Hi, I'm a 46 year old man who's prediabetic and just been told that my blood pressure is too high. I've just completed a week of home blood pressure tests and have an average of 144/90. The doctors have put me on a dose of 2.5 mg of Ramipril. I'm worried about any side affects that may arise. Can anyone help me with their experiences as I'm a little worried at the moment. Many thanks
Chris
Hi Ginger Bloke I can't be for sure but whilst I was taking Ramapril I was encountering dizziness and vertigo symptoms.
Thanks for your reply, I already get vertigo so not looking forward to double trouble.
No I do not blame you it's not nice hopefully you will be ok
hi there, I started on 1.25 mcg Ramipril in October but it didn’t bring my blood pressure any lower so I’m now on 5mcg Ramipril and still not managed to lower it. I get a tickly cough now & again which is a side effect of Ramipril but before deciding to change to a different Bp tablet Iv chose to go higher on Ramipril first, at the moment still not improving so think it may be only choice if it doesn’t improve
Are there any lifestyle changes you can make to lower your BP naturally and ensure you don't get diabetes?
For example, are you the correct weight, do you exercise sufficiently and is your diet good?
started taking these in 2011 and never had any side effects.
I’ve been on ramipril for quite some time now. No problems with it at all.
Hello Gingerbloke
It is really good to welcome you onboard. Your BP is slightly too high. Slightly is the key word. If you do some relaxation techniques you should get the BP to a better level. I had success with a tinnitus relaxer. It plays white noise overlaid with a choice of pleasing sounds. I had success with relaxation classes. Lucky me, the village church runs free classes. Maybe you could look for something local for you.
Then there is prediabetic. I was 42 which is just over the 41 marker but well below the 49 diabetes level. The NHS run a whole load of classes known as XYLA. You need to be referred so ask your GP surgery how to get the referral.
In the meantime, do keep fit. No need to use a gym. Just walk or garden or play sport.
Then there is diet. Check out your BMi . Ease back on the diet. Just a little.
Act now and you won’t need any crash diets etc.
well done, you are reacting before matters become serious/out of control.
Sooty
Hi thereDon't worry. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure some yrs ago. I was put on Ramipril but got side effects mainly a cough so annoying. I was tried on all the blood pressure tablets and got side effects,mainly very bad cramps.The only blood pressure tablets that suits me no side effects is Lorstan
I was also diagnosed pre diabetic. Gp referred me for free NHS course. Which is mainly about eating sensible. Plus lifestyle changes, ie introducing more walking or exercise into your diet.
Myglucose is ok now because of lifestyle choices so don't need prediabetic meds.
Not sure about Rampiril but 144/90 isn't bad at all.
I've always had high blood pressure and it's taken years of trying different medications to get it down to a little less than yours!
A bit more exercise will probably get yours down a bit more.
How many meds did you have to try please for any would work, I’m on rampril and even higher doses aren’t making a difference to my high blood pressure
Right now I take a lot of different BP medications. Lostartan, Doxasosin, bendo[something]...(a diuretic) and 2 or 3 more. Plus a beta blocker.
In the past I was on and off of even more meds. But eventually my GP found the right combination and my BP is more or less ok now. Unless it's taken in a hospital! When it's always crazy high!
But remember that BP is just a number. If the numbers are bigger than you would like it's not a problem unless you are suffering from headaches, pain, vision disturbances, etc.
Even a very high number BP (like 175/105) is not, by itself, dangerous. It's the *effects* of the pressure that matter.
So try not to worry. Worrying will definitely put your BP up!
Thank you that’s helpful, mine has been really high like the figures you exampled and I felt ok just going to be trial & error I suppose il have to hang in there on the 5mg rampril see if it helps
You'll be fine, really. Trust the health professionals, monitor your bp if they ask you to. But not if they don't and not too often!
Thank you that’s very wise advise
The pharmacist will help you with side effects
Not to worry. That's you started on blood pressure tablets. I don't want to sound alarmist, but now could be a good time to get yourself a blood pressure meter and do your own monitoring to see how the medication is working.
Hi, after taking Ramipril for 3 months I developed the Ramipril cough. The doctor changed it to lostartin (or something like that) and I was fine. I have low blood pressure anyway so after a while had to stop that and now just take the other usual heart cocktail of drugs.
Hi Chris, the biggest and worst side effect is worrying about side effects. I'm not being sarcastic, honestly everyone reacts to different drugs in different ways. Most people don't get any side effects at all. If you look for them, you'll find them. So just take the tablets and forget you are on them. I do hope this helps. Steve
Hi Gingerbloke, I took ramipril for a short time but developed a constant clear your throat type cough which was a real annoyance and incompatible with may job as a teacher. I was changed to Losartan which is an ARB and have had no problems for over 15 years. That said, a friend of mine takes ramipril with no problem. We're all different. Try it and see.
I take 2.5mg of Ramipril twice per day the only thing I watch is not standing/turning too quickly as I get dizzy spells but that apart nothing to worry about.
Hi GB, if I were you, I would just take the Ramapril and see if it gives you side effects (like an annoying little cough). If it does, your doctor will put you on a different class of drugs. There are so many BP meds that finding one that suits you shouldn't be a problem. I was prediabetic too - started on a low glycemic diet (which involved learning to make sourdough bread) and that took care of it. It's shocking how much bad stuff is in the food we eat on a daily basis (like white bread for example).
having been on 2.5mg for a number of years and not aware of any adverse affects, dose was upped to 5.0mg not because blood pressure was taking a hit but to help kidneys, then upped again to 7.5mg per day - recently and 5 months after an ablation (for AF) started to get dizzy thinking I would pass out - potassium high and blood pressure going too low- was advised to drop to 5mg - dropped it completely - blood pressure pretty much Ok apart from couple of instances when a bit high so took a 2.5mg and next day all good again - Potassium has dropped below 5 and no episodes of feeling I’m going to pass out - back to docs soon and going to see if I can swap to 1.25mg daily to see if this stabilises and to look at what else can help kidneys. like any drug all have an impact and feel the medics need to review more regularly as things in our bodies change over time
Hi my high sugar came out the blue or so I thought. I was extremely stressed was bitten by a black widow spider and had huge infection. Prior I was eating a good diet and actually felt so good I started running. I'm 64yrs and the last time I ran was at school. Someone told me to clean my blood with beetroot, apples and carrots to clean my blood which I did and ate blue berries by the handful. Day 5 I had a heart attack and ended up having 2 stents. I doubled the liquid juice. I was living next to a blue berry farm and when it's cold they run huge fans to move the cold air and if very cold two helicopters. They went on for hours I could not take the noise and my blood pressure shot up to 200/100 during the noise, I moved and wanted a new Dr (I was put on beta blockers, statins, blood thinners and blood pressure meds after stents but due to side effects I went herbal ) New Dr put me back on meds the side effects I could not function she changed meds and then reduced dose. I tried another Dr who changed meds but I'm talking about not being able to walk 2 steps without being able to breathe, low blood pressure, muscle pain, blinding head aches, brain fog, hair loss but facial hair huge weight gain, sleepwalking and panic attacks. My diet was good, I thought no sugar and lots of fruit and veg. I become diabetic although it was NEVER mentioned before. Thanks to Glucose Goddess on internet I changed to savory breakfast, eat veg before protein and if any carbs last. I have lost 8kg in 10 days energy levels up I'm thinking of running again although I don't really do exercise I do 3 minutes here and there during the day. MY blood pressure perfect my blood sugar perfect NO spikes, I haven't checked cholesterol yet but I have included lentils, flaxseed and large quantity of spices like tumeric, cinnamon ginger to my diet garlic and chillies to reduce inflammation. Next I'm going to go past Dr to check my numbers, I'm proudly going to walk in less belly fat. I feel like I have walked into a new dimension and it was so easy. Please try my hacks before meds
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