Most Of These B/P Meds ....

Random2 · 01-06-2004, 12:39 PM

Are the worst!

Have been on Toprol for 9 months. Weaned down from 100 MGs to 50 MGs. Stomach was hurting in the morning, hands & feet are cold all day, makes me more edgy as well. It lists stomach discomfort+ as a minor side-effect, but I don't buy it. I want to call my doctor to switch meds., but I am in the middle of changing jobs. I am also on Lotrel 5/20 everyday as well. The stomach discomfort is only in the morning & has gone down since I weaned down my dose of Toprol.

Altace was even worse.

I posted before under Blue Island. Just really frustrated with these meds. & the side-effects. I have averaged 120/70 over the last 9 months or so. I'm 5 "11 146. Was around 155 when I started taking these meds. Toprol & Altace have been absolute nightmares & I'm starting to wonder about Lotrel.

The doc will just tell me not to worry about it. I think this trial & error stuff s**ks & I'm tired of being a guinea pig. Would rather have 135/85 B/P & no stupid side-effects like I have had since I was 21.

zuzu8 · 01-06-2004, 01:44 PM

If you are otherwise healthy, and truly were only dealing with a BP of 135/85, please discuss the class of drugs called angiotensin 2 receptor blockers (ARBs) with your doctor. That would be Diovan, Cozaar, Atacand etc.
These have the LEAST side effects of any of the hypertension meds.
Am wondering why you needed meds in the first place at those #s. It's very possible that simple lifestyle changes alone might have brought them down. Increased exercise, serious sodium reduction alone might do it.
I'm on Diovan after going thru Altace (diarrhea and cough), Toprol (abject fatique and depression) and Dyazide (trashed my electrolytes and esp. potassium). Was getting worried I'd never find an answer until put on Diovan. NO SIDE EFFECTS.

Definitely worth condsidering!

zuzu xxx

Random2 · 01-06-2004, 02:33 PM

Hey Zuzu... it's Blue Island. Forgot my password, so I had to change things around. I went from 100 MGS to 50 MGS of Toprol & stayed on 5/20 of Lotrel. Toprol made me feel cold, depressed, stomach-gastrointestinal problems, s/d, I lost 9 pounds in 9 months down from 155 to 146. I'm 5 "11....

Toprol- Listed up above

Altace- Didn't lower b/p, actually raised it

Lotrel???? Wonder if some of my symptoms are because of the Lotrel, or the combo of Lotrel & Toprol. On the meds. my b/p has ranged from 116/65 to 130/75 at its highest. At 33, I'm getting tired of the meds. & the side-effects.

After hearing all of the great things that you said about Diovan, I asked him for a trial. He said "It is the same as Altace." Any advice.... I know that I need to find a new doctor, but right now I'm starting a new job in 2 weeks & I am tired of feeling like this.

I Never Felt Like This Before I Started Taking B/P MEDS. Sick of this trial & error process that I have gone through for 9 months. It is ridiculous.

zuzu8 · 01-06-2004, 03:36 PM

Hi BLUE/ (or should I call you Lillian??)
This is nuts. You've been suffering too long. Your doctor is somewhat off about the ARBs and ACEs being identical. They are not. Similar in some ways but act differently and the ARBs do not have the multiple side effects the ACEs do. I had such terrible diarrhea on Altace I couldn't get out of the bathroom. I also developed "the cough". I do NOT have diarrhea or cough on Diovan. Same BP control.

Yep..TOPROL can cause all the effects you mention: especially the fatigue, depression and gastro problems.

LOTREL can cause cold extremities, as can all the calcium channel blockers, plus cold, clammy skin in general, PLUS diarrhea, constipation, heartburn, gas and loss of appetite.

You say the ALTACE didn't lower BP. Can't see how it could raise it. Unless the dose was ineffective and your BP was on the rise at the time anyway. Again, just becasue Altace didn't seem to effect your BP enough doesn't mean an ARB won't.

I've gotta tell you that it certainly could not hurt to try an ARB...the latest studies show a newer one, ATACAND, to be significantly better at lowering BP than the older COZAAR, even though they're in the same class. If you are interested. I can quote you the studies in my next post.

It's NOT okay that your doctor is satisfied with you feeling so rotten all the time.

zuzu xx

Random2 · 01-06-2004, 03:52 PM

I agree. Will have new insurance in 2 weeks, so I can switch docs. In the meantime, my symptoms have been the following on Toprol 100 MGS (Reduced it to 50, 4 days a go... pulse is up to 80 at times... was 64-66 on 100 MGS).... symptoms: cold hands & feet, gastrointestinal-stomach gurgling (especially in the morning before I take the doses), depression, loss of weight from 153-145 in the last 5 months. Weight loss could be due also to the fact that I quit drinking alcohol & soda.

I'm starting for a new company in 2 weeks & don't want to have to feel this way anymore. My B/P has averaged around 120/70 on the Toprol & Lotrel, but the side-effects are terrible. You combine both of them together & my body can't handle it. Believe that my b/p might be anxiety related, but why doesn't the doc. tell the patients about the addictive nature of Toprol???? For anyone taking 50 MGs a day or more measure your pulse before & after you wean down. Ridiculous.