Blood pressure and DRY AMD

[horseaddict]

I have just had to go on blood pressure tablets.i have dry AMD..research information says basically that this will speed up the deterioration of AMD..I'm scared about losing my eyesight..but have to take the pills..anybody got more information or first hand experience with is problem.im feeling cornered on this ..eyesight versus the risk of stroke or heart disease..HELP.

[Becky_MacularSociety Partner]

Good Morning Horseaddict,

While others may be able to share their personal experience, any concerns with your medication should be discussed with your GP or you could try contacting the eye clinic at your local hospital. Your GP may refer you to discuss your medication with an ophthalmologist. We are not medically trained and you need that professional advice to advise what is best for you.

All the best,

Becky

Macular Society

Advice and Information

[e-mail]

0300 3030 111

[springcross]

Hi ha. I know what you mean as I am on medication for high BP. If you don't take meds it can affect your BP and if you do, it can still affect your BP. Rock and a hard place comes to mind. Becky is right though - as we are all different we each have different responses so maybe it would be worth a call to your eye hospital or GP to ask for advice on the different types of meds that don't affect your eyes. My b-i-l has dry amd and has been on meds for about eighteen months now but I don't think it had made his sight any worse than it was before, but as we are all different, no-one really can say what the outcome will be. All the best ha. xx

[horseaddict in reply to springcross]

Thanks for your reply. Still doesnt alter the fact that blood pressure tablets affect speeding up AMD...I understand where Becky is coming from..and I did ask a gp if BP pills affects and.. she said no..but I think she doesnt know enough to say no. Research says BP meds will speed up and. .I have to stay in this rock between a hard place and try to lower my bp myself and hopefully my gp will take me off the pills...thanks for response though.

[Hidden in reply to horseaddict]

Hi, I was recently prescribed blood thinners because of a suspected mini-stroke. Suspected was not good enough for me, as I had discussed with my hospital consultant that I suffered from dry AMD. Also, I suffer from thrombocytopenia, which causes small bleeds underneath the skin, and it can also cause internal bleeding. My consultant's reply was 'there are risks with everything.' I am not prepared to take those risks, as I want to maintain my eyesight, and do not want to cause further outbreaks of thrombocytopenia. The decision is always yours, and I am a person who weighs up risks very carefully. My consultant said that I did not have to take the medication if I chose not too. However, he prescribed the medication anyway, because he has to cover his back. Life is like a game of chess, and some people will always shy away from giving you an unbiased answer. Doctor's are not Gods, and your body belongs to yourself.

[horseaddict in reply to Hidden]

If you gather information yourself then you can make an informed decision for you. Most people dont swot up on stuff enough to ask the questions .well done..I'm exactly the same and I couldnt just settle on being blind and housebound without giving myself the best possible chance of slowing blindness down at the very least. Like you say we cant expect GPs to be experts in everything .go armed with questions..it may just surprise .

[Hidden]

Hi, I have been on bp meds for years. What research is it you've found please?

Regarding the rock and a hard place issue - I look at it like this - a heart attack might stop my life, blindness will leave me breathing; a stroke might affect my brain and ability to move independently so I can't enjoy what I can see. Also consider the relative timescales- which is more likely to get you first? I'm not saying it's an easy decision but you have to find peace in whatever you decide.

Make the most of each day you have. X

[horseaddict in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for responding. I have an active lifestyle with my horse.thats my life..if I cant drive.. tend my horse etc.there goes my total lifestyle..being blind and housebound isn't what I personally consider a life. I've had breast cancer..I'm not overweight.dont drink.eat healthy and get loads exercise with my horse which is where I spend all my time.im just one of those people that doesnt see that any life is better than no life..I've been on numerous research sites asking the questions on BP and AREDS2 does it affect eye health..research says it does???..I'm on 5mg BP pills and will not come off them until the GP says so..ideally for me I would like to know if anyone on here knows if a lower dose than 5mg is available because I think the 1 size dose fits all is unfair if a 9st person is on the same dose as an 18 stone person. .its just I will always swot up on medicines and the plus and minuses of them. Theres always a pay back for the good things they do.

[Hidden in reply to horseaddict]

Hi, I was on 2.5mg bisoprolol. Not sure what the different bp meds offer dose wise. You can always get a pill cutter and halve your dose yourself if you're willing to take that responsibility ( I have in the past reduced some of my med dosages when I felt side effects were becoming worse than what it was treating!).

Absolutely I agree there must be quality of life, and each of us free to set that threshold. I always say we have no control how we come into the world but should have absolute control in how we choose to leave it.

[horseaddict in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your response I'm hoping my GP will find me a lower dose pill eventually if I have to take them over a period of time..failing that I may half the ones I'm on after a while until I can find a way to maintain the right blood pressure naturally. I have only just started BP pills 3 days ago as found out by accident my BP was high..and at that juncture I swotted up about BP pills and affects they may have on dry AMD.

[pinkperfection in reply to Hidden]

I do agree with you having a heart attack or a stroke needs to be avoided at all costs. I have been taking pills for blood pressure for a number of years and never been told they can affect your eyesight. Life is full of difficult decisions and as individuals we have to do what we think is right for us.

[horseaddict in reply to pinkperfection]

Thanks for your reply...you have to swot up and see what the minuses are on all pills including the AREDS2 .once armed with some information you can then ask the important questions..I doubt the eye specialists and GPs would want to run through it all unless you ask a specific question....another baffling question is why shouldn't you take AREDS2 with milk????..I need to swot up on that too..as I'm having cereals and an ARED2 every morning..

[Hidden in reply to horseaddict]

Re the milk thing - its apparently because ared contains zinc:

" What might happen:

When zinc is taken with food, food may decrease absorption of this medicine into your bloodstream.

What you should do about this interaction:

Zinc supplements should be taken on an empty stomach. If significant stomach upset occurs, zinc may be taken with food (avoid milk, cheese, high fiber foods, unleavened bread, and coffee near the time that you take zinc). Contact your healthcare professional (e.g., doctor or pharmacist) for more information.Your healthcare professionals may be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change your medicine or diet before checking with them first. "

[Hidden in reply to pinkperfection]

I have never heard of high BP affecting eyesight, I take losartan and amlodipine

[LB1st]

Hi horseaddict!

I'm with eyesright. I take low dose BP meds and have dry AMD and wet AMD and now, apparently, glaucoma in the dry AMD eye. Yuck! But neither my GP nor my ophthalmologist has ever said anything about BP meds affecting my eyes. Maybe they just think it's a necessary evil. Regardless, I would never consider giving up the BP meds. I've seen what stroke can do and I will do anything to avoid having one.

[horseaddict in reply to LB1st]

Thank you for your reply..maybe ask that question to your GP or eye specialist next time..?..we arent really armed with enough information sometimes to ask these questions so nobody thinks to mention them...I wouldnt give up the BP pills until my GP advises I can..but in the meanwhile I will do everything in my power to try to get myself down to a normal level..I'm always uncomfortable with dose size ..1 fits all. A 9stone person could be on the same dose as a 20 stone person?..its just the way I am.always will swot up and get as much info as possible from reputable sites.

[JJnan]

When I first started BP med I informed eye clinic when they asked if I'm on any new med ( they ask each visit )....because of this the consultant wouldn't do my injection until my BP was under control ( I had only been on the med for 2 weeks) ....my BP came down and stable so I was able to continue with injections..

That was 2 yrs ago, I get reviewed once a year at GP...which isn't enough time check it so I bought my own monitor......nobody has ever asked me since about my BP.......do any of you think they should check it at intervals knowing the risk?...

[horseaddict in reply to JJnan]

Always best to ask questions why I think. Especially if they are administering something else which may affect what your already on..GPs do that as standard..nor sure about eye specialists?...hence my query about how blood pressure pills affect AMD.