Is there a medication for temporary bp spike?

[KiraKira]

Just some quick background info:

I'm a very active 45 year old woman. Weight is good, lots of lean muscle mass, cholesterol good, cardio exercise almost every day, everything all good with that stuff. I had a total hysterectomy last July and have been in high blood pressure purgatory ever since. I ended up in the ER in January with chest pain, shortness of breath, hands tingling and high bp. 150/110. After the cardiac enzyme tests revealed no "cardiac event" and the chest x-ray showed no clot, I was sent to a cardiologist for stress test and thyroid tests and all were fine. I was given a prescription for Dyazide and eventually my blood pressure came down to an average of about 118/74.

Yesterday I could feel the adrenaline surge feeling and the tingles in my hands and sure enough, my blood pressure was 150/85. I've been having the shortness of breath and spikes now through today as well.

Throughout all of this, since my surgery last July, I have been on a transdermal estrogen patch and I truly believe the hormone fluctuations has everything to do with the bp problems. I just cannot seem to find the right hormone balance. But the question is (finally!) is there a medication that will bring my bp down right away when I'm having these spikes and is okay to only take then? It seems that all the medications I have read about require constant usage and then weaning when trying to come off the medication. I feel like if I can get my hormones somewhat aligned properly my blood pressure issues will improve considerably as well. But these periods of spiking are very uncomfortable and scary.

I want to arm myself with the information BEFORE I see my doctor because last time I went in for this he told me women were just more "anxious" in menopause. Puh-leeze!

[ms58]

I understand the patches can cause shortness of breath for some people, so maybe that is contributing to your discomfort.

After menopause I found my blood pressure starting to go up and started bp meds at that time. So I think some of us just develop less tolerance for stress with the absence of estrogen and maybe the patch is not good for you as well, so combined they result in what you are describing.

To answer your question, I do not know of any immediate bp lowering meds except what they use in hospitals and I don't think it is available to outside people, but I could be wrong. 150/110 is high, but if very brief and not very often, probably not horrible.

Best of luck with the hormones, I never used any so can't help there.

[Lenin]

is there a medication that will bring my bp down right away when I'm having these spikes and is okay to only take then?

I've cut to the chase on this one. The answer is YES; plain propranolol, maybe 40 mg.
The SECOND part of the question: all doctors will say "ANATHEMA...you must take the Rx's med every day...come see me in 6 months." They may even hold a CROSS in front of your face.
They HATE the idea of patients titrating drugs as needed because the feel it takes responsibility away form them and onto the patient...how BIZARRE ???

If you run these numbers once in a while but most of the time you are controlled then there isn't going to be a detrimental effect to your health: it's the 24/7/365 hypertension that does the damage.

IF you are a very salt sensitive hypertensive, then some more of your diuretic will do the trick. A LOOP diuretic liek LASIX will do the trick in 3 hours.

You SHOULDN'T be feeing the effects of anything like 150/110...maybe something else is causing the weird feelings...like the hormones.

[KiraKira]

Thanks so much to both of you for your replies. I am so completely flummoxed by this recent rollercoaster blood pressure.

So Lenin, do I go to my doctor and tell him I want plain propranolol? Really, I have to go in absolutely KNOWING what I need for it to happen and not be patted on the head and told to run along with my "stressed" self. I realize stress is a huge bp trigger but I know when I am and am not stressed and these spikes have absolutely no correlation for me. I just have these random adrenaline surges that have no connection whatsoever with my current surroundings and that's what I would like to control.

Thanks again. I have been doing a lot of research today. This board has helped immensely.

[famnd]

I vote for lebatalol which I take regularly & for spikes. Your Dr. may not even know that it can be used for spikes. It is given in the Er. My Dr. suggested that I do this. You just have to be very careful not to take it more than a day or two or you may get withdrawal. It has to be taken with the same amount of food each time especially fat which delays stomach emptying. This helps in getting the same b/p lowering each time. It is an alpha/beta blocker as opposed to inderal which is a beta blocker. Actually my thyroid Dr. suggested this drug when my PC Doc was having so much trouble getting my b/p down. Inderal would work too because it is given for stage fright etc when there is a adrenalin surge. Your Dr. will have to be sure that you are responsible & will follow his guidelines. Fam