Hi All,

I am 49. I have had high blood pressure issues for 9 years. I have controlled using holistic remedies and weight reduction. When my blood pressure went to 160/100 my doctor started me on medicine. I started on Diovan HCT 80/12.5 and I was doing quite well for about 3 weeks. My blood pressure had returned to 120/80. As I heve been doing for years, I continued my exercise program. During the week I walk 2 miles dailyand and on Saturday I speed walk 5 miles, on the Diovan I could not do the 5 miles. Note: I was also taking Kwai garlic tablets, Flax seed and apple vinegar. When I called my doctor she told me to stop the Diovan immediately. Actually I talked to the doctor through her nurse. Before I stopped however I went and had the nurse take my pressure and it was 108/60. So I stopped, in a month it shot back up to 158/100. My doctor has now put me on Lotrel. Only been on it 4 days. She has asked that I do not take my pressure for 10 days. She feels like I am too hyper about. My questions are:

Has any adverse reactions using BP medicine and natural supplements?


Do you think I should have stayed on Diovan and discontinued the supplements?

Any one had any experience with Lotrel?

I am thinking about going to Naturopath doctor, does anyone have experience with that?

Sandra,

I think what happened during the speedwalk was a dehydration from combination of diuretic (HCTZ) and perspiration. You were probably low on both sodium and potassium. It happens A LOT! I think the DIOVAN (angiotensin receptor blocker) is totally blameless.

You are now on a combo drug (calcium channel blocker + ACE inhibitor) that might very well leave you both jittery and coughing all the time.

How about plain DIOVAN instead if you have problems with the Lotensin...maybe separate HCTZ as needed (or not.) rather than "built-in" which always strikes me as a dizzy idea (but it's profitable because they get to extend patent protection.)

The garlic, flax, and cider vinegar don't seem implicated in ANY conceivable way.

Sandra,

I think what happened during the speedwalk was a dehydration from combination of diuretic (HCTZ) and perspiration. You were probably low on both sodium and potassium. It happens A LOT! I think the DIOVAN (angiotensin receptor blocker) is totally blameless.

You are now on a combo drug (calcium channel blocker + ACE inhibitor) that might very well leave you both jittery and coughing all the time.

How about plain DIOVAN instead if you have problems with the Lotensin...maybe separate HCTZ as needed (or not.) rather than "built-in" which always strikes me as a dizzy idea (but it's profitable because they get to extend patent protection.)

The garlic, flax, and cider vinegar don't seem implicated in ANY conceivable way.

I wanted to that just plain Diovan, but doctor did not even discuss it! The
calcium channel blocker + ACE inhibitor seems to bring in a truck load of new concerns, and I would rather stay on the Diovan. I think I need to find a new doctor, is it ok to switch around until I find one that works?

I have a 1a;30 appoitment today with a Holistic medicine doctor, any advice or experience is welcome!