Drugs Used to Regulate Blood Pressure

Drugs Used to Regulate Blood Pressure
Name
Institution
Drugs Used to Regulate Blood Pressure
1) What is your differential diagnosis for what is occurring with this patient? (2 pts)
The differential diagnosis for the patient’s signs and symptoms include allergic reaction and angioedema resulting from the patient’s medications. Certain drugs such as aspirin and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) like enalapril the patient is using can cause allergic reactions and angioedema (Tindall, Sedrak, & Boltri, 2014). Metoprolol and hydrochlorothiazide might also lead to allergic reactions which are common with beta-blockers and sulfur-containing drugs. Even though allergic reactions could be a direct adverse effect of these drugs, angioedema often results from an allergic reaction and is a more severe problem (Kelly, Donnelly, McAnnally, & Wang, 2013). Since angioedema mostly affects deeper skin layers, it is ruled out in this case, and the final diagnosis is an allergic reaction.
2) What immediate treatment will you provide to the patient in your office based on his symptoms? (2 pts)
Based on the patient’s diagnosis, the immediate treatment to provide is an antihistamine to relieve the symptoms. Antihistamines counter the effect of histamine that is responsible for allergy reactions and other histamine-related actions upon binding to histamine receptors (Tindall, Sedrak, and Boltri, 2014). It will also be important to review the patient’s medications to rule out drug-induced allergic reactions.

3) What patient education are you going to provide to the patient to prevent further symptoms from occurring? (1 pt)
At the time of discharge, it is important to educate the patient about their medications and their possible adverse effects such as rash and pruritus. They should be advised to take their medicines as recommended in terms of dosage and time of use and to monitor any abnormal signs such as difficulty in breathing and dizziness. It is also important to advise the patient to regularly monitor their blood pressure and sugar levels to ensure that their condition is well controlled.
References
Kelly, M., Donnelly, J. P., McAnnally, J. R., & Wang, H. E. (2013, March). National estimates of emergency department visits for angioedema and allergic reactions in the United States. In Allergy & Asthma Proceedings (Vol. 34, No. 2).
Tindall, W. N., Sedrak, M., & Boltri, J. (2014). Patient-Centered Pharmacology: Learning System for the Conscientious Prescriber. FA Davis.