low blood pressure

[2024Darlington]

my blood pressure was really high 18 months ago and I was prescribed 5mg Amlidopine which reduced it but not enough , so was given extra medication of ramipril 1.25mg to get to a decent level .

I was going through a lot of stress at the time my highest readings were 189/119 over a few weeks . My ECG result was normal

I have lost weight and been exercising more but my blood pressure is regularly low 90/60 to 98/75 and I feel faint quite often

should I stop taking these tablets?. I understood they were for life when started

which one is best to stop ?

Will my pressure go up without them ?

It’s a nightmare trying to get a drs appointment

[springcross]

Hi 2024Darlington. Don't stop taking any meds without seeking advice from your GP. Can you make an appointment to see him/her to get it checked out?

[2024Darlington in reply to springcross]

Thankyou for the reply. I’m trying to get an appointment just wondered if anyone else had had the same experience

[onadiet in reply to 2024Darlington]

Does your surgery do an econsult. If they do,try that as they are then Duty bound to ring you. Another way is to send 7 days AM and PM BP readings.That should get attention.Email to Surgery with all side effect symptoms.

[Madlegs1]

If you are able to take constant BP readings, then it might be an idea to take less of the Ramipril. Say every second day.Whatever you do - do not stop the Amlodipine.

Is it possible to just ring the surgery to check this out.?

[2024Darlington in reply to Madlegs1]

Thanks for the reply .. you mentioned ‘whatever you do’ What would happen if I stopped the amplidopine?

I’m trying to get a Dr telephone appointment by have been trying for a week now

[Madlegs1 in reply to 2024Darlington]

You were put on the Amlodipine for a good reason. High BP.

It's ok to play around with a secondary med, while keeping a strict eye on the readings, but not okay to stop all meds totally.

Does your pharmacist have a role in helping you?

I'm on Amlodipine 5mg ,and Olmersatin 10mg. I often skip the Olmersatin for a few days if my readings have been lowish (115 or so). But if they go up to 140s I go back to the Olmersatin again.

Hope that helps.

[onadiet in reply to 2024Darlington]

Amlodipine is harder to stop using.Side effects kick in as rebound.Has to be tapered off.

[Happyrosie]

your doctor’s group of surgeries employs (if you are in England anyway ) a pharmacist and it may be easier to speak to him/her. In my case, this is the person that does my annual medication review.

It’s a normal thing for a pill to be prescribed and then another added some months later. And you’ve done well to lose weight. In my case, for example, I was on a different regime to you. one of the pills was reduced by half, then taken away entirely, then the other by half.

If you go to the website of Blood Pressure UK you might find some insights to help you but as has been said it wouldn’t be a good idea to stop without consulting a medical person.

Tell the docs receptionist about your blood pressure being too low, if you can get through to them. When you do manage to see or speak to someone, have ready for them a record of your readings (I’m sure you don’t need telling!).

[Orladog]

Hi 2024Darlington

I had a very similar experience. Sudden extremely high blood pressure perhaps partly due to stress.

I started on Amlodipine but had a bad reaction so changed to Lercanidipine which I still take, keeping my bp to 120/75 ish now, so fine.

Like you I was also given Ramipril as a second med at the start when my bp was not under control. I had a really bad reaction to it and to other secondary meds, so I stopped taking them and stuck to the Lercanidipine.

You should check with your GP but I imagine you'll be fine just taking the Amlodipine.

[Moneylover]

I suppose not all practices have a pharmacist but I too would ditch the Ramipril but keep a daily BP chart from now till you get a GP appointment so that you can see exactly how your BP responds on just the Amlodipine. For most people ( older people anyway) that’s the drug that does the heavy lifting. Good luck and let us know how you get on

[2024Darlington]

I finally had an answer yesterday . Have been told to stop the ramipril and keep a BP record for a month to see how that goes

[Moneylover]

wonderful. Report back and let us know what happens

[2024Darlington]

an update from Dr yesterday .. I have been told to stop all BP medication as they feel it may not be needed anymore . Have to monitor for a further month and only get in touch if it starts to rise over 135/85 . Currently a lot lower than that averaging 124/73

I thought BP medication was for life once started .. so good news

[onadiet]

Do they have e consult at your surgery.(on their website) Works for me. Now get appoint.next day. Ask Recep.