Side Effects?

[magnum27]

No doubt this has already been asked on here, but as i have just found this place i thought i'd ask if anyone has struggled with side effects whilst taking BP medication. I started taking Bp meds about 10mnths ago and are now onto my 5th type of tablet. I have taken till this point Mircardis,Coversyl,Norvasc, one that i can't remember and my current one Avapro HCT. I get stomach spasms, my visits to the toilet for no 2's are always a struggle and some days just feel plain old crap ie: headaches, lethargy and nausea.

Anyone else had any issues like this or am i just wierd.

[jeno58]

Oh yes!! Do I get side effects. I'm on Toprol XL and maxide. My metabolism since I went on the Toprol has slowed down to practically nothing. Stomach spasms and nausea too. Sometimes I think I'd be better off taking nothing although I know I can't.

[cartner]

Hi,

I have tried ACEs, Coversyl, and ARBs, Cozaar and Atacand. I got many side effects that prevented me from functioning like a human. I was tired all time, breathless, dizzy, I felt that my legs are very heavy, sweating all the time. All those side effects happened after the first dose of the ACEs and the ARBs that I have tried. I can't imagine what would happen after using it for a month.
I was on 5 mg of Zebeta for more than 3.5 years, I got side effects but I can't compare it to what I have experienced with ACEs and ARBs.
I tried Norvasc and it was not nice, I had one last med to try which is Diltiazem. I have no side effects at all that I'm aware of. But I don't get good readings in winter so last few days I have added a diuretic, got tired and felt very weird so I stopped it.

If you read other threads and learn more about medication I'm sure that you will find a medication to control your blood pressure without side effects.
Good luck,
Michael

[Machaon]

Micardis is an Angiotensin II Blocker. (ARB)

Coversyl is an Angiotensin I Blocker. (ACE)

Norvasc is a Calcium Channel Blocker. (CCB)

Avapro HCT is an Angiotensin II Blocker combined with Hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic. (ARB,HCTZ)

It would be interesting to know the name of the other, mystery drug that you are taking.

There has been a lot of controversy about the efficacy of combining ARBs and ACEs. In your case, your doctor is not only putting you on a combination of an ARB and an ACE, but putting you on TWO ARBs. WOW! Plus, one of your ARBs, the Avapro is combined with a diuretic. Then, to cap everything off, he has you on a calcium channel blocker and a mystery medication.

My goodness, I hope that you are not on high doses of these medications. Could the mystery medication be Coumadin (Warfarin)?

In the past, in order to avoid nasty side effects, and interactions between medications, I have separated the taking of my medications by at least on hour, and in some cases, by two hours, or more.

Some foods, drinks and vitamin/mineral supplements can also interact with medications and cause all kinds of nasty side effects.

Good luck.

[flowergirl2day]

magnum,

I am on multiple meds and have experienced some pretty bad side effects. I can't remember what living without the meds and their side effects feels like, though I've only taken them for a year. I don't have the option of changing any of my medications. I find some of the side effects extremely frustrating and disabling, while others are quite tolerable, especially after a period of time. Our bodies find ways to cope. I have one advice: try to keep the medications to an absolute minimum.

For muscle cramps and stomach spasms: Mine went away with the use of calcium/magnesium/vitamin D supplements. They were side effects of some of my medications to begin with. These types of meds tend to throw our electrolytes out of balance. The deficiencies induce muscular weakness, muscle aches, fatigue, and cramps, as is the case with abnormally low potassium. Low magnesium will result in similar muscular symptoms, as well as tremors and an increase in blood pressure. Quite often these symptoms are not recognized as such and are mistaken for neurological or metabolic disorders. For anyone on mineral depleting medications it is absolutely essential to have regular checks of electrolyte levels. Some of these imbalances, such as high potassium levels, could have tragic consequences.

Keep looking. You'll find the medication you can live with. It will take a while.

flowergirl