What to prescribe

[bharkins]

Does anyone out there know what determines if it will be a beta blocker, ace inhibitor, channel blocker, diuretic, etc. or is it just a guessing game of trial and error? I have been on all kinds of meds and I would give anything to just feel normal again. Do the doctors just push certain ones? It is just so frustrating.

[jtu91952]

Originally Posted by bharkins

Does anyone out there know what determines if it will be a beta blocker, ace inhibitor, channel blocker, diuretic, etc. or is it just a guessing game of trial and error? I have been on all kinds of meds and I would give anything to just feel normal again. Do the doctors just push certain ones? It is just so frustrating.

Hi, i wish i could help, but i am in the same boat as you. I have tried toprol xl, lisinopril, (zestril, prinivil), verapamil, hctz, and procardia. oh yes, and avapro. The ace inhibitors worked great for lowing bp, but i could not tolerate the side effects. I am on verapamil & hctz, but it isn't lowering my bp. I go to the dr today and it should be interesting to see what he put me on next. I'm thinking zip2play was correct in my changing doctors again. I think i need to see a cardio. I will definitely watch this thread to see what others are using with great success. Good luck and plz post if you stumble on a great bp med.

[SafetyJ2006]

Please don't go by my results unless you have a doctor who is willing to follow you on a regular, at least a couple times a week, basis. That's not to imply I see him that often, I e-mail and or call him whenever I feel I need to AND he responds almost immediately.

I was started on Metoprolol 50mg twice a day on June 6 for a BP that is elevated upon exertion (140/110). I also take 5/50 Moduretic every morning.

My BPs have never gone over 140/90 since and that was one time. I take my BP two to four times a day. It runs a systolic of about 100-120 over a diastolic of about 58-88.

On June 20, the metaprolol was increased to 75mg twice a day. My BP went down to 88/50 last evening and I was slightly lightheaded for about two hours. I checked with my cardiologist who told me to continue with his regimen as written. When I awoke this morning, the BP was 110/68.

I am telling you this because there are as many ideas about what medication to take and how to take it as there are physicians prescribing them. I think the key is to find an MD you have faith in, communicate well with and who is accessible any time you need him. I am very fortunate that I have found one.

[Gingerale123]

Originally Posted by bharkins

Does anyone out there know what determines if it will be a beta blocker, ace inhibitor, channel blocker, diuretic, etc. or is it just a guessing game of trial and error? I have been on all kinds of meds and I would give anything to just feel normal again. Do the doctors just push certain ones? It is just so frustrating.

Hi

Well, I am a nurse and I worked for an internist and a family MD and they both had different criteria for why they put people on what they did. If they had high pulse rates and pvc's(preventricular contractions which make you feel the heart palpitations) and high blood pressure they would use Atenolol(beta blocker) or Metroprolol.
If they had high bp and some mild swelling, they might use beta-blockers and diurectics.

I don't know, now that I think about it, sometimes they just read up on a drug and liked the way it seemed to work and the minimal side effects(like the Benicar) and they just put people on that to try it. I mean, they always took into consideration their medical history, the meds they were already on, etc.

Sometimes I think it is a game of chance to see what works best.
I mean, I used to be on Ziac( a beta-blocker and diuretic mix) but my pulse got too low to handle it.

Good luck to you

Ginger