Side effects of Antihypertensives

[flowergirl2day]

Hello,

I am wondering if any of you experienced breathing difficulties as a result of being on BP medication.
If so, could you describe them? (i.e. was there any accompanying pain?)

Thank you.

Flowergirl

[bethsheba]

Hi!

I experienced some breathing problems with my meds but I can only be sure of 2 of the 5 drugs I was on because I didn't associate the respiratory problems with blood pressure...

hydrochlorothiazide---had nasty coughing "fits" where I couldn't catch my breath (I remember this because I would always empty my bladder when I coughed, requiring a change of clothing---another nasty side effect of hct that I haven't mentioned in previous posts)

atenolol--a period of about 4 weeks during and after discontinuing atenolol when I would have these coughing "fits" where I couldn't catch my breath

Some of the bp meds warned about being prescribed to someone with asthma--I don't officially have asthma but I have been meaning to go back and see if these were the meds.

Oh, and while researching the causes for some of my symptoms on hct, I came across some info that said "heavy, labored breathing" was a symptom of excessive sodium which is caused by too much sodium in the diet and/or aldosteronism.

But short and sweet, my breathing problems were basically trying to catch my breath by coughing long dry coughs. Oh, and I never "caught" the famous ACE inhibitor cough...

Hope this helps.

Bsheba

[flowergirl2day]

It sure does help.

Thank you so much! I am still trying to determine whether my breathing problems are drug related or of some other origin.

I was problem free for a while after discontinuing Labetalol but it seems something else is going on now. I can breathe now (so so)during exertion but it sure hurts. So much so that I have to stop several times (while walking up a street) as I did before. It feels different than before.

I had such a bad episode earlier while out walking I got scared. I did not want to leave the populated area and do my usual route through the woods, that's how scared I was. (I did, anyway). Really weird. Just wondering if it could be the respiratory tract infection problem that's a possible side effect of Micardis. I do not know what an infection feels like as I've never had one before (as far as I know). At least my headache is not as bad now.

P.S. There's one other possibility - maybe I imagined it all and am becoming a hypochondriac....

Thanks a lot!

Flowergirl

[bethsheba]

No, you're not a hypochodriac!

Have you tried looking at the clinical studies done for the drugs you are/were on to see what respiratory problems they reported? I know the info is VAGUE or understated, but it may help.

Bsheba

[flowergirl2day]

Hi,

It had not occured to me to look for studies. I don't know who's spend time & money conducting studies of the side effects of certain drugs (certainly not the drug manufacturers!). I'll give it a shot.

I am seeing my doc today and plan to report this to him. I am also wondering what to do about Micardis - if anything. I will be needing a script today. If this drug is going to cause me difficulties, I do not want it. It costs close to 60 dollars for a 1 month supply. I have an unused blister pack of Diovan 160mg which cost 50 bucks and I can't even take. This is why I'd like to know the reason for my problem. I don't work now and have no money to waste.

My chest is very sensitive to touch. (Achy). Perhaps the only way to find out is to see the right doc. Pulmonary or gastro? Who knows. It will mean a long wait either way. What if it is only a drug reaction?

thanks for your help, Beth.

Flowergirl