Blood Pressure meds and wet AMD

[Jihm]

I have wet AMD in both eyes, and have been been receiving shots for same for many years - currently Eylea. I have recently seen a cardiologist who wants to put me on a BP med, Losartan. I am concerned that BP meds such as Losartan might worsen AMD. Any thoughts?

[springcross]

Hi Jihm. You could ask your local pharmacist as they know more about drugs and their reactions with other drugs than most GPs do but I feel the best person to ask is your consultant, he/she should be aware of what drugs are OK. You can of course ask both!

[Jihm in reply to springcross]

Thanks for your response, springcross. Like other angiotensin receptor blockers, losartan relaxes and widens your blood vessels. My ophthalmologist (hurriedly) offered the thought that anything that lowers pressure couldn't hurt. I'll ask a pharmacist what she or he thinks.

[springcross in reply to Jihm]

Good luck.

[enbrx]

Dr. Google says: "Losartan may help prevent age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other eye conditions."

[Jihm in reply to enbrx]

Thanks, enbrx.

[tallyho]

I am interested in your thought process?

[Jihm in reply to tallyho]

There are a lot of pros & cons concerning Losartan on various internet medical sites, many contradictory things are mentioned. Some sites even say it has been removed from the market. And that it can cause serious eye related problems is one of the cautions sometimes listed. So, I am just gathering information.

[tallyho in reply to Jihm]

Thanks I use losartan 100 mg every day and I am under 4 different eye consultants at 2 different hospitals including St Thomas and no one has ever mentioned it so I guess all is fine

[Jihm in reply to tallyho]

That is good to hear, tallyho. Some sites say that it increases the risk for glaucoma - which I already have. Hence my concern.

[tallyho in reply to Jihm]

I have glaucoma too as well as DMO, NPDR and OMG ( diplopia and ptosis)

[Jihm in reply to tallyho]

Very sorry to hear, tallyho. Best of luck to you.

[pinkperfection]

Hi I have been taking Losarton 50mg for a number of years, but recently my GP has increased the dose to 100mg. Up to now I seem to be okay. I have WMD in one eye and rely totally on my good eye so this conversation is of interest to me.Wishing you all the best going forward

[Jihm in reply to pinkperfection]

Thank you pinkperfection. Best of luck to you too with your new higher dose.

[Catseyes235]

Hi Jihm I’ve been having Eylea injections for 7 years but since a stroke 4 years ago I’ve been on Amlodopine for my BP which is now amazingly lowered and with absolutely no effect on my AMD for which my injections are around 12 weeks apart. I’m moving on to a newer treatment (sorry forget but sounds like Faricimab.). which should hopefully be 16 weeks between injections. Very important to lower BP and if you can’t do that with lifestyle changes then meds it is.!

[Jihm in reply to Catseyes235]

Thank you very much for the helpful info, Catseye235

[MarkoVince]

I have wet amd in one eye. I've just had my 10th monthly injection, for the last few months there has been no reduction of fluid in the eye, I stopped taking amlodipine (blood pressure med) 2 weeks ago (I had planned to swap meds but luckily my pressure has returned to normal without meds) and the amount of fluid has significantly decreased to a very small amount and is expected to disappear completely in the next month. I decided to stop amlodipine as I found some research saying it may not be good for wet amd

[Jihm in reply to MarkoVince]

Thanks for the helpful info, NarkoVince. Very interesting.