Avapro comments

[Summer1972]

I have been on Avapro about a week.. I had started on 150 mg and it didn't work so they put me on 300. I feel pretty good a little bit stoned when I go to work or the grocery store, is this normal?? I prefer to ask people that actually have taken it or do, since my dr's seem to be clueless about side effects! Any help is great or comments.

[bethsheba]

Summer,

It may be helpful for people to know that the generic form of avapro is irbesartan. There are a number of posters addressing this medication on the board...good luck!

Bethsheba

[Summer1972]

I didn't know there was a generic available..Why did my dr, say it's only name brands?? I am finding it quite expensive....

[gib]

I've been on Avalide 300mg for a couple weeks, Avapro with HCT, a diuretic. I've been on many different BP meds over the last decade or so and I've got a little experience on how the different types make me feel. Your stoned or 'out of it' feeling is normal. Do you have problems focusing your eyes a little too? I was feeling pretty dazed on 300mg so I started breaking the pills in half. I know, I'm bad for playing with my medications but I can't stand feeling that out of it. It really comes on strong in the afternoon about 4-6 hours after I take it.

My Doc is always saying "You shouldn't be experiencing much of any side effects" regardless of what I'm taking and despite what I tell him. Beta-blockers also made me feel out of it too with the same response from the Doc. They all seem to be clueless about side effects.

[flowergirl2day]

My Doc is always saying "You shouldn't be experiencing much of any side effects" regardless of what I'm taking and despite what I tell him. Beta-blockers also made me feel out of it too with the same response from the Doc. They all seem to be clueless about side effects

Believe it or not, one of my today's e-mails is titled: Why doctors often dismiss drug side effects.
Here's a condensed version:

A result of a survey indicates that a majority of patients are ignored and their complaints regarding side-effects dismissed by their doctors. Very frequently, the doctors dismiss the complaints entirely. When they do acknowledge the existence of side-effects, they blame them on aging and deny any connection to the prescribed drugs.
This ignorance results in underreporting of adverse event reports to the FDA. According to a Harvard Medical School expert, 90-99% of adverse events go unreported. Which, of course, is unfortunate, as this is the information the FDA uses to assess the safety of the drugs after they hit the market.
The most likely reason for the doctor's attitude and ignorance regarding the side effects are the powerful drug campaigns, which promote the benefits of medications and downplay their side-effects. I can think of a couple of other reasons as well.
By the way, I have the same problem - medications (no matter which ones) just don't affect people that way. Period.

flowergirl