Blood pressure & anxiety

[Daneman53]

Hi ...I was on ramipril and amlodopine until last year and was experiencing leg swelling. My doctor switched the amlodopine to doxazosin 2mg daily which together with losing over 2 Stone worked well. Over lockdown I managed to gain back half a stone, and was not feeling well developing worsening palpations and upped the dose to first 4mg daily then 6mg. It now appears that these doses may have been to high with blood pressures falling as low as mid 90s systolic and mid 60s diastolic. Meanwhile I appear to have developed anxiety which is associated with pressures as high as 180 over 110. I have now been taken off doxozasin and I'm only on a low anti anxiety dose of beta blocker. I'm really worried I'm not getting good control with the level of contact with my doctor by phone but of course that's feeding the anxiety...any advice?

[lettingoffsteam]

Are you still on ramipril or nothing at all?Have you got a bp machine and have you been taking your bp if so?They are very cheap to buy and a good investment.It seems strange to be on two bp meds and then stop.I'm on both ramipril and amlodipine myself and my bp would be terrible if I stopped.Anxiety can definitely shoot up bp...it does mine but you need to know what your bp is doing over the day.I had a 24 hour bp measure as my cardiologist wanted to see what my bp was away from him as he got 170/100,in his clinic It was totally normal at home but that was with meds.

Are you still getting palpitations?I get those too but the cardiologist prescribed propanolol which helps a lot plus it's good for anxiety.

I would measure your bp then if high get a phone appointment with your gp.Don't leave it as that causes heart damage.I have a slightly enlarged heart as mine went undiagnosed for a while...best you avoid that.Hope it gets sorted.

[Daneman53 in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Thanks- still on ramipril, and beta blockers 10mg three times a day. I do have home blood pressure machine and will be measuring pressures again now that have taken me off doxazosin. I suspect it will be high...I'm still having anxiety attacks and I feel terrible when I have them....but dont feel in control and feel quite alone with this at the moment. I'm hoping I an get on top of this soon...

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Daneman53]

Ah OK, just keep a close eye on the bp then.I felt very panicky when I was first diagnosed.I think the meds can do that to you but it has eased off.Just avoid taking a reading when feeling panicky.

[Daneman53 in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Thanks so much..this has really helped...this morning I was feeling less panicked and BP was down to 130/88.

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Daneman53]

That's a good start then...you've got this!😃

[Handel in reply to Daneman53]

Nice one.

Please let us know how you get on xxx

[Daneman53 in reply to Handel]

Just to say....anxiety under control with sertraline and BP normalised on a low dose of bisoprolol with ramipril. When you have anxiety and then suffer side effects from meds it can all seem quite scary, but initial dizziness and headaches have retreated and now feel so much better. Hopefully this will give others encouragement to persist on meds if initial adverse effects on bisoprolol and sertraline are bothersome. It takes a few days to adjust to both

[Handel in reply to Daneman53]

So glad you're feeling a little better. Thinking of you xxx

[M4S4 in reply to Daneman53]

I feel like that too ... the anxiety panics are awful. Just start Setraline but doing it slowly.