BP meds - calcium Vs ARBs

[Transalp]

So my typical 140/85 (over the past several years) popped up to 165/96 this year between June and July and stayed there.

GP has said age-related artery hardening (to be honest I would have assumed a more gradual increase if age related, but I digress), and put me on Amlodipine calcium blocker.

I was on the 5mg for a month and am now on the 10mg and back down to 143/91 average.

I listened to the Peter Attia podcast the other day and he said they use ARBs as their first line of defence rather than calcium blockers, especially for patients with kidney issues - my eGFR has been in the 50's & 60's for a few years now.

Anyone have any thoughts on whether I should be pushing to go on ARBs and if so, which one? I assume the Dr when I can see him (he is deigning to call me in three weeks time) will want to add something else to get the BP lower than the current 143/91.

TIA

[Happyrosie]

you might find it useful to look at what NICE (National Institute for Clinical Evidence) says about diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

you’ve used quite a few abbreviations so it’s a bit hard to follow your thought processes without re-reading and re-reading your post.

In advance of you seeing your GP, try and see if you can discuss your medication with the pharmacist employed at your doctor’s group of surgeries (I access mine through the receptionist but different surgeries might have different ways). The pharmacist has access to your records and can help the GP make decisions. Failing that your dispensing pharmacist might be able to give you a lead.

[Transalp in reply to Happyrosie]

I’ve only used ARBs as an abbreviation? I assumed it was standard nomenclature for that type of medicine - Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

[Happyrosie in reply to Transalp]

EGFR?

[Transalp in reply to Happyrosie]

If you don’t know what that is I can’t really help you.

Thanks for the NICE suggestion.