I was diagnosed with hypertension three years ago. I had been taking DIOVAN and it was keeping it under control until last month. My doctor changed my medication to BENICAR 40/25 HCT three weeks ago and it was working great with average readings below 115/75. Yesterday I checked it at home and it was 132/88. I checked it again about an hour later and it was still high. Today I checked it on one of those machines at the Pharmacy and it was 167/99..What happened? Why would the medication stop working all of a sudden? I probably did not pay much attention to my diet over the holidays and I drink Red wine but I only drink in moderation. Is there a chance that I may have RESISTANT HYPERTENSION ?

See if it improves after you go back to your low-fat, low-salt diet. I bet it does.

Thanks, I called my doctor yesterday and the nurse told me to never rely on accurate readings on the machines in the stores and She did ask me about salt and I told her I had not payed much attention to my diet over the holidays and that I had eaten Chinese food a few times and I know that food is loaded with sodium. I am going to watch my diet and see what happens. She said that drinking moderately ( red wine ) would not raise my blood pressure so at least I can enjoy a couple glasses of wine without worrying about that...