I am on 5 mg amlodipine daily for high blood pressure, and have been for more than a year. Since then my blood pressure has not been tested. It has become routine to take this repeat prescription, so I don't unfortunately know how high my BP is today.
However, just recently I have experienced various symptoms including breathlessness, and iron-deficient anaemia has been diagnosed. The underlying cause of this is being investigated.
My question is this - will this anaemia be reducing my blood pressure? Or could it even be increasing blood pressure? Should I continue taking amlodipine at this time? I worry because it is now the weekend and short of going to accident and emergency, I cannot get my blood pressure tested. Anaemia can cause heart problems, heart attacks etc, so as far as my immediate health is concerned, really I am asking for the next two days should I be taking amlodipine or not, before getting my BP checked again?
Written by
Alunrhys
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Hi Alun. You could buy a home BP monitor and check your own BP or give your pharmacist a call and ask him/her for advice. Your GP should have told you what to do but as that's obviously not happened, ring the pharmacist for advice first. Good luck
My thanks and my apologies for not replying sooner. I probably will now get a BP monitor to avoid this problem in future. It was late Saturday when I posted and nearly all pharmacists and GPs are shut over the weekend (a long weekend because Monday is a bank holiday) - so I was concerned about continuing with Amlodipine, if indeed anaemia had drastically lowered my blood pressure. As it happens though I did find a chemist (Boots) open till late Saturday evening, so I rushed off and got it checked. My BP hasn't actually changed much - still quite high - but at least that made it easy for me to decide to continue with it throughout the long weekend. My thanks again for your help and concern.
Decent BP monitors are available in most chemists for under 60 euros-- 40 quid in your language?It was the first thing I did when diagnosed with high BP. Have been on Amlodipine 5mg for a month. Down from 200 to 140s now.
It's a small investment in your peace of mind.
I think one can get BP taken in various places in UK.
My thanks, and my apologies for not replying sooner. I probably will now get a BP monitor to avoid this problem in future. I worried because it was late Saturday and today (Monday) is a bank holiday - most chemists and non-hospital doctors are closed - so I was concerned about continuing with Amlodipine, if indeed anaemia had lowered my blood pressure. As it happens though I did find a chemist (Boots) open till late Saturday, so I rushed off and got it checked. My BP hasn't actually changed much - still quite high - but at least that made it easy for me to decide to continue with it throughout the long weekend. My thanks again for your help and concern.
You can get your blood pressure measured in most pharmacies.Personally I have my own bp machine which cost only £30. It isn't clear what is causing your anaemia.I take 5mg amlodipine but I'm not anaemic plus I know many other people who are fine on this drug. You should have a chat with your pharmacist about this (maybe whilst getting your bp checked). I'm sure you will be reassured but if not talk to your GP.
My thanks, and my apologies for not replying sooner. I probably will now get a BP monitor now. I worried because it was late Saturday and today (Monday) is a bank holiday so most chemists and non-hospital doctors are closed - so I was concerned about continuing with Amlodipine, if indeed anaemia had drastically lowered my blood pressure. As it happens though I did find a Boots chemist open till late Saturday, so I rushed off and got it checked. My BP hasn't actually changed much - still quite high - but at least that made it easy for me to decide to continue with it throughout the long weekend. I'll try to get a GP appointment tomorrow (Tuesday). My thanks again for your help and concern.
That sounds like a good plan.Perhaps your GP will consider another medication instead.It took a while for me to adjust to medication but I got there in the end.Keep us posted.😀
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