Norvasc, water pills, overweight...help please! - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

zookeeper30165 · 09-24-2005, 04:21 PM

Hello everyone,
I apologize if this has been addressed but I am a newbie.

I have been on 5mg norvasc and 25mg hydrochlorothiazide. I am also on effexor 25mg as I tend to be a little high strung. My bp is now under control mostly at 126/85, but I ALWAYS feel lousy. Tired, dizzy, lightheaded, blotted, constant lower back pain and lack of any energy are common friends of mine. I have started splitting the norvasc but still have cronic fatige and dizziness. Yes, I am 100lbs over weight, and have zero energy but one heck of an appitite.
My Doc likes the meds because they are keeping my bp under control.
Before the meds my bp was steady around 140/90.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

redherring · 09-24-2005, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zookeeper30165

Hello everyone,
I apologize if this has been addressed but I am a newbie.

I have been on 5mg norvasc and 25mg hydrochlorothiazide. I am also on effexor 25mg as I tend to be a little high strung. My bp is now under control mostly at 126/85, but I ALWAYS feel lousy. Tired, dizzy, lightheaded, blotted, constant lower back pain and lack of any energy are common friends of mine. I have started splitting the norvasc but still have cronic fatige and dizziness. Yes, I am 100lbs over weight, and have zero energy but one heck of an appitite.
My Doc likes the meds because they are keeping my bp under control.
Before the meds my bp was steady around 140/90.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

You know, your "before meds numbers" were slightly elevated but certainly not extremely high. I'm willing to bet if you got off of the meds (w/ your doctor's approval) and worked on losing the excess weight, your BP would probably be in the normal range. I'm suprised your doctor hasn't taken that route with you. Your doc gave you the worst BP med, norvasc which has a ton of side effects. In addtion, Effexor will elevate your BP.

No one should feel lousy. Please consider exercise and a change in diet. This will most likely reduce your BP and make you feel a whole lot better.

lane413 · 09-25-2005, 08:30 AM

I agree with redherring. My mom lost 50 lbs and she got off the norvasc. she is still on the verapamil and clonidine. After about a yr or so her bp has finally dropped to 130/79. Losing weight certainly makes a difference.

rahod · 10-11-2005, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redherring

Your doc gave you the worst BP med, norvasc which has a ton of side effects.

That statement is just flat out irresponsible. I take 5 mg Norvasc with no problems. I think part of her problem could be the combination with 25mg HCTZ. If the 5mg Norvasc isn't suffcient, she might want to drop the HCTZ and use an ACE inhibitor or an ARB in it's place.

cartner · 10-11-2005, 12:58 PM

Everyone is different and a lot of people on Norvasc reported no side effects at all and others report A LOT. I was against Norvasc before but now I can say that one have to try the Med for a month or so to see its effects.
Thanks,
Michael