Hi there! My father is 74 years old and had a stroke last year; his blood pressure is well-managed with carvedilol—I think it’s the same dosage you mentioned.

Since your mother’s on multiple medications, if it were me (or my father 🙂 I’d probably want to clarify with the cardiologist. I’m just that kind of person, and it does no harm to double-check, right?

In my family’s situation, we are all extremely sensitive to medication, and so the general philosophy, including with his care team is that the least amount of medications, the better.

Specific to the BP medication, my dad’s cardiologist advised him not to take it if his blood pressure was low enough. In fact, my mom is a retired RN who worked in a skilled nursing facility (aka nursing home), and she specifically asked him: “Is there a cutoff when he shouldn’t take the medicine?” And that’s when he gave us the cutoff, but I can’t remember what it is right now because I’m not the one who doses his BP meds. I guess it’s common.

Also, my dad was getting side effects taking a higher dosage and/or taking it too frequently. He was getting headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Those side effects went away when adjusting the dose and checking his BP.

If your mom is bothered by side effects, it’s probably nothing to worry about, but it also wouldn’t hurt to double-check. I get that it can be a pain to check BP all the time, but maybe it’s one of those things where finding a super easy to use blood pressure cuff—for example I know they have ones that just go around your wrist—might be worth it if it would remove a barrier? Sometimes I have to trick myself into doing things >_<

Hope that helps to hear another family’s experience!