I have been taking Benicar HCT DOSE 40/25 now for a month and my blood pressure is averaging 115/75 and lower readings. I did have a few days of higher readings 135/88 and I called my doctor and the nurse asked me if I had eaten alot of sodium. This was around the Holidays and I had not watched my diet and had Chinese food a few times and had Hot dogs and some other high sodium foods. She told me to eat a low sodium diet so I did start to watch my diet and my blood pressure came back down. Why do I have to watch my sodium intake? I thought the diuretic eliminated the salt out of your system? The nurse also told me that 135/88 was still a good reading??

I am also on Benicar 40/25 and have been for two years. It has done a great job maintaining my blood pressure under 110/70. The diuretic is eliminating the excess water in your system which lowers your fluid load an the volume of blood in your system which lowers your blood pressure.

135/88 is considered pre-hypertensive, not offically high blood pressure which is 140/90. When I first started I still had had elevated readings like that from time to time, but the longer I've been on it the more consistent my readings have become. I very rarely get over 120/80, usually only briefly after exercise. Hope this helps, good luck.

Tony

George,

That nurse is talking out of the wrong orifice.
People who are taking HCTZ have no need to restrict salt, in fact doing so can be quite dangerous because low serum sodium can kill.

Never worry about occasional BP run-ups...that's what BP is supposed to do when your cells need more nutrition. It is only the long term average that is of concern.

Mine goes up here and there too. Your meds can only control high BP not elimitate it. I make sure i do an hour of Cardio 5 to 6 days a week that way i know if nothing else my heart muscle and lungs are in peak condition. I eat junk from time to time but try to eat right atleas 3 of the 4 meals i eat a day. Stress more than anything will raise your BP. Even a person without high BP will have major spikes when worked up. When i have a good 4 or 5 day run being relaxed MY bp actually gets abit to low. 110/64. I will tell anyone with any heart or BP issure contolling stress makes a HUGE difference for me.

Mine goes up here and there too. Your meds can only control high BP not elimitate it. I make sure i do an hour of Cardio 5 to 6 days a week that way i know if nothing else my heart muscle and lungs are in peak condition. I eat junk from time to time but try to eat right atleas 3 of the 4 meals i eat a day. Stress more than anything will raise your BP. Even a person without high BP will have major spikes when worked up. When i have a good 4 or 5 day run being relaxed MY bp actually gets abit to low. 110/64. I will tell anyone with any heart or BP issure contolling stress makes a HUGE difference for me.

Thanks everybody, My blood pressure has stayed below 120/80 averaging 110/75 now so I think I am all set and the medication is working very well for me..