Hi Everyone

honeybear39429 · 05-11-2003, 08:19 PM

Hi. I am a 31 y.o. s-a-h-m of 2 girls. I was diagnosed Thursday with high blood pressure. I have so many questions. How should I change my diet? Just tons of others I can't think of at the moment. But any advice would be so helpful.

Thanks

Gail

*edited to add* When the dr took my initial bp was 215/120

My dr prescribed Benicar...Has anyone taken this? If so, any bad side effects.

Please any info will be greatly appreciated.

[This message has been edited by honeybear39429 (edited 05-11-2003).]

longell · 05-11-2003, 11:30 PM

Hi,
Sorry to hear about your high BP reading.
I also have high blood pressure, but only at the doctors, even under stressful times at home it usually runs low to normal.
I take diovan, verapamil and inderal.
I'm not familiar with the medication you're taking, but I'm sure somebody else will respond to you.
I exercise regularly and try to watch what I eat and not go overboard with salt.However, since my BP is caused from anxiety(they call it white coat syndrome)
it really doesn't affect it that much.I also try to do some stress-relieving things, such as tai chi and deep breathing.
Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.
Longell

zuzu8 · 05-12-2003, 03:54 AM

Hi Gail! Welcome to the Boards.

Benicar is the latest entry in a special class of hypertension drugs called "angiotensin-II receptor blockers." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing approval for Benicar in April 2002.

I hear good things about it from other members on this board!

I take Diovan which is another "ARB" (same class) and have no side effects from it.
Generally the ARBs have less adverse reactions than most of the other classes of drugs (and I commend your doctor for trying it first!) but everyone is different and I know lots of people who can take other classes of BP meds that I personally found to have intolerable side effects . But, as I said, others tolerate them very well. Most of us have had to experiment at the beginning to find the drug and dosage that work best for each of us.

Here's some info for you on Benicar:
[url="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/500393.html#Brands"]http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/500393.html#Brands[/url]

Lifestyle changes are in order if you are overweight. Losing weight can do amazing things in lowering your #s.

If a smoker, obviously trying to find a way to quit would be great.

Regular exercise ( even something as simple as walking 3-4x a week for half hour) will also help lower BP.

Reducing salt intake is a biggie if possible. Examine labels and try to avoid packaged or canned foods with a lot of sodium. And try to get out of the 'salt habit" by not adding any to your cooking or at the table.Or at least don't add as much as you used to. Try salt-free lemon-pepper as a spice. And lemon juice often helps give that "tang" that salt does...

Hope some of this helps...
zuzu xxx

honeybear39429 · 05-12-2003, 09:23 AM

Wow thanks guys. Y'all have been so helpful. I do smoke, I know I need to quit. Im not overweight (well not bad

) I have never added extra salt at the table. And I know I need to move from this computer.

I went grocery shopping yesterday...did a total change on my groceries. At least I can eat healthier. I am drinking tons of water, laying off the caffeine. I am drinking enough caffeine to keep the head-ache away. But I'm not over doing it. Now I'm off the check the benicar link. Thanks again,

Gail

sunbird_owner · 05-12-2003, 06:42 PM

Benicar is actually better than sliced bread. It comes in 5 mg., 20 mg, and 40 mg doses. You may notice insomnia if you take it late in the day. If you exercise vigorously, you might want to wait 4 to 6 hours before exercise, or it could slow you down a bit.

It keeps my BP under perfect control. You might want to purchase your own BP monitor so you can see how you are doing.

You are very lucky, most people go through three or four medicines before getting to the ARB's.

Best of Luck,
Jay