High and fluctuating bp - Page 2

londonlin · 06-14-2008, 05:45 PM

I will check with my doctor on my check up. I hate the side effects and thank goodness I only take it when my bp spikes. I could not stand to be on it if I had to be on it full time. I have to leave work when my bp spikes and I have to take it. I still would like to know what causes it to spike for no reason. I will just be going into my 5th week of bp meds starting Monday. The first medicine I took (exforge) for the first two weeks was terrible, I had severe side effects from it. I am on Avapro now with Metaprolol. I am only to take the other med with my bp gets 150 and above because my bp shoots up to over 190 within minutes and the doctor said it is dangerous for it to be that high.

flowergirl2day · 06-15-2008, 02:05 AM

london lynn,

I agree with edelweiss. Many of us eperience bp spikes we are not even aware of. Stressing over when the next one might occur will not help. Many blood pressure spikes go completely unnoticed, because in most people there are no symptoms of elevated blood pressure. A few of us get symptomatic with a sudden substantial rise in blood pressure.
Sudden bp spikes often point to hormonal causes, (adrenals & thyroid) if you have secondary hypertension. Besides prescribing the meds to control hypertension, your doctor should actively look for its cause. Has there been proper diagnostic testing? If you suffer frequent considerable fluctuations in blood pressure, their cause should be thoroughly investigated. In some cases the causative factors/conditions can be treated, resulting in a normalized blood pressure.

flowergirl

londonlin · 06-15-2008, 11:05 AM

When I get a bp spike I can tell it is rising with the effects it gives me, when it starts I take my bp and sure enough it has usually gone way up to over the 150/90. One time I took it and it was 177 and continued to rise. I was getting really stressed when it first started to happen so as I stressed it continued to rise. The doctor told me to take 1/2 zanax twice a day to help with that. I have been doing it and it has helped but the zanax makes me so tired it is hard to get through a day of work. I am only 5 ft and weigh 120 so I am small. My body has a hard time dealing with meds of any sort. I have been on thyroid since I was 40, I am now 56. All of my test came back good that they ran when I started with the pb over a month ago. They did a 24 hour urine collection and it did not show any problems with kidney, liver etc. My thyroid test was still good but I am due for another thyroid test this week. I am also on a hormone patch, was on pills but it was not working when I started taking the bp pills so my gyno dr. has me on the patch. It is safer and by passes the liver. The drs at the hospital and my regular dr. said the spikes are no unusual because my bp is not yet under control with the medicine and may have to be adjusted accordingly as I go. I just have to keep from getting stressed over it which is very hard to do when it jumps up so high so sudden. I have been at work on my computer or here at home just watching tv when it has happened. My brother went through 3 changes of pills before they found one that worked for him. My sister and other brother were lucky, the first pill they took has worked for them and no problems at all or spikes in bp. Some people are just lucky their body adjust so well to the medicine.

flowergirl2day · 06-16-2008, 10:41 PM

london,

I wonder if the hormone patch could be affecting your blood pressure and somehow contribute to your spikes. It's worth looking into. Have you checked the listed (and UNLISTED) side-effects of your hormone therapy?
I hope it is helping you. Some people don't seem to tolerate hormone treatments of any kind. What a relief to hear you've had all the necessary tests done. I am glad they call came back fine. Looks like you are on the right track!

Best of luck,

flowergirl

londonlin · 06-17-2008, 09:33 AM

I was having severe hot flashes when when I started with the first bp meds. The gyno said that the hormone pills was not doing it job because so much of the meds go through the liver then the pb meds were wiping out what was left so we went with the patch. I was having the spikes all along. My dr. changed my bp meds so with that along with the patch the hot flashes are gone. The spikes stayed however. Today, my dr. increased my avapro from 150 to 300. My spikes were happing a couple of times a week and at all different times, not set time or day. I take my meds early morning and had a spike 2 1/2 hours after taking them. Hope the increase helps me. I need to get better and get back to my old self.