Flutterbye77
05-03-2009, 12:54 PM
I know this topic has been discuessed multiple times, with different opinions.
But I swear my medication is causing weight gain.. this not only upsets me but my husband seems a little put off by it. He thinks I should either change doctors or demand a different BP medication.
My doctor on the other hand claims the medication i am on does not cause weight gain which is azor 5/40 norvac/benicar I belive is the combo and a low dose water pill.
Should I change doctors? I am frustrated with this issue. He put me back on and I dont know why because my pressure is low, but thats besides the point.
Are there meds that dont cause weight gain?
by the way I know men usually arent affected with weight gain like females.
But I swear my medication is causing weight gain.. this not only upsets me but my husband seems a little put off by it. He thinks I should either change doctors or demand a different BP medication.
My doctor on the other hand claims the medication i am on does not cause weight gain which is azor 5/40 norvac/benicar I belive is the combo and a low dose water pill.
Should I change doctors? I am frustrated with this issue. He put me back on and I dont know why because my pressure is low, but thats besides the point.
Are there meds that dont cause weight gain?
by the way I know men usually arent affected with weight gain like females.
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march95
05-03-2009, 01:17 PM
When I was just on my enalipril I was fine and able to lose weight by dieting, but since I have been taking hydroclorot I have gained 10 pounds since Dec. I lost 4 pounds from water when I first started it, but I am constantly hungry now. My stomach starts growling like it hasn't had food even if I ate an hour ago. I know it can't be all in my mind because I was never hungry all the time like this before.
My water pill is 25mg. but I am cutting that in have to only 12.5mg a day.
My water pill is 25mg. but I am cutting that in have to only 12.5mg a day.
tjlhb
05-03-2009, 01:21 PM
He put me back on and I dont know why because my pressure is low, but thats besides the point.
By "low", do you mean 120/80 or less without medication?
If so, prescribing blood pressure medication without explaining to you why does not seem like good medical practice.
By "low", do you mean 120/80 or less without medication?
If so, prescribing blood pressure medication without explaining to you why does not seem like good medical practice.
Flutterbye77
05-03-2009, 01:37 PM
well now my bp is 80/60 - 100/70 average is 98/70. Since my last baby over a year ago I have hypertension. I peeked at 191/110! Woot!!! Was a bit scary.
My doctor said once you have hypertension you always do. So it's not a problem for me to take the medication. I do go off pretending I don't need it anymore when in fact i do. eventually after a couple weeks or so the bp will creep up.
I was just curious if these meds DO infact cause weight gain and what medications are not a problem.
My doctor said once you have hypertension you always do. So it's not a problem for me to take the medication. I do go off pretending I don't need it anymore when in fact i do. eventually after a couple weeks or so the bp will creep up.
I was just curious if these meds DO infact cause weight gain and what medications are not a problem.
tjlhb
05-03-2009, 01:57 PM
You are right to be concerned about fat gain (as opposed to weight gain from water or muscle), if that is indeed happening, since higher body fat tends to be associated with higher blood pressure.
Increased exercise is one treatment that will help in both lowering blood pressure and reducing body fat.
Increased exercise is one treatment that will help in both lowering blood pressure and reducing body fat.
Flutterbye77
05-12-2009, 06:17 PM
ok this is nuts, I have gained 5 pounds in just a couple days. these meds HAVE to be casing weight gain... there is no other explaination! I am having some blood taken at the endo's tommorow mornig, but 3 months ago I was fine, so I am guessing it cant be thyroid.
famnd
05-13-2009, 12:44 AM
Are you still having the burning in your legs, Flutterbye? I've gained about 20 lbs in the 6 yrs since going on b/p meds (HCTZ & Lebatalol- an alpha/beta blocker.) Fam
Flutterbye77
05-13-2009, 09:06 AM
I gained 20 in the past year! it's got to be te pills
rudiraven
05-13-2009, 12:12 PM
Flutterbye,
I disagree with your Dr. that once you have HBP you always will. My BP used to be high. I was put on meds, (Diovan and Maxide) which I took for about a year. In the meantime, I started to exercise and lose weight and was able to come off the BP meds. I haven't taken them for about 8 years. I just keep track of my BP at home. Ask your Dr. to try a different med that doesn't make you gain weight or you're just stuck in never ending circle because the weight gain will keep your BP up. I wish you well.
I disagree with your Dr. that once you have HBP you always will. My BP used to be high. I was put on meds, (Diovan and Maxide) which I took for about a year. In the meantime, I started to exercise and lose weight and was able to come off the BP meds. I haven't taken them for about 8 years. I just keep track of my BP at home. Ask your Dr. to try a different med that doesn't make you gain weight or you're just stuck in never ending circle because the weight gain will keep your BP up. I wish you well.
Flutterbye77
05-13-2009, 01:05 PM
he denies the BP pills are causing the weight gain. sad thing is my Azor cost $60 a month. I hate refilling it!!
flowergirl2day
05-13-2009, 11:09 PM
Hi Flutter, :)
have there been any changes to your lifestyle or medication recently?> Rapid weight gain is usually associated with water retention. Perhaps you've become more salt-sensitive. I have issues with water retention and have lived with it for some time now. If I eat a salty meal, the fluid retention becomes much worse.
Amlodipine (like other calcium channel blockers) causes fluid retention. This adverse effect is usually dose-dependent. So, most people are not symptomatic on a low dose. Because everyone is different and some of us are more sensitive than others, it is possible that your weight gain is from fluid retention. An individual needs to retain about 3 liters of fluid before the swelling becomes evident. This amounts to a sizable weight gain. With smaller amounts of fluid retained there might not be any swelling.
I hope you can sort it out. Other posters have offered some very helpful advice. The bottom line is, of course, good blood pressure control, regardless of the means used to achieve it.
FG
have there been any changes to your lifestyle or medication recently?> Rapid weight gain is usually associated with water retention. Perhaps you've become more salt-sensitive. I have issues with water retention and have lived with it for some time now. If I eat a salty meal, the fluid retention becomes much worse.
Amlodipine (like other calcium channel blockers) causes fluid retention. This adverse effect is usually dose-dependent. So, most people are not symptomatic on a low dose. Because everyone is different and some of us are more sensitive than others, it is possible that your weight gain is from fluid retention. An individual needs to retain about 3 liters of fluid before the swelling becomes evident. This amounts to a sizable weight gain. With smaller amounts of fluid retained there might not be any swelling.
I hope you can sort it out. Other posters have offered some very helpful advice. The bottom line is, of course, good blood pressure control, regardless of the means used to achieve it.
FG
1awesomegranny
05-14-2009, 08:04 AM
I too have gained weight since being put on lisinopril/hctz 20/12.5 in October, about 15-18 lbs and its not lifestyle, that hasn't changed. Its frustrating!
Conni
Conni
flowergirl2day
05-14-2009, 10:58 AM
Interestingly, FDA has just approved the use of AZOR - a combination of amlodipine and olmesartan- as first-line therapy in hypertensive people who are likely to need multiple medications to achieve their blood pressure goals, according to one of this morning's e-mails.
This decision was based on the results of phase III trial, in which a combination blood pressure treatment with amlodipine/olmesartan was compared to treatment with only one agent - a placebo, amlodipine or olmesartan. During the 8 weeks of testing, there was a greater reduction in blood pressure in more people with AZOR than with a single agent.
The adverse reactions were listed as: edema, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, rash, pruritus, palpitations, urinary frequency and nocturia (having to get up to urinate at night).
This decision was based on the results of phase III trial, in which a combination blood pressure treatment with amlodipine/olmesartan was compared to treatment with only one agent - a placebo, amlodipine or olmesartan. During the 8 weeks of testing, there was a greater reduction in blood pressure in more people with AZOR than with a single agent.
The adverse reactions were listed as: edema, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, rash, pruritus, palpitations, urinary frequency and nocturia (having to get up to urinate at night).
Flutterbye77
05-14-2009, 11:23 AM
yes he put me on azor after the benicar didnt lower my bp alone. After I deleivered my baby my BP went insane. he gave me azor and it stil didnt work well. he then added a water pill and it dropped to normal ranges and now on the low side. but that took months for my pressure to go low.
sometimes I wonder if I really need the azor since the water pill is the one that seemed to make the real difference.
sometimes I wonder if I really need the azor since the water pill is the one that seemed to make the real difference.
flowergirl2day
05-14-2009, 11:52 AM
Flutter,
if you are like the rest of us, your medications will change through time. There are many to choose from, and quite a few perfectly capable of getting the job done. If the side effects bother you and you are willing to experiment a little bit, ask for something else. You probably don't NEED this particular medication, but it works, which is the main thing. There are times, of course, when specific antihypertensives are indicated because of the co-existing medical issues.
FG
if you are like the rest of us, your medications will change through time. There are many to choose from, and quite a few perfectly capable of getting the job done. If the side effects bother you and you are willing to experiment a little bit, ask for something else. You probably don't NEED this particular medication, but it works, which is the main thing. There are times, of course, when specific antihypertensives are indicated because of the co-existing medical issues.
FG
Flutterbye77
05-14-2009, 12:30 PM
well being female, weight gain to us is very serious busniess. lol that and I am only 5'3. I never been heavy and only had to battle 5-10 poinds every so often. This is very difficult for me right now. It only happened sionce I started taking these pills. My pregnancy weioght was falling off, then I started these pills and it kept going up. I am pretty sure it's the pills.
Flutterbye77
05-14-2009, 02:34 PM
Interestingly, FDA has just approved the use of AZOR - a combination of amlodipine and olmesartan- as first-line therapy in hypertensive people who are likely to need multiple medications to achieve their blood pressure goals, according to one of this morning's e-mails.
This decision was based on the results of phase III trial, in which a combination blood pressure treatment with amlodipine/olmesartan was compared to treatment with only one agent - a placebo, amlodipine or olmesartan. During the 8 weeks of testing, there was a greater reduction in blood pressure in more people with AZOR than with a single agent.
The adverse reactions were listed as: edema, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, rash, pruritus, palpitations, urinary frequency and nocturia (having to get up to urinate at night).
wouldnt it be obvious if my weight gain was caused from edema?
This decision was based on the results of phase III trial, in which a combination blood pressure treatment with amlodipine/olmesartan was compared to treatment with only one agent - a placebo, amlodipine or olmesartan. During the 8 weeks of testing, there was a greater reduction in blood pressure in more people with AZOR than with a single agent.
The adverse reactions were listed as: edema, hypotension, orthostatic hypotension, rash, pruritus, palpitations, urinary frequency and nocturia (having to get up to urinate at night).
wouldnt it be obvious if my weight gain was caused from edema?
flowergirl2day
05-15-2009, 03:14 AM
wouldnt it be obvious if my weight gain was caused from edema?
Not necessarily. Weight gain and general weakness can happen before the edema is seen. Sometimes, the only signs of edema in mild stages are puffiness around the eyes and shoes that feel too tight.
In any case, the mechanism behind a CCB-induced edema does not involve sodium and fluid retention. The concurrent use of an ACE or an ARB and amlodipine is supposed to reduce the frequency and severity of edema.
Your weight gain could have many other causes, including (drug) slowed metabolism with decreased energy output. Interestingly, weight gain is listed as a side effect of amlodipine in several (but not all) sources of drug information. Should you experience a sudden weight gain on the calcium channel blocker, you are supposed to notify your doctor (for what it's worth....) :)
FG
Not necessarily. Weight gain and general weakness can happen before the edema is seen. Sometimes, the only signs of edema in mild stages are puffiness around the eyes and shoes that feel too tight.
In any case, the mechanism behind a CCB-induced edema does not involve sodium and fluid retention. The concurrent use of an ACE or an ARB and amlodipine is supposed to reduce the frequency and severity of edema.
Your weight gain could have many other causes, including (drug) slowed metabolism with decreased energy output. Interestingly, weight gain is listed as a side effect of amlodipine in several (but not all) sources of drug information. Should you experience a sudden weight gain on the calcium channel blocker, you are supposed to notify your doctor (for what it's worth....) :)
FG
Flutterbye77
05-15-2009, 12:00 PM
Thank you flowergirl. I have an appt with a new doctor next thursday, sheeesh I think I need a 2nd opinion. My regular doctor just ignores me and treats me like an hysterical female who is upset about weight gain. yes i am upset, but one would think he would notice a steady increase of weight gain since starting these meds. he knows my history and weight gain is not typical for me. so I dont know what he is thinking.
I am guessing a steady 2-3 pounds a month for the past year. doesn't something seem wrong to you?
I am guessing a steady 2-3 pounds a month for the past year. doesn't something seem wrong to you?
tjlhb
05-15-2009, 03:22 PM
My regular doctor just ignores me and treats me like an hysterical female who is upset about weight gain.
Probably jaded from listening to women who think that they are fat when they are not... too many false alarms may make him ignore a real problem. Also, men tend to be less concerned about getting fat, even though men tend to accumulate more of their fat as more dangerous abdominal fat than women do.
When choosing a new primary doctor, you may want to try to find one with some interest in your particular health issues and habits (some medical groups have doctor profiles on their web sites). Also, one of the same gender and similar age or slightly older may be more likely to have personal experience with the same health issues you have (at least the age-specific and gender-specific ones).
I am guessing a steady 2-3 pounds a month for the past year. doesn't something seem wrong to you?
If the gains are not muscle from diligent strength exercise and clean diet, then that is definitely a cause for concern. Particularly if it is accompanied by an increasing waist size (measured at navel level). Waist size may be a better method of measuring body fat (particularly the more health-risky abdominal fat) than weight alone, when the question of muscle versus fat weight comes up.
Probably jaded from listening to women who think that they are fat when they are not... too many false alarms may make him ignore a real problem. Also, men tend to be less concerned about getting fat, even though men tend to accumulate more of their fat as more dangerous abdominal fat than women do.
When choosing a new primary doctor, you may want to try to find one with some interest in your particular health issues and habits (some medical groups have doctor profiles on their web sites). Also, one of the same gender and similar age or slightly older may be more likely to have personal experience with the same health issues you have (at least the age-specific and gender-specific ones).
I am guessing a steady 2-3 pounds a month for the past year. doesn't something seem wrong to you?
If the gains are not muscle from diligent strength exercise and clean diet, then that is definitely a cause for concern. Particularly if it is accompanied by an increasing waist size (measured at navel level). Waist size may be a better method of measuring body fat (particularly the more health-risky abdominal fat) than weight alone, when the question of muscle versus fat weight comes up.
Flutterbye77
05-15-2009, 04:03 PM
I am guessing it must be the meds. I had my thyroid checked and it's perfect. I had it rechecked again and waiting for the results.
I dont know what other BP meds I can go on if it is infact the medication causing this. I am kind of new to BP meds
I am upset because he is my primary doctor and he see's my weight each visit. He saw it going up and I pointed it out. He never ONCE admitted it could be the medication.
I dont know what other BP meds I can go on if it is infact the medication causing this. I am kind of new to BP meds
I am upset because he is my primary doctor and he see's my weight each visit. He saw it going up and I pointed it out. He never ONCE admitted it could be the medication.
Flutterbye77
05-20-2009, 05:21 PM
well today my endo put me on phentermine and I am seeing a new doc tommorow, it was recommended I get off the norvasc, meaning a change in BP medication.