what next for me?

[Moneylover]

hello, apart from being 76 there is absolutely none of the usual reasons my BP is high. And only in the last year, before that I never had a reading above 135/80.

Am on amlodipine 5mg which has reduced some scarily high readings to an average of 150/95. Have just sent a weeks worth of readings to GP. Is there a drug pathway? Ie is he likely to double dose of existing medication or add a small dose of something else? I suppose he might phone me ( he is new and has never met me) but am just as likely to get a message to say I have a new prescription. I def don’t want or need a diuretic. So just wondered what is most likely to happen so I am prepared!

[Barford]

With your recent blood reading a stronger dose may be recommended or an additional medicine. Have you tried other ways that may help reduce blood pressure such as diet and exercise? Good luck.

[sueysue]

It's likely they may increase your amlodipine to 10 mg before adding anything else. I am on that plus 10 mg of Ramipril plus a diuretic. The latter was added lastly. I think they try the others first and diuretic last. Hope you can get it controlled.

[Moneylover in reply to sueysue]

thank you Sueysue

[Madlegs1]

I'm on Amlodipine 5mg. That brought me down to 140s from 180s.Dr added Olmersatin 10mg and that has got me to 120s.

No ill effects.

I am not obese, eat very healthily , no salt and have cut down on sugar.

But I do suffer chronic pain and use NSAIDs. I also have quite high stress levels.

Both these factors give rise to higher BP.

[katieoxo60]

Hello Moneylover, speaking from experience of varied treatments for raised BP over the years from what you are saying I would expect your Gp to try something else. Its a very personal thing to get the pill treatment just right. Good luck

[Happyrosie]

to add to what others have said.

Your doc is or should be following the pathway recommended by National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) if you live in UK. Go to their website and input “hypertension” and see what they say..

also, go to Blood Pressure UK, the charity specialising in this, for further help.

[Katreg]

I was 150/90 on 5mg of amlodipine then up to 10 mg to lower my blood pressure ended up with extremely high anxiety. Doc took me off , started excercise program , diet ,lost 10 pounds and my BP is now 121/70 . Took months to deal with the amlodipine withdrawal symptoms. Do you research. Pharasuticals cure nothing and the side effects can be horrific .

[Moneylover]

well, I exercise regularly and am normal weight, no processed foods etc, nothing I can change and have no known risk factors risk so accept am probably needing meds due to age . Be interesting to see if GP doubles existing med or add something different. Just like to know what other people have been given eg amlodopine up to 10mg first or something else added if amlodopine 5mg inadequate

[ling in reply to Moneylover]

How's your salt intake?

[Moneylover in reply to ling]

re salt, no salt added to food for thirties years! No sauces, no processed food, hardly any bread…. As have said, age is only reason I can pinpoint for increased bloodpressure. Thanks though

[ling in reply to Moneylover]

And your sodium level is ok?

[RagenRogers]

Hello Moneylover, I agree with Sueysue about the Doctor likely increasing your amlodipine. It seems that they often try that before adding an additional medication. I'm not sure if caffeine plays a role- but I cut caffeine completely out of my diet, it's been 3 months now, but my B.P has averaged around 117/67

[Moneylover in reply to RagenRogers]

I drink weak tea, but only decaf coffee. Thanks though.

[Moneylover in reply to Moneylover]

Ragen, how much amlodipine do you take?

[Moneylover in reply to Moneylover]

I think would rather try Amlodopine 10mg before anything else, have now looked at Nice guidelines and don’t fancy some of the side effects of other drugs and I can feel stress levels and therefore BP rising just thinking about it all….

[Thingybob]

Hi, I also have high bp for no apparent reason. I have a healthy diet, am slim, no salt, low fats, dont drink etc etc. In fact when i was diagnosed i was in my early 50s and running regularly and attending the gym. With me its hereditary . I also have an autoimmune disease and the medication I have to take makes it more difficult to control my bp. I am now on 2 medications plus have recently started a low dose diuretic to try to maintain an acceptable reading. I am early 60s . I have stopped trying to fight the facts as its not worth the stress. I hope you get sorted out . All the best

[Moneylover in reply to Thingybob]

hello all. Just sent readings through to GP they were crazy high on Amlodopine 5mg. Higher than on no drug so just shows how anxiety about the meds causes a vicious circle. Started medication at an average of 145/90 a few months ago. Systolic now in 170s and diastolic regularly reaching 100 in the evenings. Am trying to keep calm and tell myself that I am not likely to be a freak of nature and that BP will come down. I thought GP would increase the Amlodopine first but has added 2.5mg ramopril . That seems to be a starting dose but possible to increase up to 10mg. Anyone else on this combination? I assume must act differently to Amlodopine but in synergy with it. Asked the pharmacist but he simply said speak to GP. Chance would be a fine thing, everything has just been text. Have to go for kidney function test now. All comment welcome.

[ling in reply to Moneylover]

Best to start a new thread.When u post here like this only those who have saved the topic (like myself) will see your post.

Best wishes

[Thingybob]

My bp goes right up when I take it, even at at home, I can literally feel it go up as soon as I put the cuff on. Maybe its anxiety about the result ?