Erratic swings in Blood pressure

Jack51 · 09-30-2004, 12:40 PM

I am hoping that some of you can help me with this. My wife is in good shape, slim and 52. Her BP is starting to go from 160/98, then back to normal, at totally random intervals. She doesn't take any prescription meds, except for a nasal spray antihistimine, occasionally. She stopped that to determine if it was causing it. Thought it was the culprit, but no the bp swings returned.

I have medically controlled bp. I take atenolol, a beta blocker, and she does not want this type of med. My bp never was erratic. It just slowly increased with time.

Have any of you had erratic bp, and if so, is this indicative of a more serious problem?

I have scheduled her an appointment today with our family doctor. I know that she has got to start taking meds to control this. Big question here, because some of you guys, through personal experience, know more about which med one should start out on, to control bp, than some doctors. I think the doc will skip water pills or diuretics for her condition. What then lies in between water pills, and these dang beta blockers (that she has heard me complain of over the years)?

jtu91952 · 09-30-2004, 11:19 PM

They might prescribe calcium channel blockers like verapamil. Or even an ace inhibitor or arb. I sometimes have erratic bp, but im sensitive to bp meds. So far, i've tried zestoretic(lisinopril/hctz), toprol xl, atenol, hctz alone, verapamil. Im sure here dr will do tests first. If he tries to give a bp prescription, i would ask for samples first, just in case the med doesn't agree with her u won't have spent money.

That happened to me. I was prescribed avapro, was highly allergic and spent $55 on a usless med. Good luck.

Jack51 · 10-01-2004, 06:11 PM

Jtu, thanks much for your reply. I can relate to paying for meds that I cannot take! I have every statin known to man in my med cabinet. I should thow them away, lol. I guess I think that someday I could take them. On second thought, I'm gonna throw them away today .

I think that the erratic BP swings are gone for my wife. Her BP has remained 160/106 for the past two days. Looks like she just has steady, high BP. She saw the family doc today, and hasn't returned home yet. Thanks again for your information.