I'm 67 years old and had a triple bypass at 62. Have been on blood pressure tabs (Retinec 20/6)for about 10 or 12 years, and have been taking a Beta-Blocker (Metaprolol) since the Bypass when the surgeon told me to keep my blood pressure under 120. That wasn't a proposition as it was always between 130 to 160 until recently. For the last few months I have been having a lot of light headedness bordering on dizziness and now my B/P ranges from 90/65 to 115/65. My question is, is it possible for my B/P to have become naturally lower so that now I can stop the tabs and maybe get rid of the light headedness. My heart rate ranges from 65 to 85 as a general rule at the moment. I am planning on stopping the Retinec tabs for a week or so but thought I would ask the question anyway in case there are other people that have been in a simular position that can enlighten me.;)
Cheers.......Jay Ar

Hi Jay,

Too much medication>>>too low BP>>>dizziness and lightheadedness.

Don't ever medicate to below 120 systolic; personally I think even THAT is too low unless it is achieved naturally.

I think you can lower the dosage of rhe metoprolol to the point below where the dizziness kicks in.

Probably the enalapril component in the Renetic has stopped working after 5 years but you may WELL need the thiazide diuretic.

But it's the metoprolol that's causing your symptoms...try HALF the dosage and see how you feel.

There IS a possibility that you can kick the meds altogether...the test is getting an AVERAGE BP over a month or two that stays under 140/90.

I'm 67 years old and had a triple bypass at 62. Have been on blood pressure tabs (Retinec 20/6)for about 10 or 12 years, and have been taking a Beta-Blocker (Metaprolol) since the Bypass when the surgeon told me to keep my blood pressure under 120. That wasn't a proposition as it was always between 130 to 160 until recently. For the last few months I have been having a lot of light headedness bordering on dizziness and now my B/P ranges from 90/65 to 115/65. My question is, is it possible for my B/P to have become naturally lower so that now I can stop the tabs and maybe get rid of the light headedness. My heart rate ranges from 65 to 85 as a general rule at the moment. I am planning on stopping the Retinec tabs for a week or so but thought I would ask the question anyway in case there are other people that have been in a simular position that can enlighten me.;)
Cheers.......Jay Ar

Your doctor is correct. Keep the blood pressure below 120 and my doctors concur, or as my doc states a low as possible without side effects. Your symptoms require an adjustment to your medication not stoppage. Don't self- medicate as a short-term benefit (unless at end of life) may enhance a future unfavorable consequence. The doctor should have a complete medical chart on your condition, and is in the best position to make medical decisions.

Obviously, you had vessel occlusions that required a bypass. When there is any degree of occlusion and at an age of 60 or more there will be some occlusion and hardening of the arteries, and as a result the heart has to work harder against the higher resistance and that is measured high blood pressure. Medication reduces resistance by relaxing and opening vessels and the less resistance will be a better functioning heart in the long run.

Stopping your med may cause you to feel better, but is that in your best interest? Need to find the level of dosage that keeps your bp below 120 without side effects.

Medicating to below 120 is medically irresponsible and medicating to 90 systolic is probably criminal.
Your body is getting dizzy and lightleaded becasue your doctor sounds like he is too.

Any researching the subject will find virtually no practitioners who pile on enough drugs for a 67year old to achieve pressures this low...for the very reason that they don't want seniors getting dizzy and falling down steps.

Overmedication probably kills FAR more senior citizens with heart disease than it helps.

Medicating to below 120 is medically irresponsible and medicating to 90 systolic is probably criminal.
Your body is getting dizzy and lightleaded becasue your doctor sounds like he is too.

Any researching the subject will find virtually no practitioners who pile on enough drugs for a 67year old to achieve pressures this low...for the very reason that they don't want seniors getting dizzy and falling down steps.

Overmedication probably kills FAR more senior citizens with heart disease than it helps.

An IMPAIRED heart needs support and that includes reducing afterload (bp, etc.). To subject a healthy heart to a systole measurement of 170 is comparable in deterioration would be to subject a unhealthy heart to 120. That is common sense!

You miss the point! The objective is to get the blood pressure as low as possible without side effects. There IS a range below 120 (normal for a healthy heart) and no side effeccts...What doctor or who has said one should tolerate side effects? The objective for bp medication to give relief to a heart's workload (the lower the better). This treatment is consistent with risk/benefit medication management based on evaluation of the totality of the patient's health.

What is irresponsible is to not know the medical facts and with pontification suggest someone should self-medicate and/or experiment, and make a correction of their medication based on their short term reaction.

QUOTE: "Overrmedication probably kills FAR more senior citizens with heart disease than it helps."

That is ridiculous. It should be said far more die from self-medication and/or stop medications. Get the facts straight.:D

WOW, I didn't set out to create any conflict but it seems that there is a couple of different opinions. Any way I stopped the Retinec B/P tabs for 4 days and the light headedness did seem to be reduced but still there in a small way. My B/P went from around 100-115/70 to about 140-150/75-80, those are approx averages from many readings. I have resumed the B/P meds and am now wondering if my problem could have something to do with Tinnitus. I've had it for years and it varies in severity all the time and I have occasional periods where my ears feel full, (like holding your nose and breathing out ) and last week I blue my nose and heard a bubbly noise in the right ear. I will mention this to my Dr and see what he thinks. My Father died at age 43 in 1953 and I have outlived him by 25 years so I suppose I shouldn't grizzle too much.
Thanks for the advice Lenin and Kenkeith.
Cheers.....Jay Are

The objective for bp medication to give relief to a heart's workload (the lower the better)

Taken to it's extreme this means a BP of 0/0, and a workload of nothing...commonly called death.
Blood pressure is an intricate mechanism that the body uses to deliver nutrients to it's cells. Ham-handedly lowering it as low as drugs are able to do is malpractice and indicates a doctor who probably hasn't a clue what blood pressure is all about who would be better sticking to his golf game full time.

The SLIGHTEST research done into the matter will show that if there are any doctors medicating BP to below 120, especially for the elderly, they are in the gross minority!
In the real world, GOOD doctors don't do it.

Jay, you didn't create any conflict. It probably is my fault as I didn't explain my perspective fully. Lenin has too much time on his hands, and likes to argue to reduce boredom, but he's harmless if not taken seriously at times, but amusing and my friend.:D

Some elderly people (greater than 75) have lower blood pressure as they age and obviously wouldn't be given lower bp meds or aggressive therapy. Normal RANGE generally is 90/60 to 130/80. Medication should attempt to target lower range without side effects.

Generally, chronic low bp is almost never serious, but it can be a health problem if bp drops suddenly. If that is happening, the doc should determine the correct treatrment and identify any heart, brain, or nervous system problems.

Of significance to 140-150/75-80 is an abnormal pulse pressure. High pulse pressure (difference between systole and diastole...norm 40) should be medically treated to reduce the pulse pressure. The etiology can be explained that often as one ages the arteries, vessels stiffens causing higher systolic pressure. The increased pressure forces more blood into smaller vessels when the heart beats, consequently, less blood is present during (between heart beats) to support diastolic phase (filling stage). The high systole pressure indicates hardening of the arteries and some occlusion.

The longivity difference is probably due to better medication to reduce bp and heart rate. With less work, longer functionality.

I'm 67 years old and had a triple bypass at 62. Have been on blood pressure tabs (Retinec 20/6)for about 10 or 12 years, and have been taking a Beta-Blocker (Metaprolol) since the Bypass when the surgeon told me to keep my blood pressure under 120. That wasn't a proposition as it was always between 130 to 160 until recently. For the last few months I have been having a lot of light headedness bordering on dizziness and now my B/P ranges from 90/65 to 115/65. My question is, is it possible for my B/P to have become naturally lower so that now I can stop the tabs and maybe get rid of the light headedness. My heart rate ranges from 65 to 85 as a general rule at the moment. I am planning on stopping the Retinec tabs for a week or so but thought I would ask the question anyway in case there are other people that have been in a simular position that can enlighten me.;)
Cheers.......Jay Ar

Hi Jay,
I am having exactly the same problem as you as you may have read in my previous thread. I was on Inderal LA 80 mgs for years and then suddenly developped dizzy spells and lightheadedness. My BP was around the same as yours with postural hypotension.I was mismanaged by my GP who stopped Inderal altogether which led me to have panic attacks, tachycadia etc. I have now seen a Cardiologist who has put me back on Propranaolol 20mgs bd. My BP is still low ranging from 80/50 to 105/65. I'm awaiting more hospital tests. Did you have any probs with blurring vision when BP was so low ??
All the best, Janice