Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking coenzyme Q as follows:
- Discuss with your physician regarding all your medications and their risk of causing hypotensive episodes. Avoid taking other medications causing hypotension, concurrently with coenzyme Q, as they could complement each other on lowering the blood pressure, thus leading to episodes of severe hypotension and confusion. Observing a 2 – 3 hour window between the intake of these medications can help prevent development of hypotension and associated dizziness.
- Coenzyme Q can also induce extreme dry mouth and diarrhea. Sucking on a sugar free hard candy can help with symptomatic relief of dry mouth. Proper hydration measures and compliance with daily fluid intake recommendations can help with fluid supplementation in individuals with diarrhea. Observing compliance with fluid intake recommendations can also help with preventing episodes of hypotension, secondary to fluid loss. These symptoms should settle and ease out in due course of time, after you start taking the medication on regular basis. If you experience any further bothersome diarrhea, report it to your physician for further recommendations and changes in your plan of care.
- Coenzyme Q intake carries the risk of lowering the blood pressure. Hypotension, secondary to coenzyme Q intake, can lead to episodes of confusion and dizziness. Avoid sudden changes in position, until you are used to the side-effects of coenzyme Q intake. Sudden change of positions can make the confusion and dizzy episodes even worse and precipitate accidents and falls. Report any episodes of increased dizziness, syncope, and loss of consciousness while taking coenzyme Q. Stay away from activities, such as, driving and operating heavy machinery, until they are used to the side effects caused by coenzyme Q.
