Anxity and BP Meds - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

CASSIEBEL · 05-11-2004, 05:53 PM

Hi all,
I am on a combo of ARB, Beta Blocker, & recently added ACE Inhibitor.
After an increase dose of the ACE 2 days ago I suddenly started to feel nerveous & anxious with a rise in BP. Just wondering if that could be a side effect of the meds or maybe something else.

Nermal1975 · 05-12-2004, 08:24 PM

Have you ever taken anti-depressants? Do you think you're having panic attacks?

I had panic disorder before my blood pressure problem so I was already taking Zoloft. I have noticed that if I take my med (Aldomet/Methyldopa) with my Zoloft I get a panic attack. (???) SO, I just space out the meds. That corrects the problem. I have had to increase my Zoloft dosage because the bp med I'm on has been known to cause depression or anxiety. I've finally got it all worked out.

Is ACE inhibitor an anti-depressant?

Michelle

CASSIEBEL · 05-12-2004, 08:56 PM

HI Michelle,

No, I've never taken anti-depressants - a least not yet. I saw my cardiologist today cause I had a reaction to my new BP drug. She thinks my HBP my be due to anxity, at least to some extent. She gave me LEXAPRO samples. I am afraid to take them.

Yes. I've definitely had panic attacks! They used to be very bad and always connected to my health in some way. I was always ashamed to tell anyone cause I somehow thought I was the only person who had this. (Stupid HUH)

Now (with the help of the internet) I know it is VERY common. I have told my dr.s and I want to try to get help. BUT. I am afraid to take anything that may cause my heart to race cause that is the one thing that will throw me into a full blown panic attack.

I have heard some of the side effects of these anti-depressants are worse than the problems that they are taken for. What do you think about that?

How bad is your BP? How do you space out everything? Does your anxity make your BP rise even with meds?

Oh Yeah - ACE inhibitor is BP med

Thanks for the info
Sandy

Random2 · 05-13-2004, 08:06 AM

SSRI's like Paxil, Celexa+ have never worked for me & just make me feel sick. Amazing how benzos like Xanax help keep my b/p in the 113/65 range at 33. I wonder if I didn't take my meds. & just 2 mgs of a benzo through the day, if I would still have high b/p. Doc's don't prescribe them as much, because they get kick-backs from Paxil & the other SSRI's. Mine referred me to a psychiatrist... why? If what I am taking is working then why switch??? To make me feel like I had a 5 day stomach flu like when she prescribed paxil? Betas are addictive as well. Do they tell the patients that???? Try going off of Toprol or Altenolol cold turkey & see what happens. They don't tell us that. I will see the other- older DO in her office. He gave me 3 choices.

1) Keep taking the xanax (he won't prescribe more then 1 mg. a day when I am used to 2)

2) Take a different SSRI (He even said that he has tried 7 & 3 didn't work or had horrible side-effects for him)

3) Go to a psychiatrist as a last measure.

I went to 2 psychiatrists in the past year. One prescribed neurontin ( to prevent seizures from xanax withdrawal ) & gabitril. She wanted to see my liver results. Well ms. idiot psychiatrist, my enzymes were perfect.

The 2nd doesn't prescribe benzos. He prescribed a book for me on children of alcoholics & said that if I stop taking 2 mgs of xanax, he will see me again in 2 months.

I have my blood tests & my med. records in my hands now. I will go to the DO that isn't brainwashed by the drug pushers in the SSRI & B/P community.

CASSIEBEL · 05-14-2004, 05:34 PM

Just curious,
What are SSRI & BENZO's ?
I know they are for anxity but I don't know the difference. My dr. want's me to take Lexapro but I'm not sure if I want to. My anxity is not bad, but the dr thinks it contributes to my HBP