Nicorandil

I am on nicorandil 20mg two times a day. Seems my Bp goes from 95/65 to 135/95 and all in between. I was on bisoprolol but it kept my Bp from 89/58 to 105/69. So they switched to the nicorandil. I have angina and had all tests about 4-6 years ago. It seem I am getting worst. Finally have a phone consult with a cardiologist on the 29th. Does this happen with the meds to anyone else? Thx

[PecanSandie]

When your BP was very low, did you have any side effects? Just wondering, because the first time I was on Metoprolol (which sounds like a cousin of Bisoprolol) I used to get low readings like yours and felt really dizzy when I would go for a walk. My doctor didn't seem really that concerned that it was so low so I weaned myself off the drug on my own. And guess what, she put me back on it but now I take it at night (which would only affect me I guess if I am sleep walking-lol). (I also take amlodipine in the morning and furosemide three times a week). So now my BP is back to being anywhere between 100 to 140 during the day.

My takeaway is that US doctors don't seem to mind really low pressure but just hate it when it's over 130. And mine is ALWAYS well over 130 when I am in the doctors office no matter what I am taking.

[Hidden in reply to PecanSandie]

Here in kent, uk my gp was concerned with the constant low Bp. The bisoprolol also made me dizzy, fuzzy headed making it hard to think and concentrate. Wobbly on the feet. Also did not help much at all with my chest pains. Of course I still get them on nicorandil just not quite as bad. Talking to cardiologist on phone the 29th to determine if I need to be seen face to face.

[PecanSandie in reply to Hidden]

Those "prolol" drugs are really powerful. I had that same reaction when I took it during the day.

At some point the doctors are going to have to start seeing us all face to face again. I haven't been to my primary care doctor since August 2019!

[Hidden in reply to PecanSandie]

Yes eventually they will. I email my bp readings every Monday.

[PecanSandie]

That's impressive. If I emailed bp readings to my doctor she probably would wonder who I am...lol. But it has been my experience that once you get referred to specialists (which I have been), the primary care doctor usually defers to them.

[Hidden in reply to PecanSandie]

True and they keep my gp in the loop. Both having access to my records.

[MaggieMaybe]

I'm on the lowest dose of Bisoprolol, 1.25 mg. I had very bad side effects at first, the dose was increased twice in spite of that and my heart rate dropped to 50 and just under, plus headaches and exhaustion side-effects got worse I was put back on the lowest dose about 3 years ago. I have paroxysmal atrial tachycardia, or assume I still do.However my heart rate has gone back to 70 bpm (don't know if it gets too fast)and my BP is usually between 130 and 170.

I don't know if the increased BP is caused by bisoprolol or by the fact that I'm no longer able to exercise much thanks to bisoprolol. I saw a consultant shortly after a 24 hour monitoring and was discharged. Now I've had my BP checked by my GP twice and was asked to monitor it for 3 days. As I've only had 2 f2f GP appointments since the start of the pandemic I have no idea if anything has changed and was told that there were no other suitable drugs for my condition.

So sorry that I can't be of more help, but maybe us both having increased BP relates to bisoprolol, or maybe not.

I have the same side-effects to all 'olol' drugs as mentioned by other posters.

[Hidden in reply to MaggieMaybe]

The bisoprolol for me kept my Bp down to low. Nicorandil I am currently on puts my bp p and down more. Gp took me off bisoprolol. I was on 6mg of bisoprolol when I stopped it.

[getfitter1]

Hi. I'm unable to provide knowledge of bp unfortunately. I was originally prescribed 5mg, once a day, and have after 3 years been taken off it. It was causing my heart rate to fall to below 50bpm... And the Ramipril went by the wayside as well. Blood pressure was always normal; I can recommend getting as fit as possible; this may provide a pathway to your doctor reducing your dose of Bisoprolol if you're lucky.

[Hidden in reply to getfitter1]

Thx. I am off the bisoprolol now and on nicorandil. Fitness is very hard, but walk 20-40 minutes a day.