Aubagio & high blood pressure?

[Roamerwithroots]

I’m wondering if anyone on Aubagio has noticed that they now have elevated blood pressure. I got a home monitor last week after seeing my GP who observed my BP being too high. It’s not great at home, either. I’m a healthy person who eats well and exercises 3-4 days a week. A friend of mine asked if it could be the Aubagio - and sure enough it looks like that is a reported side effect in some people. Looking for anecdotal stories before I call my neuro. Thanks!

[DM0329]

I agree with your assumptions, but please be sure to talk to your neurologist. But, I switched from Avonex (my DMT from 1997-2022) to Aubagio 2022 to present.

I have noticed that high blood pressure is listed as a side effect, although I don't have high BP. I have noticed that my BP easily gets elevated; yet it goes down after a few minutes. Even my PCP was shocked that my BP was 167 to only go down to "normal" levels. So, it could be the Aubagio too.

FWIW, it's been a little over one year since I switched from the "pin cushion club" yet I love the simplicity of the daily pill. Yes, my hair is much thinner and there is less of it; but I suspect it's a combination of BOTH Aubagio AND Menopause.

Yes: I don't like the "stinky" gas and frequent bowel movements that can be a sx of the Aubagio, but I say give me a baseball hat and my own personal air freshener. And, I wear Always Discrete Boutique undergarments for the bladder issues anyway. LOL

Happy Sunday! 😇🙏🙂🤞

[Roamerwithroots in reply to DM0329]

Thanks for your reply. I am hoping my doc has some good advice for me - I have adjusted mostly to the bowel issues (although I have to take omeprazole daily. I am just super frustrated that I’m trying to fix/support one thing, and in the meantime, other things get broken.

[twooldcrows]

don't take it so don't know anything about it ...sorry ...i figured someone is on it and can help you ...have a wonderful day ...

[Buddy2009]

yeah im on aubagio and my blood pressure went up but I had high blood pressure before taking aubagio, i was on meds for blood pressure but needed to increase dose, my pressure is still high it could be hereditary, could be from the ms and also from aubagio , those automatic blood pressure machines arent as good as the manual ones the doctors use, your blood pressure can also go up in your doctors office while your waiting to see them

[scoutman]

I had the same thing happen when I went on Avonex. I always had low blood pressure, ate well, excersized. Thank you for posting this.

[Roamerwithroots in reply to scoutman]

Did you have to make any changes to your medication?

[scoutman in reply to Roamerwithroots]

I went on high blood pressure medication. Please keep us posted on how this goes. I do want to share that one a visit to the ER years ago, the doctor on duty made the statement 'People with MS...their blood pressure is all over the place.' My neuro poo poo 'd this statement, but I have to wonder if there is any truth to it.

[mrsmike9]

I, only recently, have had occasional high BP. But the strain I've been under does it. My last GP check showed it high at the start of the visit. She asked what was up and I told her. When we were done my BP was taken again. It was fine.

[Jesmcd2 CommunityAmbassador]

Hi Roamerwithroots was your GP very concerned about it? And Yes call your Neuro!

We are not drs so we cant dxd you🙂 Only your drs can!

I would take back the BP monitor tho.. its going to stress you out more🤗💕🌠

[Mandymae5]

Have High BP, medication's to control it. And taking it at home never seems to work well for me. It's a not sure if it's correct or not. No idea if the BP has anything to do with the Aubagio. My main concern is my Liver Enzymes and Alkaline Prosphatase which also can pretain to the liver. It's constant blood work on checking these, results show high.

I know Aubagio can affect the Liver but other DMT'S can also. All tests have been done showing no liver damage. My Neuro says a number of my meds can affect the liver the results of bloodwork. Anyone else on Aubagio have this problem?

[AquaZumbaFan in reply to Mandymae5]

My liver enzymes went up for the first 4 months or so on Aubagio .. I was pretty concerned and was also not taking any Tylenol or drinking alcohol trying to offset the liver function.. it leveled off eventually and came back to my normal levels.. we were checking them often at first as well.. the BP has been a little wonky.. sometimes perfectly normal and sometimes really high.. it seems much more sensitive to my pain levels and if I have a bad cough ( about 2 months around my covid infection) than it ever did.. I’m even watching my sodium and lost about 20 lbs., we are still watching mine without meds at this point.

[Roamerwithroots]

I had bloodwork done today ordered by my neurologist and I’m waiting for her to respond - I can see the results already. My immune system is definitely weakened (I started on Aubagio 7.5 months ago) but my liver appears to be functioning as it always has. I will see what she says about the blood pressure - no idea how she will tell what to do looking at these results and I'm curious.

[Roamerwithroots]

Update - saw my neuro NP today. (She is new to me, but that is another story.) She said there is no way to really know if it's the Aubagio elevating my BP, as I'm at the age where people get hypertension (48). Which sounds....weird. Anyway, I am going to repeat bloodwork in 2 months because the other pressing issue is my low WBC count, lowered neutrophil, and elevated monocyte and eosinophil #s. Any lower and I'll need to quit the med. This is what happened to me when I tried tecfidera years ago before taking a long break from meds.