Q: What high blood pressure medications cause gum growth?
A: The calcium channel blocking high blood pressure medications can cause gum growth or gingival over-growth. These medications disrupt the calcium ion passage through calcium channels. Examples of these drugs include Amlodipine (Norvasc), Barnidipine (HypoCa) Cilnidipine (Atelec, Cinalong, Siscard) Clevidipine (Cleviprex) Isradipine (DynaCirc, Prescal) Felodipine (Plendil) Nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat) Nimodipine (Nimotop) and others.
How these medications influence gum overgrowth is not clearly known but dental plaque plays an important role. When people taking these medications have good plaque control, the incidence and severity of gum overgrowth is minimal. However, inadequate plaque control in people taking these medications leads to overly exaggerated gum overgrowth. When gum overgrowth is severe, the over grown gum tissue must be removed through a surgery. In less severe cases, professional cleaning with good plaque control at home can help the gum overgrowth under control.
Other medications that are know to cause gum overgrowth are dilantine and cyclosporin.
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