attempt to lower blood pressure by slowing down the heart’s rhythm of beats, most times leads to a downside were the medication works too well and slow down the heart to the point it can’t pump all the blood out of the chamber. When this occurs you risk congestive heart failure or heart attack.
High blood pressure is a killer and you certainly can not let it go untreated, the use of prescribed beta blocker like Zafnol also reduce the risk of death after a heart attack. Zafnol is use most times in treatment of angina and chest pain. Zafnol is primarily excreted by the kidney, and does not undergo extensive hepatic metabolism. Therefore it is less likely to interact with certain hepatically metabolized drugs or build up in liver disease.
HYPERTENSION
Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is a condition in which the heart pressure both systolic and diastolic i.e. contracting and resting blood pressure is raised. This pressure has the two readings measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Upper reading systolic measures the pressure in arteries when heart beats. Lower reading diastolic measures the pressure in arteries between two heart beats.
CATEGORIES OF HIGH BLOOD PESSURE
It can be divided into 3 categories depending upon the pressure, which are;
The normal Blood Pressure(B.P) is 120/80 mm Hg for a normal individual.
- Mild hypertension (140/90mmHg)
- Moderate hypertension (>140/90 mmHg)
- Severe hypertension ( >180/120 mmHg)
WHAT ARE THE NATURAL WAYS TO REDUCE HIGH BLOOD PESSURE
Blood pressure management is serious, often complex and needs careful tailoring to individual needs. A healthy lifestyle can go a long way in both eradicating and also reduce the chances of the condition, there are a few things one can employ and they include;
︎1. Reduced salt intake: Including salt in your diet through a handful of salted nuts can be a healthy way. Cutting Sodium out of diet goes along way and increase your potassium with lots of vegetables, beans and fruits.
︎2. Limit alcohol use: Excessive alcohol consumption should be avoided, drinking alcohol in any quantity may raise your blood pressure. Limit your drinking to one drink a day.
︎3. Increase water consumption: Drinking water in moderation can play a great role in lower blood pressure. To avoid conflicting blood pressure, it is most important to stay hydrated as much as possible.
︎4. Eat dark chocolate or cocoa: Eating the right amount of chocolate is good for reducing hypertension, when combined with other natural remedies.
OTHER WAYS OF REDUCING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
︎1. Exercise regularly: Exercising regularly helps to maintain a healthy weight and keep your heart healthy. Lose weight if you’re overweight. Regular exercise, especially when combined with weight loss, will reduce resting blood pressure levels. It will also help to keep blood pressure under control in situations that typically raise your blood pressure, such as intense physical activity and emotional distress. Exercise is the key, and diet is the lock.
︎2. Manage stress effectively: Stress is one of the main causes of high blood pressure. Stress increases the secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) which in turn increases the cortisol levels (stress hormone) in the body. It’s important that you get some time off and reduce your stress course Stress can cause your blood pressure to spike, so relaxing and de-stressing will go along way.
3. Get enough sleep: Eat timely and sleep timely, Sleep is necessary for good health and can help reduce stress levels. Poor sleep quality and lack of sleep due to work load can lead to high blood pressure.
︎4. Avoid smoking: Smoking can contribute to high blood pressure. Smoking is a risk to health from every standpoint. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which increases risk for hypertension If you follow these lifestyle recommendations, you will be able to reduce your blood pressure naturally.
DOSAGE OF ZAFNOL
In adults the usual maximum dose of atenolol is 100mg daily. The maximum tolerated dose may be less as excess Beta Blockade can lead to a slow pulse/low blood pressure causing one to feel faint/ light headed.
WHAT DRUGS SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN WITH ZAFNOL
Zafnol may interact with other medications, but should not be taken with the following;
- Mental health drugs: Mental health drugs due to it’s composition may increase or add to the effects of Zafnol.
- Heart rhythm drugs: Taking certain heart drugs with Zafnol can slow down your heart rate too much.
- Calcium channel blockers: Calcium Channel blockers can counter interact with Zafnol.
- Alpha blockers: Alpha blockers should not be taken with Zafnol otherwise prescribed by your doctor.
CONSEQUENCES OF TAKING HIGHER DOSE OF ZAFNOL
Do not try to increase dosage of Zafnol without a physician’s recommendation. Zafnol can cause slowing of heart-rate as well as reduction of blood pressure. You could have reduced blood pressure which could cause fainting. You could also have reduced heart-rate (bradycardia) which will also cause fainting.
You could have postural hypotension. When you suddenly get up from sitting or sleeping position to standing position, you could faint. Fainting can put you at a risk of having bleeding in your brain because of head-injury so to minimize the risk of head-injury try to sit on your bottom wherever you are so that impact on head is not so much.
Intake of high unprescibed dose of Zafnol can result in more harm to your body because it will be an extended time of low blood pressure, which results in oxygen deprivation to your body. This can lead to organ damage.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU MISS A DOSE OF ZAFNOL
Take it as soon as you remember. Don’t worry too much as missing a dose will not harm you as the drug from previous doses is already in your body and that will still provide protection.
ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO ZAFNOL
The drug also holds the possibility of an allergic reaction that includes symptoms of allergy, which includes;
- Trouble in breathing
- Dizziness
- Swelling
- Rash somewhere like face or throat or tongue.
PRECAUTIONS BEFORE TAKING ZAFNOL
Zafnol may be a cause of allergic reactions in people and if not, the medicine may contain different ingredients in it that may be a cause of allergy for some patients. Below are some precautions to be taken;
1. Tell your doctor about all your allergies before taking the medication.
︎2. Inform your treating physician of any of your other problems or diseases, like heart rhythm problems this can include a slow heartbeat, a second or third-degree atrioventricular block or severe heart failure.
︎3. There is a need to tell your doctor about all your prescription and non-prescription drugs, to help the doctor prescribe better medicine without having you suffer any extreme consequences.
︎4. Let Your doctor know about your breathing issues which can be any respiratory issues like asthma.
︎5. You should also give out information about a muscle disease like myasthenia gravis to your treating physician.
PROCEDURES FOR TAKING ZAFNOL
︎1. For diabetic patients, the are rare scenarios, they may worsen your diabetic condition, given that you suffer from diabetes. This is because this medicine makes it difficult for you to control your blood sugar levels as they have the ability to hide the fast beating of the heart which usually occurs when your blood pressure falls too low.
︎2. Also make sure to inform your doctor about any mental disorder or psychological disorder you be suffering from like depression.
3. Alcohol use should be decreased anyway but especially with this medicine. If Zafnol is taken with alcohol, it will increase the dizziness that you already experience when taking the drug.
4. Even the use of Medical Marijuana (MMJ), cannabis or and cannabinoids has the same effects, that is, increased dizziness. Let the doctor know if you have a history of either of these.
5. Make sure you don’t drive or use any heavy machinery or do any other work in general that requires complete concentration until you feel stable.
CONCLUSION
Zafnol should be taken on an empty stomach so that the absorption will not be altered. One dose of Zafnol is not going to bring it down noticeably, but rather continuous intake as prescribed by your treating physician.