Valsartan

[pusillanimous]

Hi Everyone, - I would like to hear other member's experience with this drug, Various members of the medical profession play a sort of pharmaceutical Chess game with my BP, in which I am the pawn! When I was first diagnosed, with AF, the Cardio removed my BP meds which I had been taking for years and left me with Bisoprolol and Warfarin because he considered my BP too low !. I only have home BP machines which I do not trust, especially as I have to use wrist ones because I cannot get the upper arm cuff positioned properly on my thin arms - I have 3 of these wrist machines and they all give a different reading if used consecutively, anyhow off to GP and while I was with her she phoned the Cardio and BP meds were reinstated. Anyhow, they were later removed by a locum who renewed my chronic script while my regular GP was on holiday - eventually I only had 1,25mg Biso plus Eliquis and a statin for my symptomless AF and BP. I felt, even with my own inaccurate equipment my BP was rising again. I went for my six monthly GP review, told my GP of my fears, and she had my BP tested on 3 different machines, including the most accurate one that they have in the treatment room. It was shown that although my diastolic was normal, my systolic was up to nearly 170 (part of that may have been because the carepark attendant was directing cars and had me reverse into a low wall !!!) Anyhow she put me on Cefpodoxime for the slight exacerbation of my asthma (we are having a very cold winter ) and Valsartan for the BP. I started the Valsartan 3 days ago- I wanted it to fit in with my chronic meds, script, having been on the anti-biotic for 5 days (10 day course), and the night after the first one, I woke in agony with pain in my back and legs, same thing last night but controlled by a couple of paracetamol tabs. Has anyone else had this.? I am due to go back to the GP in 10 days to be checked. Sorry for the diatribe, and thanks and congratulations to those who managed to wade through it !!!

[Ppiman]

I was given losartan, which seems very similar to valsartan, not for high blood pressure but because, as it was explained, it can protect the heart in the long term. I had no side effects from it and all it seems to have done is to reduce my systolic pressure from typically 80 to 70mm.

If I were you, I would find a way to check the 170mm diastolic reading your doctor obtained as it seems to me it might well have been caused by the car accident, along with the general situation. Many pharmacies now do blood pressure measurements but, best of all, find a machine that will work for you at home. Amazon allows these to be returned if they don’t work, if the packaging is all fully in tact. One with a child-size cuff comes to mind? The Omron Evolv is one of the best I have found.

I get sent sphygmomanometers occasionally for testing and I find that wrist monitors are about as accurate as upper arm ones in general, but that if your wrist is also very slim, that might explain the issues you are having. The Braun wrist model was more troublesome than the Omron one for thin wrists, I found.

Do you take your upper arm blood pressure in the morning before breakfast or medicines, sitting on a dining chair with your arm raised on a cushion on the table? Three separate readings a couple of minutes apart are needed even doing this, I find, sometimes four. With a wrist monitor, of course, they have their own arm positioning system, but sitting at a table still seems to be the best.

Steve

[pusillanimous in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you Steve. I live in South Africa so dealing with Amazon is not feasible. Omron is not sold here, but I have a Braun, a Beurer and an unknown ! I have to take the Valsartan for 10 days and return to the doctor to see how it is going , The Beurer always gives a higher reading than the Braun - although all three always agree on the HR. I have been taking readings AM when I awake and PM before sleeping, and the readings are low. The wrist must be level with the heart and I try to ensure that, although I'm not 100% sure where it is, because my AF is asymptomatic !!!!-Things like Kardia are not sold here. I may falsely have accused the Valsartan for causing the aches, as last night , I was fine - it's just that it was a new addition to my regimen- maybe I was dehydrated - we are having a very cold winter (for here) 15C in the day, but sunny, and as I only drink water, I was not drinking much -even on the hottest days I am seldom thirsty, and like a well known prince, I hardly perspire !I have been making myself drink more. It would seem that Valsartan is not widely taken as you (thank you) are the only response I received, but with the exception of a contaminated batch in the US, allegedly causing cancer and bringing forth law suits, it seems a very safe drug and kinder to the kidneys! The strange thing with the discomfort I suffered, is that as soon as I got out of bed it vanished -we will see what happens tonight, I'm sure you are correct in thinking my annoyance at damaging my car contributed to the problem because I have white coat syndrome at the best of times. Again thank you for wading through my sermon !

[Ppiman in reply to pusillanimous]

Another thought came to mind, but you will you likely already know this. I gather that it’s not possible take an accurate BP reading during AF. I have read that the only kind of machine that can do this with any accuracy is to use one of the older mercury glass sphygmomanometers, which are rather rare these days (I used to repair them many years ago!).

Steve

[pusillanimous in reply to Ppiman]

I don't think I am in permanent AF, Steve, because my wrist readings are always different and they do identify an irregular HB if it's present. I see the Cardio every year and only once have I been in AF and he did a cardioversion that same day. My doctor's practice does not use digital BP machines, and the one in the treatment room called 'the most accurate' that I will be checked on, is possibly one of the older ones that you refer to . I read up carefully of Valsartan and Losartan, both from the same class of drugs, and it seems dehydration is possible with them, and back ache is a side effect. I'll see what happens when I go back (I should get my car back tomorrow, the damage was really minimal - it's a tough little Audi A1! ). One thing's for sure ,I'm not taking directions from the security cum car guard again - I will sit in the middle of the carpark until a space becomes available. I think he's selling parking spaces, because there is no way that small medical centre could have so many people who need to park !

[Ppiman in reply to pusillanimous]

Nice car! We've just brought a VW ID.3, all-electric, which is my first from that marque since I was young. I've had Toyotas for years but the quality of the VW puts those to shame. It's a marvellous car.

Steve

[BernardS in reply to pusillanimous]

I have persistent A/F and take and regularly record my blood pressure with a microlife WatchBP home machine and my GP always uses my readings for my record. The beauty of this machine is it also indicates if you are in A/F at the time. microlife.com/professional-...

[Palpman]

I'm sure Dischem and Clicks sell Omrom BP machines with child arm cuffs. Dischem can order them for you. Have you tried them or are you back in the USA

[pusillanimous in reply to Palpman]

No I'm in South Africa, but I have never seen an Omron machine in Clicks , Dischem or S A's answer to Amazon, Takealot. Thank you,I'll make further enquiries, because I believe they are the best OTC for home use.

[Palpman in reply to pusillanimous]

I bought my Omron from Dischem in SA and still have it here in the UK after 8 years.

[pusillanimous in reply to Palpman]

Maybe they no longer import them, but will certainly do a good search especially now theyhave a strong online presence !