Unstable Blood Pressure.

[jackdaw50]

For the past 3 months I've had high blood pressure that has resulted in 2 visits to A&E via 111 over weekends. Being referred back to a large medical practice I've been dealt with by 9 different staff members giving varying advice and prescriptions over that period. Candesartan increased doses, then Candesartan with Felodipine. The latter gave me terrible side effects so much so I cancelled a foreign holiday I was so worried and concerned. I am now on 12mg Candesartan and 5mg Felodipine ( previously on 10mg Felodipine which was horrendous). I still feel awful and BP still high. Candesartan by itself doesn't work for me. Does anyone have experience of others that might work? Already tried Ramipril (coughing) Indapamide (serum potassium level)and Amplodipine (swollen ankles). Feel a bit like a guinea pig. How can I manage this? Thanks.

[Happyrosie]

sometimes it does take a while for blood pressure medication to settle down. If I told you what worked for me this might be completely unsuitable for you. What doesn’t work for you might work for me. I’d suggest you give it a bit of time.

The website of the specialist charity Blood Pressure UK might give you some hints and tips.

[JAHH]

over the last couple of years I have tried all the ones you mentioned with side effects from each of them. I now take lercandipine and ‘touch wood’ over the last three months have had no side effects. Hope you find the one that suits you but it might be worth a try.

[katieoxo60]

Hi jackdaw50, Blood pressure can rise for all sorts of reasons not least stress, I am allergic to Ace inhibiters and I have tried many , I take spirolactone after some months of juggling doses etc some readings are still highish and I have had poroblems for around 50 years worsened by age. So do keep trying I used to take atenonol for years but with age became allergic to that . I can't take some painkillers either I used to take combivent inhaler then USA took it off the market and GB only prescribes it under hospital supervision. So the drug that worked for me was removed. So do try your hardest to find a drug you can tolerate along with your Drs help.Please let us know how it goes you maybe able to help us in the future. Best wishes

[sueysue in reply to katieoxo60]

I am stable mostly on 10 mg amlodapine, 10 mg of ramipril and 2 1/2 mg bendroflumeathiazide which is a water tablet. Did have the cough and swollen ankles but they diminished after I had been on them fir a while. Hope you can get sorted x

[katieoxo60 in reply to sueysue]

Hi sueysue, thank you for message . I used to take two and a water tablet but as you grow older some cause problems . I have a cough but its due to a different condition in my lungs not my blood pressure. No swollen ankles only when the weather is really hot or I have been over doing things which does not happen much these days. Now I am not that bothered as due to radiotherapy for cancer I am iller anyway so I give up. I think everyone gets to a stage where they can't be bothered anymore. I see the consultant oncologist next week see where we go from there. Take care if the pills are working for you.

[sueysue in reply to katieoxo60]

Aww sorry to read about radiotherapy. Wishing you well. I have also got lung disease and a few other co morbidities. Just gone on ambulatory oxygen. It no fun getting old and infirm hun. Best if luck with your appointment xx

[Catlover1981]

Hi.

I was on Ramipril for 12 years and it gave me a bad cough and Amlodipine made my ankles swell up so much I couldn’t get my trainers on.

I don’t recommend this but I took myself off all medication in March 2024 and in August I went back on medication but my doctor took me off Ramipril and Amlodipine and started back at square one Candesartan. In October I went to see my GP who rushed me in hospital with a BP of 210/180! and heart rate of 160!

I was started on Indapamide and Candesartan for my blood pressure and Verapamil for my fast heart rate. Bad I had to go in hospital but my BP is now the lowest it ever has been. It is a case of trialling drugs until you get the right combination of drugs for you but please don’t be like me and take yourself off them because I was petrified of telling my GP but he was very supportive and was glad I admitted it.

[Moneylover]

I am on Lacidipine which does not give me the side effect of anything swelling up. Of the various drugs (all in the same class) ending in ‘one’ this is the one I think worth trialling from the medical reviews I have read.