I have been taking Enalapril Maleate for over 30 years. I am now 79 and my blood pressure is moderately high but highly variable and I suffer from occasional dizziness. I see that this is a side-effect of EM. I wonder whether I should ask for a change of medicine, maybe to a receptor blocker? The ones mentioned on the NHS website are candesartan, irbesartan, valsartan.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? Would be very interested to hear from you.
Many thanks for this very helpful comment, TRST
Why now , you ask. I have considered other possible other causes for the dizziness, but none has proved right. I wonder whether one's age when using this medicine affects its efficacy or side effects. I note that the section on 'Warnings and precautions' in the Enalapril leaflet advises people to talk to their doctor if they are over 70 years of age. This may refer not only to one's age when starting to take the medicine, but also to its continued usage after 70.
At your age sudden falls/fainting can become an issue. often caused by rapid drops in pulse rate and/or blood pressure (possibly syncope). You need to have a chat with your GP regarding your condition to review your meds and ask to see a cardiologist.
They will probably carry out an ECG and want you to wear a recorder to see what is going on. They may alter the time that you take your meds so that you take it before going to bed or they may consider you for a pacemaker to kick and stop the sudden drops.
Now that the pressure is coming off, the hospitals are getting back to a more normal level of activity and appointments are becoming available, but there is usually a waiting list so the quicker you join it the better.
If you are really worried consider getting a hammer, give your piggy bank a quick crunch, extract a couple of hundred pounds and get a private appointment to find out what is going on, it may be money well spent.
Very helpful - and also very learned. Thank you so much for your advice.
By the way - do you know if there is any high blood pressure medication that doesn't carry a risk of dizziness as a possible side effect? Please don't bother to reply if that is the kind of question I should be addressing to my Dr.
Changes you have made.
Using a sauna or steam room after a heart attack.
Working when you have heart failure.
How can you have pulmonary hypertension if your ventricles are normal? 
Can you have angina without ischaemia?
