Altace + Anxiety - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

donsabi · 04-14-2005, 02:53 PM

Last week I stopped my Altace and two days afterwards I began having increasing anxiety so I restarted the Altace and the anxiety dissipated. I suspect that Altace is causing an allergic reaction on my face in the form of welts otherwise I did get great BP results with it. I tried again three days ago to stop the medication and once again I had increased anxiety but this time I took a half emptied capsule and an hour later my anxiety was gone and two hours later my BP dropped to 137/83. Without a doubt the discontinuation of Altace has caused me serious anxiety. First day after stopping Altace my BP stayed the same but on the second day I got readings as high as 164/90.
I find this especially disturbing because I have been on Tenormin for about ten years and when doctors have tired to change my meds I get extreme anxiety attacks and must resume the Tenormin. One MD tried to change it to Toprol and within four days I was in the ER with anxiety issues.
I know I am dependent on Tenormin. Is my reaction to Altace discontinuation typical or am I developing a dependence on that medication too? Should I continue with the half capsule before ending it once more?
Comments appreciated, thanks.

mrmojo · 04-14-2005, 07:19 PM

Ive been doing some research tring to find a drug that may work better for me, and everything i've seen seems to inicate that a possible side effect of altace is thatit can cause anxiety when you are taking it, not the other way around

its weird that its the opposite with you

CASSIEBEL · 04-14-2005, 09:13 PM

I just started Altace 5mg last week in addition to Benicar HCT 40/25, Atenolol 2.5. I was already taking. Before the Altace I was averaging 140/90. After 5 days on Altace I was having dizziness and increased anxiety. I stopped the Altace and my bp went down to 129/79?
Now I don't know what to do.
I wonder if all ACEI cause anxiety.
Cass

donsabi · 04-15-2005, 05:33 AM

For a few months I was doing wonderful on Altace 2.5mg. Then I started getting lightheaded during the day and broke out in welts on my face. I had no anxiety while on Altace, but two days after stopping it I had severe anxiety. I repeated this two times with the same results. Yesterday I seperated the Altace capsule and kept only what was left in the small half. An hour later all anxiety was gone and my BP dropped. I don’t understand it but I will be seeing a new cardiologist on Thursday and will post the outcome.

Lenin · 04-15-2005, 06:43 AM

Since ACE is involved with many histaminic type reactions, blocking it can have LOTS of consequences and anxiety during or after it wouldn't surprise me a bit.

The only way to know for sure is to retest and observe...maybe even keep records. You just have to do it several times to rule out coincidence. Once you're convinced that you can turn symptoms on and off like a light switch then you must make a decision, but then you know it's based on sound evidence.

One thing you can know for certain though...if you STOP a drug and it causes symptoms, at least they will dissipate over time as the body gets back to "normal." If the drug CAUSES symptoms then continuing to take it can make things better (acclimation) OR worse.