I've been on 5mg of Amlodipine for 2 weeks now.
I take my own readings a few times a day before and after and have only seen these improvements
Before
Average Sys - 135
Average Dia - 89
Average Pulse - 70
After
Average Sys - 133
Average Dia - 84
Average Pulse - 68
I have a checkup in a couple of weeks, might they increase the dose?
I’m about to start on amlodipine and I’ve been advised to watch my blood pressure closely. But that is because I’m also on candesartan, carvedilol, and imdur so my heart rate and blood pressure is already borderline.
I think you need to be on it for a while longer to see any real effect.
Also-- if more medication is required, then I suggest adding another med, rather than doubling up the Amlodipine.
At least ,that's what my doctor did.
It avoids increasing the potential for side effects.
I was at 180 before medication (getting chronic fatigue all the time. After a few weeks on Amlodipine 5mg, I had gone down to 140, so the doctor added Olmersatin 10mg, which got me to a current reading of 125 average.
I'm very happy with that, much more life to me, and no side effects.
Good luck with your times ahead.👍💚
Actually got my dates wrong, I have an appointment in 3 days to check my readings. If I need to be on it longer why would they have arranged an appointment so soon after starting them?
I really don't know!
I would have thought that at least a month would be required to evaluate the medication.
They now can do a 24 HR reading of BP from a very simple set up. Not the old way of wires and holster etc.👍💚
another point. Are you taking your readings after a ten minute rest? Then, three slow breaths and press the button, eyes closed.
It makes quite a Difference!
I am rested and seated yes but not doing slow breaths or closing eyes. Isn't that gaming the system? Don't you want to know what your BP is when rested and seated, not when in some zen meditation state!
No I dont believe that’s gaming the system at all.
I sit and read and when ready I close my eyes and take three slow breaths then start the machine. I might be thinking about what to cook for dinner or what the book was about or (preferably not) what Trump is doing to Ukraine, I’m not in a meditative state just doing exactly the same each time. I take the pressure at the same sort of time each day too - since your pressure goes up during the first hour after food, and ensure I’m adequately hydrated.
In this way I have a baseline which is directly comparable each time I take it. Of course, anyone can establish a different kind of baseline
This doesn't reflect your real, everyday blood pressure under normal conditions. I don't think that is a sensible way to do it but thanks for the advice.
I found that it takes a good 6 weeks before any significant change. Your BP is not that bad 😀
I've been on amlodipine 5mg for over 12 months and at the beginning my readings were similar to yours systolic in the 130s and even early 140s my doctor stuck with it and now it's down to the low 120s which my doctor and I are happy with so I think persevering is a good idea. Before this medication it was 160 and above so very effective. Hope this puts your mind at rest
5mg is a frequent starting dose, being the lower of the range. I started on 5 and went up to 10 after bp readings showed little change. The key thing is to make sure your bp readings are available to inform the dosage. Dont over-think your attitude to posture when taking a reading. Just make sure you follow the advice on the relevant nhs web page. Consistency is key.
Thanks, yeh I take 2 or 3 readings a day and log them in a spreadsheet as attached!
I had a similar experience, when I first began to take bp meds. Now I have nicely controlled bp, I periodically take a reading a day, for about 14 days in a row, then average them out, so that when my gp asks me to confirm my bp, I have some data to work with. Last time I did that was October, so I need another fortnite's worth, I think. Happy days!
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