Blood pressure medication

[Jessbomb35]

Hello. I am new to this society having being diagnosed with early macular changes at my annual eye check. I am 7 0yrs old. Since then I have researched the condition and am following opthalmologists advice re diet,supplements,sunglasses etc. However,I am confused about my blood pressure medication. I take my 5gm Amlodopine but I have noticed that there is some concern that BP meds can hasten AMD, whilst high BP can be a cause of AMD! ! Is there any BP med that is recommended as preferential or could someone please point me to any helpful research on the subject. I will obviously seek my doctor's advice on this but I have a feeling she might not be very knowledgeable on this subject just like me !!! Thanking you all in anticipation at this worrying time.

[springcross]

Hi Jessbomb35. I have wet AMD, diagnosed 2018 and I started taking Amlodipine 5 mg in 2019 . When I first started taking them, I informed the optometrist at the injection clinic and was told that it wasn't a problem.

[Jessbomb35 in reply to springcross]

Thank you very much for your swift reply. That's very reassuring.

[springcross in reply to Jessbomb35]

You're welcome but as you say, check with your doctor and ophthalmologist anyway, just so they know and can be added to your records.

[Jessbomb35 in reply to springcross]

Will do. thank you

[Caradog29]

I take amlodopine and ramipril- not a problem. In fact wet AMD has cleared in my one eye.

[Jessbomb35 in reply to Caradog29]

Thank you very much. I have dry AMD and wonder whether BPmeds may be more of a problem with dry than wet. I don't know, just wondering !! Good news about your improvement, you must be thrilled.

[JJnan]

I've taken Amlodopine for 3 yrs which is in my notes ..when having the eye test the nurse always checks what meds i'm on ...i have wet AMD...never been a probkem x

[Jessbomb35]

Thank you. That's good to hear. I'm still interested to hear from someone with dryAMD please. Thank you very much for your reply.

[Caradog29]

I’m sure you’ll be ok. Thanks for your best wishes. As they say one door opens and another closes. I’ve now had occular melanoma in my other eye, which makes the AMD pale into insignificance 😄Tumour has been treated and died but radiation left me with Cystoid Macular oedema in what was my good eye - very similar to wet AMD, so back on lucentis for that eye. Just as well 1st eye responded well and is now 20/20!

[Jessbomb35 in reply to Caradog29]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[4Blacklab]

Hello I have ADM & high blood pressure among other medical problems. I was able to stop taking my high blood pressure medicine by taking an over-the-counter dietary supplement called L-Arginine. My blood pressure was 139/89 before taking L-Arginine & now taking L-Arginine my blood pressure is 119/78 . You Definitely want to research it and talk with your doctors before using L-Arginine if you use L-Arginine while using other prescribed blood pressure medicine your blood pressure can go dangerously low so when you start using it you must monitor your blood pressure quite often. L-Arginine has many benefits from lowering blood pressure, fighting blindness, Ed for men, reducing nerve pain, even anxiety and stress can be relief taking L-Arginine and many other benefits but like I said before you must research it and talk with your doctor before starting treatment with L-Arginine.

[Jessbomb35 in reply to 4Blacklab]

Thank you very much.I will do some research on this and obviously mention it to my doctor.

[Catseyes235 in reply to 4Blacklab]

139/89 is not a hugely high BP and research says L-Argenine is something we get from most proteins in our diets. Mine was anything from 159 + and 179 when in hospital with stroke. I’m not keen on taking pills but despite exercise and diet couldn’t get my BP down to below 145 -150 so ended up taking Amlodopine and brought it down under 130 which is what stroke clinic recommended. I’ve got AMD and just stopped having injections in right eye which is stable now!