ACE Inhibitor vs Beta Blocker

[CASSIEBEL]

There are a lot of others out there that are smarter than me about kidneys and BP meds (Lenin comes to mind) but I think the ACEI and ARBS work in the same way? If that's true the ARBS should be great for you. They don't lower BP all that much and they don't have ANY side effects on most folks.
Cass

[jv109]

Okay, I was on:

100mg of Atenolol (Tenormin)
75mg of Triamterene (Maxide)
2mg of Terazosin (Hytrin)

The only change is instead of the Atenolol,
I'm now taking 20mg of Lisinopril.

[CASSIEBEL]

Originally Posted by jv109

Okay, I was on:

100mg of Atenolol (Tenormin)
75mg of Triamterene (Maxide)
2mg of Terazosin (Hytrin)

The only change is instead of the Atenolol,
I'm now taking 20mg of Lisinopril.

jv,
From what I can find out you are on:

Triamterene - A potassium sparing diuretic
Terazosin - An alpha blocker
Lisinopril - An ACEI

I could very well be wrong but I thought an ACEI and potassium sparing diuretics couldn't be used together. Anybody out there know? Both can cause a potassium build up. That's not good as your doc pointed out.
Also you seem to be on the max amount of all these meds so it's doubtfull that an ARB would do the trick. On the other hand maybe because you ARE on 3 meds it might work?????
Sorry, I'm not much help
Cass

[jv109]

Cass - Yes, that's why I'm going back to the dr. next week to have my potassium level checked. And with that being a bad, plus the cough of the Lisinopril, thats why I'm thinking of just going back to the Beta Blocker - Atenolol.

Thanks for your input! I'll post an update next week after the Dr. visit.
BTW, you have been helpful!

[Lenin]

Cassie is correct, an ACEI should NEVR be used with triamterene...it works well with a thiazide diuretic though.
Without the triamterene, or use of potassium salt substitutes, excess potassium is nothing at all to worry about...our diets are usually deficient rather than excessive.

I think the ACEI are usually more effective than the ARBS.

But the COUGH...I stuck with enalapril for MONTHS before throwing in the towel. It was a LONG time ago and Vasotec was the new kid on the block so I coughed and coughed not knowing what was causing it thinking I was getting asthma or worse. So no, I don't think the cough usually goes away.

jv,
I think you;ll find the running doable with the lisinopril where it was impossible with the beta-blocker.
I wish I COULD take an ACE inhibitor, but alas, NO!