Long story, but a quick question for ya'll...

[KATIE25]

Hi everyone!
I am a 25 year old dx'd in July with hbp during routine gyn visit. It got as high as 215/110. I was immediatly taken of birth control and put on HCTZ. After several weeks of tweaking, ended up on Lotensin HCT 20/25. Numbers were still in the 140/90 range. In Sept, got sent to cardio for chest pain, racing heart and he added Toprol XL 50mg, twice daily for what he thinks is probable IST with likely SVT although never confirmed, cause the moniters didn't catch it. In Nov, changed to a different GP, who was appaled by a 25 year old on so many meds, and he started "weaning me off Lotensin 2 months ago." He thinks all problems were stress related, so he added Lexapro 10 and Xanax as needed. I can't tell a difference with the Lexapro, and Xanax doesn't do anything for me either, but luckily, Toprol keeps the heart in relative check for the most part. I am now completely off Lotinsen and have been for 3 weeks. I was also in a car wreck on 12/4 and have lately been taking Naproxen and Flexerel for back spaspms. Now, my question... Can my bp be back in the rise so soon after stopping the Lotesin? I have for the past week been getting really bad headaches (actually horrible pressure behind my eyes and a feeling like a fog rising up my neck to behind my eyes along with some dizziness, and my head and ears always feel hot even though it is 20 outside. Also, I do drink gobs of water, but it seems like I'm not letting as much of it back out as usual. I know it sounds crazy, but I thought all these drugs stayed with you for several weeks before being sent on their merry way.
Sorry for the long saga, but any opinions are most appreciated. I know the best thing is to buy a bpcuff and see for myself, but I don't want to add to the "stress factor" by becoming hypervigilant if that is indeed the root of my evils.
Thanks! Katie

[zip2play]

Katie,

It's always hard to place cause and effect when there is are different meds flying at you from all sides.

But just to answer the direct question: No, you cannot expect the effect of any blood pressure drug to be effective 3 weeks after taking it, probably not even after 3 days!

The flexeril (which I hate like poison) can be causing MANY of your symptoms....it'a really TOUGH drug to tolerate for many people. SOMA (carisoprodol) is a much kinder muscle relaxant IMHO but all the docs are very quick with the flexeril prescriptions.

[KATIE25]

Thanks for replying Zip!
Ok, I have been off Flexeril for 3 days now, so that hopefully is over. My hubby got tired of me putting off the bp check, so he came home last night with a home moniter that does bp and pulse, and it was 140/85, which I don't think is too bad, but waiting on my dr. to decide what to do.
Zip, I should prolly put this question on the heart board, but I pretty sure you read both, so here goes...
My pulse was 104, and literally, I was sitting on my toush and resting, doing absolutely nothing stressful for a good 10 minutes before he checked it. I had taken my Toprol XL, 50 am and 50 at dinner as always and this was about 3 hrs after dinner. Should it be that high? I was a little nausous and getting a few screwy chest feelings, but I didn't tell hubby that. He thought that was too fast, but didn't bug me about it. I know I should ask my cardio, but frankly don't have to see him for 3 months and reveling in that fact! Background, I have what the cardio thinks is just normal sinus tach, since my event moniter showed nothing, course nothing happened when I was wearing it either , and I have had a "normal" echo, and stress test, but my cardio isn't very forthcoming with sharing specific info re: the actual stats, by thinking they are over my head. Obviously he doesn't know about the information superhighway, but I digress. Your input as well as any others are most appreciated!
katie