How can I take BP meds when my BP & heart rate are so extreme?

[arnieatmo]

I'm now taking for anxiety, clonazepam, diazepam as required & most recently 150mg sertraline (Zoloft) The sertraline doc said was to lower my anxiety which he says is the reason for my erratic blood pressure, often high 160/110 but otherwise my norm is 140/90, but sometimes 100/70 and for several long periods last year my heart rate was dropping from 76 odd to 40.

Different doc (all by phone) said two days before this one to take propranolol, I'd only taken 3 x50mg when next morning this recent doc said stop taking beta blockers immediately & he'll prescribe Amlodipine (Norvasc) instead and increase sertraline from 100mg to 150mg, this was Thursday when my BP had been 150/100+ all week. I was in a way disappointed as I'd read up on the propranolol and thought yes! this will fix half my issues. I can't take amlodipine, had it before but kept me up every night for several weeks coughing up clear, sticky phlegm. I can't contact docs because all closed for bank holiday, and it'll be a nightmare trying to get through on Tuesday.

How can I take BP meds when my BP & heart rate are so extreme?

[Happyrosie]

This sounds so difficult for you - especially in the current situation. Are you able to sit quietly by yourself, without interruptions? Ten minutes sitting in the garden or on a park bench listening to the birds and being aware of your breathing, slowly in and out. Take a timer, so that you do NOT have to keep looking at your watch! This brings your blood pressure down quite a bit - though it takes a bit of practice. Try it for a week, once or twice a day.

I’ve not tried them myself - maybe someone else on the community has - but there are several meditation apps, free, on the Apple App Store.

[arnieatmo in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you. Yes I have started doing breathing exercises, I do find it extremely difficult to concentrate enough to keep going and TBH I find any routine difficult. I can't do them at night which would be ideal, because of my throat & mucus issues. In the morning it takes me ages to come round but by the time I've been to the loo, I'm back in bed working.

[springcross]

Hi arnieatmo. I don't know where you are (UK or US) but if in the UK your surgery may be open today. We had a text before Easter to say that ours was open Good Friday and Easter Monday for telephone appointments and to help with medical advice and support to prevent pressure on 111 and A & E during COVID-19 emergency. You can but try.

[arnieatmo in reply to springcross]

Hi & thanks, yes I'm UK and currently I'm taking BP & the odd propranolol when I can feel a problem & BP is high, 145+. I did email the surgery on Monday but no response, I suppose I should try calling, but keep forgetting to. I'll do it tomorrow when pressure of work is not so high.