I have been having episodes of very high blood pressure. 180 systolic up to 190 . I’ve now been given 5mg of Amlodipine once a day. It is now day 5 and my blood pressure is now fluctuating between a systolic of 111 up to 124, having usually been between 130 and 145 before, apart from the 3 times it spiked. I am worried it might go too low and cause fainting or other problems. I am very active and go out a lot and am getting anxious about the low blood pressure. I have to keep taking my blood pressure for a week and then contact my GP to discuss the results. I just hope they put me on the 2.5 mg dose. Do you think I could insist on that. I was also told to increase my morning dose of Sotalol to 80mg from 40. I had been told by the EP who did my ablation, to stop taking the Sotalol and I had been gradually reducing it. I got to 20 mg and then started having these BP problems. I don’t want to increase my Sotalol to any more than the 40 mg’s it is now and I’m just hoping they’ll let me keep it as it is, as I don’t want my BP lowered any more than it is already. Apparently they lower your blood pressure, so that is what more than likely, caused my BP to rise, when I got down to the very low dose. Looks like I’ll not be able to stop that now and I was so hoping to stop them after I’d had my ablation a year ago. Can anyone else relate to this and try and help me to stop worrying about it. Thanks.
Low blood pressure from tablets - Atrial Fibrillati...
Low blood pressure from tablets
Trying 2.5 mg is a reasonable option as long as it meets your blood pressure goals, which can vary person to person and doctor to doctor, but in general are under 130 systolic.
As far as infrequent blood pressure spikes, these may happen in any event and should not have the same concern as your normal blood pressure, at least according to my doctors.
You should also know that it's not uncommon for the body to take a little time to get used to blood pressure, drugs, and functioning at a lower blood pressure.
Jim
Thanks. When you’ve never had BP problems before, it’s a bit worrying. Just hoping the GP will agree to me lowering the Amlodipine. Any idea how long it takes for you to get used to it.
Mayne 1-2 weeks, the side effects troubling. I report them to my doctor now..
Jim
Thanks. Will just see how it goes. Its the weekend now, so will have to go to walk in centre, if it gets any lower. I have to log my BP for a week and get a GP appointment, after I’ve taken the readings 4 times a day, for a week, which will be next Monday.
When it goes below 90/60 is the time to express concerns. That said, some people live there quite happily. But I think you're right to keep an eye on it given you are on 2 meds that address BP even though one of them is (I think) is also a rate controller. Take your BP twice a day and log the results. Try not to worry as worry impacts on our BP..
I know. I will try. I get what most people get when visiting hospitals and Drs— white coat syndrome.
111 for a systolic reading doesn't seem low to me, in fact I'd see that as within normal range and your previous readings as too high. Mine was 114/70 this morning and I was pleased because I'm taking losartan as it's been too high recently at 135/85 and doctor wants it lower.
I’ve taken my BP a couple of times in the past, for my GP’s and they said every time, that the systolic readings in the 130 range, were ok and they were not going to give me any medication to bring it down.
Why not have a look online it might reassure you that your BP is OK.
Hi
Depemding on your age, 130 - 140 OK but 120 better.
Sometimes it is the Dr syndrome adpect of it causing it. I take 2.5 Biso .. at night for BP now 110- 140 Systolicm 69-79 Diastolic.
The 120mg Diltiazem for rapid heart beat may be helping a little also.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
Thanks, so yours has gone to 110 as well sometimes. It just seems so low, when the normal BP they say is 120/80. Just not used to having BP that low. Since I’ve been on these Amlodipine , my BP has been between 110 and 128
Hi
Your BP will change throughout the day even at rest at different periods.
I take 3 readings and 1. 110, 2nd 120 and 3rd 115 so average is normal.
cheri JOY 75. (NZ)
Thanks. I’m just not used to my BP being so low. I had to take my BP for a week twice times before, after my hypertensive crises and it averaged 135/63, so GP didn’t think I needed to go on any medication. This time, I am taking the 5mg Amlodipine, they prescribed this time, as I don’t want this to happen again. , but will discuss with the GP. If I can reduce it to 5mg.
I am led to understand that anything below 90/60 is low - I think the standards seem to be changing - I once sked my GP who decided and when,what our BP should be and she wasn't quite sure. It seems that 120/80 has been the holy grail for years and years - but I read a paper a while ago (Cannot remember from which University, I think Tel Aviv) that 115/75 was more desirable. So to me it's a bit of a puzzle - I recall at one time the rule of thumb was the systolic should be your age plus 100 !!!!
I think they classed average BP as 140/80 many years ago.
To me that's high!
I would agree 💯 My BP hovers around 109/65 and my EP is happy with that as I have no symptoms from it
"Normal blood pressure is usually considered to be between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg. For over-80s, because it’s normal for arteries to get stiffer as we get older, the ideal blood pressure is under 150/90 mmHg (or 145/85 mmHg at home).
High-normal blood pressure, sometimes called ‘pre-hypertension’, is when you don’t have an ideal blood pressure but you also don’t have high blood pressure. It’s usually considered to be between 120/80 mmHg and 140/90 mmHg. Being at this level might prompt you to live a healthier lifestyle so you don’t develop high blood pressure."
I copied this from the British Heart Foundation website as some of the info on the internet is not current and suggests higher levels. I hope this reassures you a bit.
New ESC guidelines say 130/75 is raised ie not quite too high but of concern. As these only came out this week hopefully most Gps are not aware yet. lol 😂
Really.The Dr that reviewed my BP readings I took for a week and averaged 134, should take note of that.
I should stop worrying about my BP going under 120 then shouldn’t I. What does ESC stand for.?
European Society of Cardiology.
They keep changing the goalposts on BP. About 30 years ago 140/80 was considered good. Now … gloom and doom. My Bp varies from 125-135/67-75 and both GP and cardio are happy. I’m 78 and not thin sadly
Yes I remember that. 114 would also have been classed as too low. In 1968 I started an SRN nursing course. Didn’t finish it, as I found the theory work too hard and left after a year.You could get into nursing by doing an entrance exam, no university education for nurses then. You were trained in the Nurses school and on the wards. I would never have got into university, I only got 2 O levels. I became a Dental nurse instead. Better hours and pay and training by the dentist. When I had kids, I worked for nursing agencies, as nursing auxiliary/ care assistant, for many years and went back into dental nursing when my kids had grown up enough.
Hi
Folks live LONGER lIVES with some extraaaaaa.
I'm 75 years amd look rihght clothed but know I've got some extra under. Ha ha.
cherio JOY. 75 (NZ)
I was told as long as I didn't have symptoms and my BP was 90/60 or over (without being high of course) was ok
Thanks, border terrorist, I’ve just been looking at that site and yes, it surprised me. I thought 111 was too low and it worried me. I thought I’d be flaking out with BP that low. I’m 73. I try and exercise several times a week. I used to belong to a gym, until Covid came along and when it was closed, I bought some equipment and I saved a lot of money on membership. I also go out quite a lot with my 2 WI groups, so am quite active, certainly not overweight. I don’t drink or smoke. I keep off salt, where possible and have 5 fruit and vegs a day. In fact I do all I can to keep healthy. Just doesn’t seem fair, does it.
No I feel the same, it's not fair but life isn't is it?. Until I had my first episode of flutter that put me in A&E for a couple of days I was a fit 71 year old, riding my dressage horse most days, going to pilates twice a week and dog walking most days. I eat very healthily and my weight was fine. I'm now nearly 76 and two thirds of the time I struggle to walk the dog on the flat for 15 minutes because I'm very symptomatic, the rest of the time I feel OK except I've lost so much fitness as I don't feel able to commit to anything as I never know how I'm going to feel. My QOL has diminished considerably, I miss riding so much but I got bucked off in January and ended up in hospital for 2 weeks with broken ribs, pneumothorax and I lost over three pints of blood..... blood thinners and a nasty fall are not recommended! However, when I'm feeling well enough I do as much as I can and I'm on the waitlist for pace and ablate, already have a pacemaker and I hold on to the belief that I will feel better and I am still here. Sadly I have friends who didn't make "old bones" so I feel lucky. Have a lovely weekend, I've felt pretty well for two days now after a crap run of 10 days, so I'm hoping to enjoy every minute of it, you do the same!
I loved horse riding, when I was younger. I wouldn’t dare get on a horse now.
I did fall off once and hurt my neck, but your injuries sounded awful, sounds like you were lucky to survive that.. I do watch the show jumping on TV, when it’s on. I assume your dog is a border terrier, seeing your title. Hope things improve when you get your pace and ablate. Best wishes.Cath
I have to keep reminding myself that at a whisker under 80 I am the oldest remaining member of my Race Team (motorsport) and that only my No2 mechanic is still with us so when I struggle to walk across the yard to the workshop I'm still better than most! Just spent the day helping my son test a new engine so its wine o'clock now.
Did you race cars. We don’t live far from Mallory Park, if you've heard of it.
I was a race engineer not driver though I did do some testing. Ten years in BTCC with Alfa 1978 onwards. Mallory had the best greasy spoon ever in the old days but not been there for 20 years.
Sounds like you’ve had an interesting life.
Every second! I had two jobs and only about 4 hours sleep a night for twenty years which I'm sure is why I'm the mess I am now but what a ride!
Gosh, couldn’t have managed on that for 20 years. Had several years of broken sleep when my 3 boys were very young though. That was enough for me!!
Carpe diem! I honestly thought I'd ride until I died but I just don't have the required energy or fitness even without the blood thinners. I get my horsey fix in other ways but my stables are now empty. Lucky you to still be able to tinker with your cars. I've taken up "art", I can do it sitting down when I feel "rubbish" and still enjoy it when I feel OK.
I like your saying "my stables are now empty". I will use those words as a metaphor for my very diminished mobility due to the late effects of childhood polio. I will have to satisfy myself with the memory that in a previous dream of mine my stable did contain, for a fleeting period, a beautiful wild black stallion.
Hoping the horses of your mind/body run free in your new art adventures.
I think adapting to changes in our health as we get older is the most difficult thing as we age. If we're fortunate we change slowly but I think perhaps we've both had a rapid change. I certainly have and at times I feel very frustrated, not helped by the long waiting lists in the UK to get things done that could improve QOL dramatically. My stable did contain a beautiful black mare and your post got me looking through pics of things we'd done together. Happy memories tinged with a bit of sadness as she was PTS a year or so ago following a serious injury, but she was really special and not the cause of my injuries.
So sad, I lost my horse to a stroke many years ago, it broke me as he was so alert and nudging me in the stable for polo mints. Sadly every time you tried to walk him he went down 😭
I help out as a volunteer at a horse charity it's so rewarding, these poor creatures need us. The yard had 42 at the last count
I am like you in a way, miss my horse riding so much 😞 My EP says not to ride because of the anticoagulants in case I fall, but life is all about risk and is for living. I am tempted but would need an old school master even then I know no horse is bomb proof! Maybe my riding days are over too 😞
I used to help at our local riding stables, when I was a young teenager and I’d be rewarded with a free ride.
I’d be too scared to ride horses now. Last time I rode, was in my twenties.!
I made it to 75 so I think I should feel lucky.
I guess we all have to decide about risk but the horse who bucked me off belonged to a friend but I'd known him since they bought him as a five year old, he was a bit naughty as a youngster but had become the perfect older school master (ex adv eventer) who could turn his hoof to anything with a reasonable rider. I was riding him regularly and thought I knew him inside out. He'd had less turn out as it was very wet and he felt "bright". He spooked at something he'd normally have ignored, added a buck which unseated me a bit then followed it up with another buck and dropped his shoulder. I didn't stand a chance! A friend has had a couple of TIAs but won't take an anticoagulant as she wants to continue riding, riding vs stroke and for her riding won, I feel differently now and won't risk it but it's left a huge hole in my life.
If you have to give up something you enjoy, it is a big wrench.
Reducing salt apparently only helps around 15% of the high BP population. The exercise you are doing will certainly help. Do you eat a lot of processed food? There's often hidden salt and harmful fats in these.
I try not to eat salt. Never add it to food, it’s just what’s in the food I eat. Can’t really avoid it. I try not to eat lots of it. I’ve never suffered from high blood pressure before and my diet has not changed for many years. That’s why I can’t understand it.
I’ve not done any exercise for a few days and will avoid it today, as we’ve had our C jabs this morning. Loads of people queuing up for it, but queue went down pretty quickly. The appointments were 3 mins apart. Very well organised at my surgery.!
So I understand about the change. It may not be permanent and its reasonable to tweak your dose etc. I think its an issue with modern approaches to medicine - oh this is out of balance so you must take this pill- instead of looking into why. Don't be surprised if its high tomorrow if you've just had a jab buy go for a walk if you can. Walking really helps my BP. Apparently so does weight bearing exercise. I saw one of the Michael Moseley programmes about it that he'd recorded before his death. And he talked about it there. Might be something to look into. Hope that helps. I always like to have resources and a plan!
Thanks Singwell. I belonged to a gym for many years. When the big C hit and they closed the gym, I bought some equipment of my own and I have 2 exercise programmes I’ve devised for myself, which I try and do as many times in a week as I can. I do 15 mins of cardio exercises, climbing the stairs and doing step ups and then I do about 15 mins of resistance exercises, with weights or resistance bands. I also have a rowing machine and a pedal machine. I’ve saved over £300 a year, by not belonging to a gym any more.
Poor Michael Moseley. It was a tragic end to his life. Maybe if he’d had his mobile phone with him, he might have been able to call for help. Could never be without mine.!
I have a sore arm and my BP this morning was really low on the 2nd reading, 110/59. Heart rate 82. I’m just not happy with such a low reading. I think I really need to take the 2.5 mg dose instead. You can cut these in half, as there is a line on the tablets to do this, but not sure if you can just do it without asking the GP.
110 over 59 is so close to normal. Wondering if it's worth you calling the British Heart Foundation for an advice chat just to reassure you. Or whichever contrary you're in I got so much support from thr Arrhythmia Alliance once and chatted to Tracey Admin. Totally worth it.
111 to 124 is a perfect good BP which a lot of people would aim for
My doctor has always said if you wanted a perfect BP it would be 120/70
Please don’t worry
Thanks, good to know.
I think the sotalol if for the pulse rate.Im on atenolol..same family following my cardiac ablation.Maybe you might be better on 2.5mg amlipodine .Prenisolone seems to mess with our blood pressure. I have had some nasty episodes of hypertension. Up to 190 systolic.100 diastolic. I have ended up in emergency as I have already had two heart attacks compliments of prednisolone. I had stents put in.
Thankfully things have settled down.My meds got changed for a while.
Watching my diet and stress levels is a big thing.
Hope things settle down for you soon.
Thanks, so do I. I hate going on new medicine. Glad to hear things settled down fir you.
Don’t forget that you are in control of your own health and that your medics should be committed to shared decision-making. So if you want to try cutting the dosage of Amlodipine it’s your choice. You don’t have to ask for your GP’s permission (but it’s good to discuss).
When first prescribed 2.5mg of Bisoprolol by cardiology, I had a discussion with GP and decided to take 1.25mg instead (using a pill cutter before a lower dose was prescribed by the GP). After an echocardiogram I then discussed with a reluctant doc on cardiology rotation and decided to stop Biso altogether. I give that just as an example.
You clearly know your own body and have worked out what is worth trying, so tell the GP what you propose to do and that you’d prefer a supply of 2.5mg tabs to using a pill cutter! You don’t need permission to manage your own health, so you can also decline to increase your dose of Sotalol if that’s what you think best.
Don’t worry - take control!
Thank you. I am thinking of cutting the tablet in half and seeing what happens. I can’t get to a GP till Wednesday, so just not sure if I can do that without talking to a Dr first. I haven’t been taking the 80mg Sotalol, my heart has been fine just on the 40mg doses.I so hate having this blood pressure worry. I’ve never had it before.
After responding I had a look at the patient info leaflet. It says “Amlodipine 2.5 mg is not currently available and the 2.5 mg dose cannot be obtained with Amlodipine 5 mg as these tablets are not manufactured to break into two equal halves.”
You may need the oral solution and a 2.5mg syringe if you want to halve your dose.
The tablets I have, have got a line up the middle.I’ve googled that and there doesn’t seem to be a problem with getting them in theUK.
Hello, thank you for your post, I can see members have already provided advice to you. You might find our 'Understanding Your Blood Pressure' information sheet helpful?
UK and International: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...
US: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...
If you have any questions or would like to contact a member of the Patient Services Team, please visit: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Kind regards
TracyAdmin
Thanks Tracy. The members on here are, are great, as always. It’s very much appreciated.
Hi, it's Karen, your fellow friend from Glenfield hospital. I wouldn't say that BP is low, better that way than high. As you know I am in Sotalol too and my BP is always around 100/65 and my EP isn't concerned at all. He says if I don't feel faint don't worry about it, so I don't ❤️
That is lower than mine goes down to. When I took it this morning, it was 122/64 and my heart rate was a bot slower, as 84, rather than in the nineties.
That's good. Is your heart rate always like that?
It used to be in the 70’s before my ablation. Since then it’s been in the 80’s until the spikes in high blood pressure.
My EP said it happens often after ablation. I believe they say it's a positive thing
Yes, someone else on here said that. Hope it’s right.
Sorry I'm coming late to this but think you should stop worrying. Those figures aren't that low.
If you are concerned you could ask for a 24hr BP monitor. My husband had fainted twice. The monitor revealed his BP was at times going down to below 90/60. He wasn't on any BP meds though. He was treated with electrolytes sports drinks and compression socks and is ok now.
Better a lower BP thsn a high one. It takes a while to get used to new meds. BTW the BHF helpline nurses are lovely.
Thank you. I know someone who fainted from low blood pressure when put on new tablets and I think that’s what’s worrying me. I don’t want mine to go that low. I am doing my blood pressure 4 times a day for a week, will ask the Doctor, when I get an appointment on Wednesday, if I can reduce them to 2.5mg, to try. It will only be a telephone appointment I expect. I wish you could actually talk to a Doctor face to face. I hate these phone call ones. If the big C had never happened, I wonder if they would have ever done these phone call appointments. I’m sure they never did them before that all the time. This is day 8 of my new meds. Not sure how long it takes for your body to get used to them.
low blood pressure
Almost 3 Months Post Ablation and Getting increased Blood Pressure.
Low blood pressure symptoms post ablation 
Blood pressure 
Blood pressure monitor 
