Spike in Blood pressure

[Redmile]

I am 73 and occasionally my blood pressure has spiked to around 215/120. I take 100mg of losartan daily which normally keeps my BP stable. The doctor has prescribed 25-50 mg of a beta blocker to take as well but my heart rate dropped to 48bpm. Does anyone know why BP can spike like this. I am pretty healthy and active.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

Can I ask if you are on any other medication?

[Redmile in reply to MichaelJH]

Yes...Levothyroxine, Atorvastin,Citalapram

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to Redmile]

Thank you for replying. Nothing rings alam bells with me but with thyroid problems your Heart Rate does need watching.

Losartan is an ARB which some consider a second generation ACE Inhibitor (e. g. Lisinopril). Dual therapy is often considered these days. I was on 20 mg Lisinopril but when 1.25 mg Bisoprolol (a beta blocker) was added my Lisinopril was eventually titrated down to 2.5 mg proving the effectiveness of dual therapy (as there are two different actions at play).

Have you your own BP meter so you can monitor it.

I have spiked at 220/110 but there was an underlying cause which landed me in hospital.

I suspect dual therapy could suit you but needs to be approached with care.

[Wellington19]

Ask the doctor about irbesartan, i found it much better than losartan,

[ronnyharry]

One thing that is really important is what you do to help remedy matters. Consider the positive options if you are not already on those paths. You might find that doing something really positive will help-one idea, give yourself a full month and adopt a strict plant based oil free diet, do it without deviation for a month and see how you feel, if you feel better, just keep going and no not turn away, you will never be hungry and you could gain massively health wise, but it does mean you have to be active and take some responsibility for your sitution. I was on three blood pressure tablets including losartan and bisoprol and have completely stopped everything apart from a very low dose of bisoprol, my cholesterol is now very good and I have lost 15kg, I am not cured but I m much better, doing 3 mile walk every day, gardening and all normal activities, I suggest you give it a shot(unless you are already doing it). Western medicine is quite happy to churn out tablets without looking at the causes because that is where the money is. Good luck Ron

[seasider18]

I take 12.5 mg Losartan morning and night for my very variable BP.

I used to go to A&E when it went over 200/115. They would do ECG and negative blood tests and give me 10 MG amlodipine that would bring it down to around 140/75 and and release me. I decided after a few trips like that to ask my GP for 5mg Amlodipine for suh times. He said that a lot of his patients take Amlodipine as a pill in the pocket for such times.

[Redmile in reply to seasider18]

Many thanks for your reply. Your situation sounds very similar to mine. The trips to A&E are very scary so I shall ask my GP about Amlodipine. A pill in the pocket seems a great idea . I have yet to find out why my BP spikes as it does. The Losartan seems to keep it in check most of the time but occasionally, and for no apparent reason, it just jumps to these high numbers. If I knew what caused it then maybe I could do something to stop it🤔 Thanks again

[seasider18]

Major hospitals with kidney centres also have Hypertension Clinics if you google for them.

I wrote to a consultant and managed to be seen by him. He tried everything to find a medical reason for my hypertension including kidney and head MRI's without finding anything. At that time I was on 100mg Losartan and 240 mg Verapamil and he said I was over medicated and after exercise making it to low. The Verapamil was slowing my heart rate and gradually stopped and Losartan reduced to its present level and basically my BP stayed the same.

My BP seems to go up when I suffer as I frequently do from digestion problems and bloating causing chest discomfort. BP was first noted when I went to GP around 2006 for something for my indigestion. Doctor took my BP and it was 210/110 and she sent me to chest pain clinic and I've been on that viscous circle ever since.

Treadmill tests and stress echocardiograms produce false positives and led to three angiograms that were clear. Though my aortic valve was found to be 76% closed in 2011 and I had the valve replaced with a tissue one. That though made no difference to my BP.

Good luck in your quest