During the last year I was having blood pressure spikes every few weeks. My blood pressure was extremely high during the spikes, 185/98 or higher with a high pulse for me, 120 (normal pulse is 59-65). After several visits to the ER and my family doctor, I went to an endocrinologist. I am taking Diovan 160 and Clonidine. She suggested that I stop using the HRT because that can cause high blood pressure. I stopped the HRT six months ago, and my blood pressure slowly dropped and I am no longer having any spikes. I've noticed during the last week that my blood pressure is low most of the day, 85/50 with a pulse of 59. I haven't been getting dizzy but I am concerned that this is too low. The only problem is I am having major hot flashes and then I am cold the rest of the time. I would appreciate any comments. Thanks! :)

:cool: I know how you feel. I was having the same. I've gone to the cardiologist and had echo's, blood tests...etc. Nothing. I've been doing good for a few months but once again getting the spikes. Then my BP will go really low and I would get not hot flashes but the chills. I am on 20mg of Lisinopril and .01 of Chlonidine also. It seems to me the chlonidine is working....the lisinopril doesn't seem to do much.

I think the spike could be attributed to back pain I experienced after lifting something....so I'm not sure.

Anyway....what is your doesage of Chlonidine?

I am wondering why we're getting hot flashes and cold flashes on our medication. Is it a blood pressure problem? It awakens me out of my sleep and it's very nervewracking. Along with that is agitation. Is this common?

I am wondering why we're getting hot flashes and cold flashes on our medication. Is it a blood pressure problem? It awakens me out of my sleep and it's very nervewracking. Along with that is agitation. Is this common?

Lola, you might want to check out the perimenopause or menopause board....some of these symptoms could be found there.

Lola, you might want to check out the perimenopause or menopause board....some of these symptoms could be found there.

Menopause occured 8 years ago. I have been over that for years. Do you think it could start up again?

Umm...well, I don't know. I'm 37 years old and I think I have perimenopause. My BP is out of control at times too. I noticed when I do not have my period for that month, my BP spikes. My doc says this cannot be it...but why is it always like that. When I have a month when I do have my period, my BP is always near normal.

Anyway...just a thought...I still think hormones have a lot to do with it! :bouncing:

Thanks for all your responses. It's good to know I'm not alone with these symptoms. I am taking 0.1mg of clonidine split into two doses, morning and night. It really makes me sleepy. Taking 0.1mg twice a day kept me totally drugged. Could hardly stay awake. :)

Clonidine is really good at lowering the bp. Maybe now you are off the HRT you don't need it. You might want to think about tapering off the clonidine and see if you can get bp control with just the Diovan. Maybe start by just taking your bedtime dose, and skipping the daytime dose.

Thanks for all your responses. It's good to know I'm not alone with these symptoms. I am taking 0.1mg of clonidine split into two doses, morning and night. It really makes me sleepy. Taking 0.1mg twice a day kept me totally drugged. Could hardly stay awake. :)

Gray,

I've been home for the past few days and I've been taking my Chlonidine .01 and I tell you I have been so useless. I wanted to do some spring cleaning and I just can't get up and get going! I have been trying to control my spikes by going to my full dose in the AM with Lisinopril and I get SOOOO sleepy! What can we do to wake up!!!??? I hate feeling like a zombie!

I know how ya feel! I used to be so perky and :bouncing: but this med just brings me down. I love the idea that it brings my BP down. I've tried caffene too but it brought my BP up also - Green tea. I thought Green Tea was supposed to make BP go down??? I also have tried chocolate :p but it helps me for a while...but then when I stop....it brings me down even moreso than after taking my chlonidine! I tried the 1/2 in the am and 1/2 at night and it didn't seem to do much help. My BP was very elevated last night 160/105-108 and I took a full tablet. Woke up this AM and it was high again. So took my full dose and I'm back down to 118/87. CRAZY!!! I think I'm lethargic because of the sudden drops!! :confused:

I wonder if I would be ok on the skin patch.....does it time release and what is the doseage on those? I'm going to change GP's because this one doesn't think its hormones, doesn't think its stress....after telling her what I do for a living. So, before I leave her next month, I would like to have her let me try out the catapres. LOL...I'll probably need two for each arm!!! I'm feeling much better now that I took a little cat nap...I'm actually washing dishes!!! It's only mid day!!! Haha

Yeah, I hope it does. I've got a call into my current GP. Maybe I'll ask about that if she can prescribe over the phone. I'm only on .01 mg right now but am thinking I need to be at least at .02. One in the am and one in the pm. If the patch works...it just gives you a steady dose huh? Wow! I'm going to ask about it. My only concern is that my skin is very alkaline. I develop rashes, etc...to many things. I hope this won't be one.
Thanks so much for your input!!
Girl of Steel

I also have sensitive skin to all kinds of things. I found the patch to be a bit itchy at times, but not enough to make me take it off. I found I almost always had to put the adhesive patch (lovely white circle thingie) over the medicated patch, because the medicated patch would start to peel at the corners after a couple of days.