Well, took one tablet of the new blood pressure tablets and reacted badly after several hours - severe headache, dizzy/disorientated, bellyache, nausea and finally sick! I checked the ingredients and there is a starch additive which could cone from corn, wheat or potatoes - and I am allergic to potatoes in any form and the smallest amount. After conversations with the surgery paramedic (yes, they have an in house paramedic - how cool!) she spoke to the prescribing gp. I still have this idea I would do best on the med that I didn’t react to (bendroflumethiazide) but this gp is quite derogatory about it. Outcome: to talk to pharmacist where I get my meds re ingredients. Had a lovely chat with pharmacist. She agreed sounds like I had reacted to the additional ingredients and to avoid it. She also said no reason why I couldn’t take bendroflumethiazide but I would have to keep an eye on my rate as it doesn’t do rate control. So back to surgery, spoke to lovely paramedic lady who is now discussing next step with GP - and said will probably ask a different one to prescribe bendroflumethiazide! I asked at what reading do I worry about my blood pressure while waiting for this medication decision - she said 200/110 is a medical emergency. !
Amlodipine 5mg: Well, took one tablet... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Amlodipine 5mg
Oh Tilly, horrible experience. It’s usually the fillers that cause the problems and glad you were able to challenge, pursue and speak to someone who listened to you. That is so important and I hate doctors who don’t listen. You know your body, they don’t.
I think it’s quite usual to have Paramedics in surgeries these days, I know there are several in ours so you see the Paramedic rather than the GP for emergency appointments but our surgery does an excellent telephone triage and they have lovely receptionists! I think it’s very sensible, especially for elderly patients but for the practice - they are less expensive.
Thank you, CDreamer, I just hope I am right 🤣 I have made myself a potassium rich smooth for breakfast, got to start back onto the natural lifestyle I used to follow …… I know it’s specifically the starch in the fillers, and it must be potato based. When I accidentally have something with potato starch in (or anything else of the nightshade plant family) I get a delayed reaction, within a few hours, then I know when it passes because it’s like someone has flipped a switch and I am fine! Exhausted but fine. Am extremely pleased it didn’t trigger AF episode 🥰AND, best of all, surgery paramedic just phoned, my GP has written me a script for the bendroflumethiazide! Watch this space xx
Hiya Tilly,
Interesting, prior to AF mugging me in Jan 2010, I was on Statins, Ramipril ( for BP) and bendroflumethiazide. When AF introduced itself the Consultant left me on Statins and Ramipril, removed the bendroflumethiazide, then added Bisoprolol and Warfarin. It seems Bisoprolol has some properties which enable it to be used for BP control as well as HR control. Then some years later my local GP added into the party bag Felodopine.
BP is always a constant issue for me and it was the single determining factor in me going to A & E for assessment and diagnosis, i.e. BP dropped over a few hours from around 136/80 down to 76/50 !
Hope these days everything is under control for you.
John
I react to all sorts of things, luckily not anaphylactic reactions. Anti coagulants and betablockers are the first choice with most new af cases, as the betablocker helps with blood pressure and rate. Unfortunately, bendro thingy doesn’t affect rate, so I may end up having to add something at a later date. I have a review in about 3/4 weeks so will see what happens then x
what is really causing my symptoms.
amlodipine and losartan 
Blood Pressure Monitors
Urgent surgery needed - what happened because I was on anticoagulant
GP Consultant communications
