Stopping Losartan

[calibriel]

Hello. I wonder if you can give me some advice.

I am 73 years old. I have been living with some degree of hypertension most of my life, and on medication since I had an aneurysm in 2005. A dose which controlled my blood pressure of Atenolol 100 + Enalapril 10 was established not long after that, and I’ve been on it ever since; until a couple of months ago when I started experiencing allergy-like reactions. Enalapril was suspected as the cause, and 3 weeks ago the Enalapril was stopped and I was put on Losartan 50 instead. The rash and the angioedema have continued on and off, the most recent attack being a couple of days ago. I would say it hasn’t got any better, possibly it’s worse.

My problem is, I saw a GP today about this, and his solution was, I come off the Losartan - just like that - and monitor my blood pressure. I don’t like mistrusting a doctor’s advice, but he seemed in a hurry - he was running 25mins late - and there wasn’t a lot of room for discussion. At the time I just wanted the rash and the swollen lip to get better, but now I’m worrying about the consequences of abruptly stopping the Losartan. I’ve always understood there was a risk associated with suddenly stopping a blood pressure medication, and anxiety will make my readings high anyhow so they won’t be reliable. Should I seek further advice?

Thank you

[Eviedog12]

I would say, if you are not happy, seek advice. Either ask your chemist or just pop into the surgery and ask to speak to another doctor. I'm on Losartan too but I'm ok with it.

[Happyrosie]

as Eviedog says, but before you do this you could go to the website of Blood Pressure UK. You might find what you need there or you could phone their helpline.

[calibriel in reply to Happyrosie]

Thank you. I’m well used to the excellent support of Healthunlocked with another long term condition - PMR - but my hypertension has been pretty stable for nearly 20yrs so I haven’t needed to seek help before. This is welcome advice

[Les57]

If I were you I would request another appointment. Do you have a pharmacist attached to your surgery and have an appointment with them. Go armed with BP readings and a list of all your concerns. I actually think we get listened to better if we seem interested in what the problem is.

[Brisk61 in reply to Les57]

Very good advice I agree with you.

[ChrissiG]

I was on Losartan for several years with no problems until my Doctor decided to increase my dose first to 50 then 100mg. It made me very unwell so I was told to come off them - but gradually. I slowly reduced by cutting tablets in half and using my lower dose ones til I was on 12.5mg and then stopped. I was ok and my blood pressure didn’t go up.

I would definitely see if you could get an appointment with another doctor or speak to your pharmacist. Plus monitor your BP regularly. I am the same age as you and my BP has always been a little high - made worse by white coat syndrome!

[calibriel in reply to ChrissiG]

Hi ChrissiG, thanks for replying. Do you mind me asking, at the time you were taken off Losartan, was it the only drug you were on to control your bp, and was it replaced by anything else? I was on two drugs, so I am still on Atenolol. Thank you

[ChrissiG]

Yes it was the only drug I was on for BP. I take a beta blocker as well to slow my heart down. (I had a heart attack 8 years ago)

I have tried lots of other BP meds but have had side effects with all of them. Losartan was the best - until they put the dose up by 4 times which gave me low sodium and made me feel extremely ill.

My BP is still slightly raised but no worse than when I was on the meds so I can’t see the point of taking them.

[katieoxo60]

I was taking Losartan and it was just stopped due to side effects, but it was not reducing the blood pressure anyway , In fact if anything my BP was lower once stopped , I am now taking Spirolactone but my cough is worse, it is a no win for ourselves and the Gp. Hospital DR said they would rather I went home and just take paracetamol. . We are not all success stories sadly. The Dr can only see so many patients a day.

[calibriel]

On my third day without Losartan; keeping an eye on the bp: it’s a bit high, but within range. 🤞Unfortunately, I’m still having side effects, so it might not have been the cause. Ho-hum

[BeHealthy8]

I tried losartan several years ago, it did nothing for me after 6 weeks. I don't think it's one of the meds that causes rebound hypertension. I'm taking clonidine which is the only drug I've tried that lowered my bp, but if I miss a dose it spikes higher than it ever was. I'm trying to wean off it, using half tab of felodipine now with half a 0.1 clonidine. I'm 75 and get every side effect of drugs. I had my dna tested by the NIH, and I'm a Rapid Metabolizer of drugs. All meds have NOT been tested to see how they relate to an individual's unique dna. I hope that changes soon!!!

[Phil865]

Not listening to my doctors about my high BP and cholesterol was one of the biggest mistakes of my life. But a doctor's misdiagnosis on a different issue almost killed me too. So no advice on that.

However! One little helpful bit of information you just can't beat is beets. Ordinary beets, even plain canned beets, actually do bring down my pressure in about fifteen minutes. But it is NOT a replacement for prescriptions. And it is NOT a long term fix. Just something to keep in mind when, or if, your pressure spikes for no apparent reason. I keep some Beet Chews around just in case. And you can't overdose on vegetables, either! No known serious interactions with meds.

Good luck

(those chewables are good for curing worry too)

[calibriel]

Thank you everyone for your kind and helpful replies, which I have found reassuring. In the end, I followed the dr’s advice (surprise!): stopped the Losartan, and took my bp regularly. Initially it was a bit high - hardly surprising, as I was worried, and in the grip of some uncomfortable symptoms from the reaction - but below the reading at which he said I should go back to him. I have now been off Losartan for a week, and my readings have dropped within my normal range: no spikes so far. On the minus side, the rash isn’t much better 🙄☹️. Ho-hum. It doesn’t come alone, does it?