Trouble with Blood Pressure Meds. - High & Low Blood Pressure Message Board

cccowl · 12-11-2005, 06:02 PM

I have just been diagnosed with high blood pressue. My blood pressure is all over the board varying from 124/80 to 160/90 with it lately being in the high end. I have become obsessed about taking my bp readings and sometimes think my anxiety is raising it. If it gets very high over 160 I will sometimes take a xanax which will lower it to slightly below 140/85. I have been to see the doctor and have tried lisinopril (sp?) and troperphol and could not take either one. Not only did they not lower my be, but instead seemed to raise it sometime going up to 180/110 after I had taken the pills. Not only did they seem to raise my bp I had terrible side affects. I had headaches and was totally constipated that without changing my eating habits, I gained over 6 pounds in one week.

Now I am on hydrochlorot 25mg. But I have only been on this 1 day. Within 1 hour after taking it, my blood pressure went from 154/82 to 170/91. Do I have to be on it for a long time before it will start to lower my bp.This is a supposedly a different kind. I am worried that I will not be able to control my bp with meds.

I should have stated that during a minor operation, my bp started to go up and that the more bp meds they gave me, the higher it went, that they had to stop the procedure.

Sure could use some advice.

pal7778 · 12-11-2005, 09:08 PM

If xanax lowers your bp, then there is an element of anxiety in your hbp. Relax and
experiment with the various bp medicine possibilities. It's very hard to predict how
people will react tor them, and it may take a while to find one that will work for you.
But if you can get below 140 systolic with xanax (which is obviously not a permanent solution), then you should focus a lot of your attention on getting calm. Exercise regularly, cut out the stimulants (including caffeine--advice I don't follow myself, but...), and seek out advice on supplements, breathing, weight loss, etc. etc.

Lenin · 12-12-2005, 07:12 AM

cccowl,

If you didn't resppond well to lisinopril or tropherol, you can consider yourself a salt sensitive hypertensive.
The IDEAL drug for salt sensitives is the hydrochlorothiazide diuretic but it acts in two ways both requiring some time. It is NOT instantaneous.
The first action is to cause the kidneys to stop reuptaking sodium and this results in the excretion of water...it should cause a few pounds LOSS. Give it three days.

The SECOND and more minor effect takes weeks and involves a relaxation of small arterioles that allow fur further BP reduction.

Be patient...since you are only on ONE drug, your dosage might be too low. I need 50 mg. per day for best results. If the 25 mg. doesn't give you good numbers in a week, take 2 a day...at once.

cccowl · 12-12-2005, 06:23 PM

More info. I am a very active 60 year old female. I exercise regularly expecially in the summer when I swim at least 1 mile every day. Now I use the tread mill and walk 3mi. at least 3 times a week. I am not over weight by more than the 5 lbs. everyone wants to lose. 5'2" 119lbs.

I am a teacher in a city school district which as you know has some challenging students...but for the most part I like what I do. So I assume it is just an age factor but the spike in bp on the meds makes me really nervous.

I am not sure I understand why when I take the bp medicine that it would RAISE my bp. Is this really common? Does it always go up about 20 points from 140/82 to 165/95 initially. That is what makes me so anxious. Does it always take 2 to 3 weeks before the meds. will make my bp go DOWN rather than UP?

Thanks for answering so promptly.

pal7778 · 12-12-2005, 10:47 PM

It does take a while for the medicine to work, and you may need more than one to get any results. Listen to Lenin about salt sensitivity. Relax a bit. You have plenty of time
to get your bp under control, and you might want to give yourself a few days with no bp checks.