Amlodipine and being under 40... healthy to high BP in 1 month

[Under40]

Hi all, a month ago I had heart palpitations and was admitted to hospital with 200/170. Always been reasonably healthy but covid had made my sluggish although continued to eat well. I was put on 10mg straight away, same time I decided to cut out all caffeine, sugars and salts and lost 15kg in process, i am now normal bp 99% time I check it. Should I go down to 5mg? The consultant now thinks I have cortisol issues but I'm never stressed even in my career.

Also they tell me pins and needles and cramps are side effects but how do I deal with them?

[Happyrosie]

Please don’t reduce your medication other than it being suggested by a health professional.

Congratulations on losing weight - it will certainly help.

As far as cramp is concerned, this is what I do for leg cramps.

1. Every day or other day, stand arms length from a wall, facing the wall, and do “press-ups” against it, heels on floor then standing on toes. Really make your leg muscles stretch. For at least one minute at a time, then two minutes after a week when your muscles are used to it.

2. Sugar free tonic water on hot days

3. Plenty of ordinary water every day, making sure your pee is never darker than straw-colour.

Hope this helps.

[Hidden]

Hi, no, please don't tweak the meds yourself. If you start feeling like your BP is going too low, go back to your Doctor. Re: pins and needles and cramps, have you had your B12 levels tested recently? I run a lot and take magnesium to stop leg cramps but might be worth checking with your Doctor before you take anything alongside your new meds. I've been on BP meds since my 20's, I think it's quite unusual to come off them once the Doctor has made the decision to put you on them.

[lmeyer36]

Your BP was a major hypertensive crisis!! Do not mess with your medication!! The reason your BP is 'normal' now is BECAUSE of the amlodipine. It takes a few weeks to build in your system and once it is stable it is very effective. If you were taking 10mg with a naturally normal BP it would be LOW! Check with your doctor as changing/reducing could cause dangerous rebound spike in your BP.

[Cathy365]

I would wait 6 months then ask your doctor can you reduce it. I forgot to take my tablet one day and my blood pressure shot up. I've been fit and healthy my whole life. Genetics can play a role here. Like you I'm trying to increase fitness and cut sugars. I'm not overweight either.